Lead singer of Streetheart, 69, died in a Winnipeg hospital Friday
Story by Darren Bernhardt - CBC News
Photos from the web
Gloria Digmazio can't count the number of times she saw Kenny Shields perform with his classic Canadian rock band Streetheart, but one concert stands out clearly in her memory.
In 1979, Digmazio, then16, was attending her second concert. Streetheart was playing the Playhouse Theatre.
"I actually jumped up on stage and I kissed him and I hugged him," Digmazio recalled.
Years later, Digmazio approached Shields at an event celebrating the 30th anniversary of Winnipeg classic rock station 92 Citi FM. She brought a photo album with pictures from that concert in 1979.
"And I told him the story and he remembered me and he wrote this to me: 'To Gloria, which way is the stage? Meet you there, Kenny Shields.' So this just means a lot to me, so it just kind of came like full-circle. That's my favourite concert."
Shields, 69, died early Friday morning in a Winnipeg hospital where he had undergone cardiac surgery, bandmate and close friend Jeff Neill confirmed.
Shields's wife and daughter were with him when he died around 3 a.m.
"The ones that he loved were by his side and he wasn't in pain. And he just slipped away," said Neill, who had known Shields since 1977.
"He was sort of at peace with the world. It's a very humbling experience when you go in and you see one of your very best friends like that, and the courage that he had there was quite something."
More here: http://www.cbc.ca/1.4215682
I remember their last concert in Winnipeg at Hagar's. Awesome band. Awesome man.
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