Inducted in 2024
Professional singer-songwriter, Cecil MacDougall started his musical career at the age of 16 as lead singer for the band “Short of Cash” with whom he performed for 2 years producing his first single entitled “I’ve Got a Problem” in 1970.
For the next two years he entertained with a group called “Standard Pitch” at various clubs and lounges in Halifax including the El- Strato Lounge.
During 1974 and 1975 Cecil and a friend, who called themselves “Two for the Road” entertained around Nova Scotia. In 1975 they formed a band called the “The Canadian Outlaws” and toured for another five years throughout the province.
In the early 1980's Cecil was called upon to join a group called “The Dynasty Band” to help them finish a Canadian tour they were doing due to the illness of their lead singer. He enjoyed the tour and working with the band and shortly thereafter moved to Toronto as a freelance artist.
In 1985, fifteen years after his first single, he produced his second single called “That’s Life.”
Cecil tried his hand at a variety of genres and experiences throughout his musical journey. He joined a country rock group known as “Shine” from 1983 to 1988 and toured throughout Canada; from 1988 to 1990 he was part of a band known as “Southwind”; and from 1991 to 1993 he performed with a group called the “Legends of Country Music” based in Vancouver where he did impersonations. During this time he recorded his first album entitled “West Side Road” and in 1994 he travelled to Europe entertaining as a lounge singer for Silja Cruise Lines based in Stockholm, Sweden.
By 1995 Cecil decided to stop touring. Five years later he was writing and producing his own material and the material of other entertainers. At this time, he also established and published his own company entitled “New Scotland Publishing” and helped in the production of a bilingual album for Natalie Latisure, a French artist out of Montreal. He also developed “The Atlantic Songwriters Challenge” which was aired by Eastlink Television.
Cecil is currently working for Hamblin Productions as an arranger, writer, and session player in the production of an album for Nova Scotia Tourism, promoting East Coast singers and songwriters.
