at 23:19 on June 11, 2008, EDT.
By THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO - Respected guitarist Red Shea, whose accomplished playing supported Gordon Lightfoot, Ian Tyson and Tommy Hunter, has died. He was 70.

A death notice on a media agency's website says Shea died Tuesday of pancreatic cancer.

Shea's relationship with Lightfoot began in 1960 when they met while working on the CBC-TV music series "Country Hoedown."

He toured with Lightfoot from 1965 to 1970, returning briefly in 1975 and then joining Tyson's band.

Through the 1980s, Shea served as band leader for Hunter's long-running CBC-TV show.

Shea is survived by his wife Lynn, three children and four grandchildren.

A visitation set for Thursday will be followed by a memorial service Friday in Aurora, Ont.


©The Canadian Press, 2008