Geo Perdis
Wayne MacPhail
Marc Weisblott
TORONTO (CP) — Haydain Neale, the frontman for the Juno Award-winning group Jacksoul, has died of cancer at age 39.
He died Sunday at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, after a seven month battle with lung cancer, the family said in a release Monday.
Neale had also been recovering from serious injuries after being hit by a car while driving his Vespa motor scooter in Toronto on Aug. 3, 2007.
The group was to release SOULmate," on Dec. 1 with 10 new tracks, their first album since the accident.
The first single, Lonesome Highway," was co-produced and co-written by Neale, and touches on his recovery, supported by his wife, Michaela, daughter Yasmin and numerous others.
Family members and friends were by his side when he died.
"Through all these challenges, Haydain's sense of humour and love of music were ever-present," Michaela said in the statement.
He constantly brightened the room with his singing and his smile. His joyful presence and beautiful voice will be missed by us all."
An interment with a private family gathering will take place later this week.
All proceeds from the sale of SOULmate" will go to the Haydain Neale Family Trust.
Jacksoul's previous hits include Can't Stop" and Still Believe in Love."
