Canadian rock singer Kenny Shields of Streetheart fame dies at 69

It's a sad day for fans of Streetheart, the Winnipeg-spawned band that was a powerful force on the Canadian rock scene in the late '70s and early '80s.

The group's singer, Kenny Shields, who had been dealing with serious heart issues for a number of years, died early today at a Winnipeg hospital.

News of his passing was relayed on a Facebook post by his close friend and bandmate Jeff Neill:

It is with deep sadness and regret that I announce that our dear friend and bandmate Kenny Shields has passed away quietly and peacefully early this morning at the St. Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg MB. 
By his side were his wife Elena, his daughter Julia and his sister Sharlene.
Our thanks to the caring and compassionate staff at the St. B for all the dignity and comfort that they provided for Kenny and his family throughout this difficult time. 
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. I know personally how much that meant to Kenny and, I know that your kindness contributed to his inner peace in the end.
I will keep you all updated as we move forward.
Live your life. Love your life and, enjoy every moment of your life with the ones you love. 
RIP my brother. 
You will be missed. 
You will never be forgotten. 
xox

Streetheart was best known for its version of the Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb", which was a hit in 1980, and helped the band win the Juno Award that year for Most Promising Group.

In February of 1983, before a Streetheart show at the Pacific Coliseum with Kilowatt and Headpins, I interviewed Shields for the Georgia Straight. I started the interview by asking him when he first got interested in music and songwriting.

"I was singing in public amateur shows when I was about six years old," Shields told me. "I used to run around the house and pretend that I had a microphone, singing to all the records I could get my hands on. Plus I would listen to the radio 25 hours a day.

"I guess I was hooked from the very beginning," he added. "I knew I could sing when I started screaming when I was born."