‘He just loved music’: Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Guthro dies at age 62

Award-winning singer-songwriter Bruce Guthro, originally from Cape Breton, N.S., has died after a fight with cancer at the age of 62.

Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Guthro has died at the age of 62 following a battle with cancer.

J.P Cormier, a fellow Cape Breton artist and close friend of the late Guthro, said he heard of his death Wednesday morning after receiving a call from Guthro’s family.

“We knew this was coming, people closest to him,” he said, noting that Guthro had been sick for a few years before conditions worsened over the last month. “He didn’t deserve to go the way he went.”

“We had a conversation just a few weeks ago … he was strong in his faith, and I hope he’s somewhere good.”

Guthro, who was from Cape Breton, N.S., experienced widespread commercial success for his 1998 hit Walk This Road, which reached No. 1 on the Canadian country charts. His album from the same year, Of Your Son, went gold in Canada.

At the peak of his success as a solo artist, Guthro joined Scottish celtic rock band Runrig — and performed as the group’s main vocalist for 25 years.

BBC also confirmed the death on Wednesday morning after speaking with Pete Wishart, a former Runrig bandmate.