“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.”
King Charles Reveals His First Official Portrait, and People Are Terrified
In a much-anticipated reveal, King Charles III’s first official portrait since becoming king has sparked widespread conversation. Public reactions and critics’ opinions are far from mild, igniting lively debates on social media and among art enthusiasts. It’s evident that King Charles’ portrait is poised to be one of the most discussed royal artworks in recent memory.
Revealing the artwork
Recently, King Charles III revealed a new portrait of himself at Buckingham Palace, marking the first since his coronation. The Royal Family’s Instagram account posted an exclusive video showing the king presenting the artwork.
This notable portrait will eventually be showcased at Drapers’ Hall in London, joining its esteemed art collection and providing the public with a chance to see the monarch’s regal image.
The comments section quickly became a hotbed of debate.
The unveiling ignited a heated debate in the comments on the Royal Family’s Instagram post and other social media platforms. Opinions were sharply divided, with some users harshly criticizing the portrait. Comments included, “I would be very upset and offended if this was my royal portrait. It looks like a floating head in a sea of red. This is awful. Horrendous.”
One person said, “This is terrifying. Red is ALWAYS a bad sign unless it’s roses. This looks like a blood bath,” while another added, “It looks like it’s on fire.”
Despite the negative feedback, there were also positive remarks such as, “I love the portrait. It’s beautiful.” These mixed reactions highlight the polarizing nature of the portrait and the strong emotions it has stirred among the public.
What it actually represents
Jonathan Yeo, a well-known artist renowned for his innovative style in painting people, has gained praise for his ability to merge classic techniques with new ideas in portraiture. Yeo’s method involves more than just painting what someone looks like; he delves deep into the personalities of his subjects to capture their true essence.
In his latest work portraying King Charles III, Yeo stayed true to this approach. He aimed to strip away any distractions in the painting, focusing solely on allowing viewers to connect with the person behind the royal title. By spending time with the king and understanding him on a personal level, Yeo was able to create a portrait that goes beyond surface appearances and reveals the human within.
In Yeo’s portrait of King Charles III, one striking detail is the presence of a butterfly. This butterfly isn’t just a random addition; it holds deep symbolism and serves multiple purposes. Yeo explained that beyond representing the beauty of nature, the butterfly also highlights the environmental causes that the King has long supported, even before they became widely discussed.
Moreover, the butterfly adds visual interest to the portrait, breaking the uniformity and adding layers of meaning. In art history, butterflies often symbolize transformation and renewal, mirroring the King’s journey from Prince to monarch during the time the portrait was painted. This choice underscores the significant changes in King Charles’s life.
Yeo expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to create such an important portrait, “To try and capture that for His Majesty The King, who occupies such a unique role, was both a tremendous professional challenge and one which I thoroughly enjoyed and am immensely grateful for.”
Explore King Charles III’s life in-depth with 8 Things About King Charles III That Will Help Us Understand Him Better. Delve beyond his royal image to uncover intriguing insights into his interests, personal stories, and distinctive characteristics.
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