“I look at my role as being a friend of Canberra Hospital, I can bring some pleasure and happiness sometimes to people who are really in difficult times in their lives.”
With backing music from a Bluetooth speaker, Sayer croons his way around the cancer wards, making a human connection with everyone he comes across.
Canberra Region Cancer Centre Operations Manager Caroline McIntyre says Sayer’s visits are typically kept a surprise for patients and staff.
“He’s always come in so discreetly,” she says.
“Normally it’s just very quiet, he comes up in the back lift and says hello to literally everybody.
“Some of them are doing it tough, and to have a little bit of joy and light – it really gives them a lift.
“What makes me happy is to see people getting chemo on their feet dancing.”
Jamming with Jimi Hendrix, Countdown and the Troubadour
Originally a graphic designer by trade, English-born Leo Sayer rose to pop prominence in London in the late 1960s, as a singer-songwriter – and was soon adopted by Australia as an honorary son after his first tour here in 1974.
He went on to become an Australian citizen in 2009.
Sayer was a regular on ABC TV’s Countdown during the 70s and 80s, performing chart-toppers like “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing”, “When I Need You”, “More Than I Could Say” and “Orchard Road”.
He blushingly admits they were wild days – when he didn’t always live up to his “good-guy” public persona.
“It was mad, I mean, Top of the Pops in England, Countdown over here,” he says.
“You were mobbed by the fans, I remember being dragged out of a limousine the first tour that I came here, and then speaking to crazy people like Molly Meldrum on TV and trying to sort of like take it all in.”
It seems hard to believe – the petite, well-spoken singer, with a mane of curly hair that inspired changing his name from Gerard to Leo – beating off mobs of screaming fangirls.
Sayer circulated in superstar company, becoming close friends with former Beatles George Harrison and Paul McCartney, collaborating with Roger Daltrey of The Who, and even sharing a sly cigarette or two with John Lennon and Yoko Ono who had a flat above his design studio.
“I met Jimi Hendrix right at the start of his career. I actually jammed with him, playing the harmonica, and him playing the guitar,” he says.
Recalling his 1975 opening night at the famous Troubadour Club in Los Angeles, he looked up to see an intimidating line-up of fans in the front row.
“It was David Bowie, Elton John, and ‘The Fonz’ [Henry Winkler].”
Alongside them: John Cleese, Mick Jagger, Bernie Taupin, and comedian Marty Feldman.
“We never thought it would last, we were adapting to things around us, writing songs about things that are around us,” he says.
“And we thought they were only for our generation — so the amazing thing is my music’s become like a fine wine, where you lay it down and years later, it becomes a collector’s item.
“We’re in an age where the music that I make, young kids are actually latching onto it now, and they’re finding that that generation and that style of music we made is as current now as anything.”
Sayer’s health battles, still spreading hope at 76
Leo Sayer says his hospital charity work caps off a career dedicated to providing joy through music.
“It’s a nice piece of synchronicity really, because I was born in the grounds of a hospital in Shoreham by Sea in Sussex, near Brighton in England,” Mr Sayer said.
“I suppose I’ve always felt comfortable in hospitals and being around hospitals.
“Growing up, my dad was a hospital engineer, Mum was a nurse, my sister was a matron.”
Sayer has health struggles of his own, including three stents in his heart, which help him have a genuine connection to the hospital patients he entertains.
“[My music] is providing something that isn’t taking away from any of the treatment that’s going on. It’s providing something that’s just putting a smile on peoples’ faces.
“Music is communication and that’s what this is all about, we’re communicating, we’re making people feel better.
“We’re not healing people with music, but we are making them feel better about their healing.
“To sell out Canberra Hospital will do me fine.”
Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso: The Untold Story of Hollywood’s Most Private Couple
Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso’s love story is a great example of a strong and lasting relationship in Hollywood. They met in 2003 in Miami, where Luciana was working as a bartender, and Matt was filming a movie. They felt a strong connection right away, and their relationship quickly grew.
Just two years after meeting, they decided to get married. In 2005, they had a private wedding at New York’s City Hall, away from the public eye. Their love has continued to grow over the years, proving that even in the spotlight, a relationship can thrive with love and commitment.
Luciana, originally from Argentina, had a daughter named Alexia from a previous marriage. Matt Damon welcomed Alexia as his own, showing his love and care for her from the start. After they got married, Matt and Luciana had three more daughters together: Isabella, Gia, and Stella.
Even though Matt has a very busy and high-profile career, the couple has managed to keep their family life strong and private. They prefer to stay out of the spotlight, especially when it comes to their children, allowing them to grow up away from the pressures of fame.
What stands out about Matt and Luciana’s relationship is their down-to-earth approach to marriage and family. Damon often praises his wife, saying she plays a big role in keeping their family strong and balanced. In interviews, he has talked about how their love is based on mutual respect and trust. They both work hard to maintain a sense of normal life, even with the challenges that come from being in the public eye. This commitment to each other and their family helps them stay connected and grounded.
The couple is known for their simple lifestyle and enjoys spending time together as a family away from the spotlight. They have lived in different places around the world, including New York, Los Angeles, and Australia. No matter where they are, they always make their family the most important part of their lives. This focus on family helps them create a close bond and enjoy special moments together.
Their love story shows that true love can grow strong, even in tough situations. Matt and Luciana remain one of Hollywood’s most respected couples, proving that with love, respect, and understanding, a marriage can survive challenges and the pressures of being in the public eye. Their commitment to each other inspires many, highlighting the importance of staying true to oneself and one’s family, no matter the circumstances.
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