Sept5/23 Tonight I decided to search utube for Joe King (Lionel LeBlanc, known to us from his home village of Chéticamp, Cape Breton, N.S.). Only item I came across of his, is the thread that I’ve just read. Sadly Marcel Aucoin has since passed away. Joe, was a distant cousin of mine. I have all of his cassettes that he ever recorded. I attended his celebration of life in Oct/07. It was a huge success seeing all of his friends & musicians get up on stage at the Legion on the Lakeshore in Toronto. Wendell Roach, completed the Celebration of Life with 3 songs, of which one was Joe’ famous recordings being Take Your Roses & Your Rings. As well, Wendell spoke about Joe King, Lionel LeBlanc also known as Lionel à Marie Louise.
Wendell sang & spoke like a dove. It was the eve before Wendell was to record his 5th CD at Sideman Studio in Oshawa, with Doug Desveaux (Clarence Desveaux son) when suddenly Wendell felt ill. As I rushed to go get my car, in an overpacked parking lot , that held about 200 people in the Legion, Wendell’pain unknown to us ,was stronger. Sadly & unfortunately Wendell passed away a short time after in my vehicle of a massive heart attack. Joe had requested for Wendell to be at the celebration of life. Joe being the perfectionist he was, had itemized all for this event, coordinated by his lovely wife Sharron. Should you wish to hear some of Wendell Roach music, you may do so by going to utube. Why you ask I know so much? I happened to be Wendell sister. May they both R.I.P. & May their music live on for decades to come. Thank you for the read, regards Brenda Roache, residing in TO ( yet Cape Breton always referred to as home).