LAUREL MAXINE BLACK (nee Ward)
January 1, 1950 - August 24, 2014
After a five-year struggle with multiple
system atrophy, Laurel died peacefully on
August 24th surrounded by her family in
Vancouver, B.C. She was 64.
Laurel was an incredibly creative and
talented singer, musician and songwriter.
Growing up at Delta Marsh in Manitoba, she
first performed at age 16 on the
nationally televised Oscar Brand show
“Let’s Sing Out”. At 17 she travelled to
Toronto where she joined the cast of the
musical Hair, and recorded the “Prism” LP
with Gordon Lowe. In 1969 as part of Doug
Riley’s Dr. Music she recorded hits
including “Sun Goes By” and “One More
Mountain to Climb”.
She married singer Terry Black in 1970 and
together they recorded a number of singles
at Sir George Martin’s AIR studios,
including the hit “Going Down (On the Road
to L.A.)”. She also lent her voice to
other artists, singing background vocals
for Anne Murray, Alice Cooper, Myles and
Lenny, and Bob Seger.
Raising two boys, sometimes on her own,
she continued to write, record, and play
good music. To see her sing and play
during those years was to experience her
at her very best.
In 2009 she was diagnosed with multiple
system atrophy. Soon after, her voice and
her hands weakened and the music stopped.
In her final months she could not walk,
speak or communicate except through simple
gestures. Despite the tremendous losses
she suffered, and the daily frustrations
and indignities she was forced to endure,
her intelligence, grace, and sense of
humour remained intact. She enjoyed going
for walks in her wheelchair, she learned
how to use a computer to express her
thoughts, and she experienced the joy of
holding and playing with her
grandchildren.
She is survived by her two sons Alex Black
and Scott Black, her two grandchildren
Amelia and Arthur, her siblings Peter
Ward, Kevin Ward, Miles Ward, Jocelyn Ward
and Jill Ward, her nieces and nephews,
many cousins, and her good friends. She
will be deeply missed by all who knew and
loved her.
Laurel’s family is grateful to the
wonderful nurses and care aides at
Windermere Care Centre for all their hard
work and the love they showed her over the
past year. A service will be held in the
fall in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. All
are welcome to attend.
As
published online at The Graphic Leader
on September 9, 2014
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