Kenny Shields has passed away at the age of 69. 

Shields, who was born and raised in Nokomis, SK (about 170km northeast of Moose Jaw), came to fame in the 1970s as lead singer of the popular Canadian band Streetheart. 

From his bio on www.KennyShields.com, "his passion for music and entertaining emerged at the age of six when he entered and won an amateur talent show. While continuing his interest in music and singing, upon graduation from secondary school he moved to Saskatoon to attend university but was immediately recruited by the city’s premiere band – Witness Incorporated."

A serious car accident in 1970 sidelined Shields for a few years, but he eventually would return to the stage and form the band Streetheart in 1976. The band would record six studio albums and one double-live album, scoring radio hits with songs like "What Kind of Love is This", "Look In Your Eyes" and a cover of the Rolling Stones hit "Under My Thumb," among others. 

Again from the bio, "Along the way they earned a total of six gold albums, four platinum albums, a gold single, two Ampex Golden Reel awards, a Music Express Peoples' Choice Award as Most Popular Canadian act, and a Juno Award."

In September 2003 Kenny Shields and Streetheart were inducted into the Western Canadian Music Association Hall of Fame.

The band had announced that 2017 would be the final year of touring for Streetheart, but last month had to cancel its remaining shows due to Shields undergoing emergency heart surgery. 

Streetheart lead guitarist Jeff Neill confirmed Shields death with a Facebook post that read:

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