The Vancouver Canucks Hockey team has confirmed the passing of their longtime (40 years!) singer of the national anthem at Canuck home games, Richard Loney.
(courtesy CBC News) Sept 9 2015 3:47 pm
Vancouver Canucks President Trevor Linden has confirmed the passing of longtime anthem singer Richard Loney.
In an online statement, Linden described Loney’s voice as one-of-a-kind.
“The entire Vancouver Canucks organization is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Richard Loney.”
Richard sang the anthem at the first Canucks NHL game in 1970, going on to sing for the team for the next 40 years. He also sang for the the Lions, Whitecaps, Giants and at Safeco Field for the Blue Jays.
“I was lucky enough to hear him sing O Canada so many times during my playing career,” said Linden. “He’s been such a big part of our team’s history and was a true icon in B.C.”
“He was such a nice man and I will miss him. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Marion, and his family and friends.”
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/richard-loney-vancouver-canucks-anthem-singer-dies-1.3221683
RIP Mr. Loney,
You always and with great care to respect both US and Canadian anthems performed each perfectly and without the over done fluff of what all too many singers do especially in current times and yes mostly singers in the US that feel they need to take a respectful anthem into their over done singing play thing.
Mr. Loney is now up crooning up there with the late, great Montreal Canadiens anthem singer Mr. Roger Doucet.
He was my grade7 teacher in North Vancouver He took the whole class to the Pirates of Pezonce We had a fan club for him in the bike shed was soo happy to find him singing for the Canucks
I worked with the Canucks, doing PA in 1986, for a few games, and got to work with Richard, and he was a very kind and sweet guy. His eyes crinkled when he smiled. We all loved him.
RIP – and another sign that time is passing quickly.