Séan McCann (musician)


Séan McCann "The Shantyman" and Great Big Sea founder is a singer and musician in his former band Great Big Sea. He announced plans to stop touring with the band at the end of December 2013.
After exiting Great Big Sea, McCann publicly admitted a secret past in which he used alcohol to mask the pain of sexual abuse by a priest. His fifth solo album was titled There’s a Place.

Early life

He was born to Anita and Edward McCann. His mother was born in Northern Bay and his father in Gull Island. When he was a child, his family moved to St. John's. He was raised Roman Catholic. He is married and has 2 sons. He now lives in Manotick, a suburb of Ottawa, Ontario.

Career

McCann has released 5 solo works.
In June 2016 McCann released the folk song "Proud " for free online in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross to benefit victims of the Fort McMurray wildfires. McCann told The Canadian Press that his feelings of despair over the disaster led him to write the lyrics. Once he was finished he contacted fellow musician Jeremy Fisher to help him in the studio.
In November 2017 McCann organized a benefit songwriter's circle at the Algonquin Commons Theatre in Ottawa with his friends Joel Plaskett, Sarah Harmer, and Jeremy Fisher to raise money to purchase guitars for veterans suffering with PTSD and other mental-health issues.

Albums