Canadian classic rocker and Streetheart frontman Kenny Shields has died. He passed away this morning (July 21) at St. Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg, following hospitalization for a heart condition. His wife Elena, daughter Julia and sister Sharlene were by his side at the time.
Shields was born in the farming town of Nokomis, SK, in 1947, and began his music career in Winnipeg in the mid-1970s. He went on to find fame as the lead singer in the Saskatoon-based band Streetheart.
The group found chart success throughout the '70s and '80s with hits like "Action," "Hollywood," "Here Comes the Night" and "Under My Thumb." Most recently, the band released a hits compilation titled …Read All About It — The Hits/Anthology in 2008.
Streetheart continued to tour until this year, but all upcoming shows were cancelled when Shields underwent emergency heart surgery earlier this month. On July 5, bandmate Jeff Neill updated fans on the singer's health via Facebook, informing followers that Shields had "a very sick heart" that was operating at just 20 percent on the left side, forcing the right side to become damaged as a result of overcompensation and creating "a dangerous buildup of fluid in his lungs along with other serious internal issues."
Just two days ago (July 19), the band's Facebook page shared a message offering "our sincere thanks for your continued support and love for Kenny and his family at this time."
Today, Neill confirmed the news that Shields had passed away. "We are most grateful to each and every one of you for all the love, support and hope you have extended towards Kenny and his family over these last few weeks," he wrote. "I know personally how much that meant to Kenny and, I know that your kindness contributed to his inner peace in the end."
Read his full message below.
Shields was born in the farming town of Nokomis, SK, in 1947, and began his music career in Winnipeg in the mid-1970s. He went on to find fame as the lead singer in the Saskatoon-based band Streetheart.
The group found chart success throughout the '70s and '80s with hits like "Action," "Hollywood," "Here Comes the Night" and "Under My Thumb." Most recently, the band released a hits compilation titled …Read All About It — The Hits/Anthology in 2008.
Streetheart continued to tour until this year, but all upcoming shows were cancelled when Shields underwent emergency heart surgery earlier this month. On July 5, bandmate Jeff Neill updated fans on the singer's health via Facebook, informing followers that Shields had "a very sick heart" that was operating at just 20 percent on the left side, forcing the right side to become damaged as a result of overcompensation and creating "a dangerous buildup of fluid in his lungs along with other serious internal issues."
Just two days ago (July 19), the band's Facebook page shared a message offering "our sincere thanks for your continued support and love for Kenny and his family at this time."
Today, Neill confirmed the news that Shields had passed away. "We are most grateful to each and every one of you for all the love, support and hope you have extended towards Kenny and his family over these last few weeks," he wrote. "I know personally how much that meant to Kenny and, I know that your kindness contributed to his inner peace in the end."
Read his full message below.
