“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.”
TAYLOR SWIFT’S APPEARANCE AT THE CHIEFS GAME RAISES EYEBROWS – ‘TOO MUCH WEIGHT,’ SAY FANS
TAYLOR SWIFT’S APPEARANCE AT THE CHIEFS GAME RAISES EYEBROWS – ‘TOO MUCH WEIGHT,’ SAY FANS
Taylor Swift got a lot of attention for her look and outfit when she attended the NFL game to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.
Taylor was at the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Baltimore Ravens on September 5, 2024. This was the opening night of the NFL season, and she was there to cheer on Travis Kelce, who plays for the Chiefs.
Taylor Swift made a stylish entrance at Arrowhead Stadium, wearing a fashionable Medusa ’95 Versace denim corset top, thigh-high red Giuseppe Zanotti boots, and carrying a sleek Louis Vuitton handbag.
Fans who saw Taylor Swift’s pictures from the game shared their opinions online. One fan even speculated about a possible pregnancy, adding a pregnant emoji, “She’s getting thick …?”
Another fan criticized her outfit, saying, “So tacky! Can she not get a fashion consultant?” Another added, “With all her money, you’d think she could have had her stylist pick out a better outfit.”
However, not everyone shared the negative views. One fan loved the outfit, saying, “Such a cute outfit.” Another defended Taylor, writing, “Can’t believe some people say she ‘put on too much weight.’ She looks better like this than she did as a stick figure.”
Appreciation for Taylor’s appearance continued with one fan praising her transformation: “Definitely find her more attractive with some extra meat on her bones. Never liked the twig physique.” Another fan kept it simple and positive, saying, “She’s beautiful.”
Taylor appeared to have a great time at the game. Once inside the stadium, she took her usual place in Travis Kelce’s luxury suite, sitting comfortably next to his parents, Ed and Donna.
Videos showed Taylor and Ed enjoying each other’s company during the exciting NFL game. They chatted and laughed together, looking very relaxed and happy.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have become a popular couple, and their photos together often go viral. Recently, their date night photos have gotten a lot of attention for several reasons.
People have been closely analyzing the pictures and some have started speculating about Taylor possibly being pregnant, similar to her friend Brittany Mahomes.
On July 16, Taylor and Travis were seen out on the streets of London with their friends. Photos from that night, shared by their loved ones, have sparked a lot of comments and guesses from people on social media.
Summitt recently shared a fun carousel of photos on Instagram from his trip. The pictures show highlights from their time at nature reserves and beaches, as well as a memorable helicopter ride with Patrick.
One of the photos features a group shot of Summitt, his wife Miranda, Brittany, Patrick, and the celebrity couple Travis and Taylor. In the photo, Travis is seen with his arm around Taylor’s shoulders, his hand resting just below her chest.
For the evening event, Taylor Swift wore a beautiful light-blue dress by Vivienne Westwood, called the “Sunday Gathered Cotton Midi Dress.” The dress is priced at $1,010.
Some social media users were uncomfortable with how Travis had his hand placed on Taylor in the photo. One Instagram user commented, “Swifties take a closer look at this guy … Yikes .”
Another person added, “It looks like she was trying to move his hand to her waist. I don’t think it’s cute, I think it’s cringey.”
Some people focused on Taylor’s dress, criticizing her fashion choice. One person remarked, “Why do her dresses always look like a moo moo my grandma would wear?” Another said, “Taylor needs to fire her stylist.”
Others analyzed a photo of Brittany where Travis had one hand on his lower stomach. A social media user wondered, “Travis is cradling his lower abdomen and pointing to himself. What does that mean?” Another person joked, “Travy, get Tay preggers. We need little besties for life.”
While Taylor hasn’t confirmed or denied the pregnancy rumors, her close friend Brittany has confirmed that she will soon be a mom of three.
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