SOCAN member Haydain Neale, the acclaimed singer of Canadian R&B/soul group Jacksoul, died Nov. 22, 2009, at the age of 39, after a seven-month battle with lung cancer. Neale was surrounded by family members and friends when he passed away at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital.

This wasn't Neale's only health issue over the past few years. The soulful crooner had fallen into a lengthy coma on Aug. 3, 2007, after he was knocked from his Vespa motor scooter by a car and sustained serious head injuries. "Through all these challenges, Haydain's sense of humour and love of music were ever-present," his wife, Michaela Neale, said in a statement. " His joyful presence and beautiful voice will be missed by all."

"Haydain was a very gifted and unique talent, with a great heart and a great sense of humour that could light up any room," said SOCAN's Gary Laranja, who worked with Neale for several years as his account executive at the organization. "From the first time I met Haydain to the last time I had the privilege of speaking with him, all I keep remembering is how charismatic and genuine he was. I know this sentiment is shared by all who have been lucky enough to work with him. He will be missed but never forgotten."

Neale made his first public appearance since the traffic accident on Oct. 4, 2009, when he was in the audience during the taping of Bravo's Motown At The Concert Hall. Jacksoul released a new single, "Lonesome Highway," on Nov. 3. The song appears on SOULmate, the band's first album since 2006, which was released Dec. 1. At the time of this posting, a tribute concert was scheduled for Dec. 7 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, featuring k-os, Nelly Furtado, Divine Brown, Justin Nozuka, Keshia Chante, Luke McMaster and others. All proceeds from the sale of the album, and ticket sales from the tribute concert, will go to the Haydain Neale Family Trust.

Neale began recording with Jacksoul in 1996. The group won the R&B/soul recording of the year Juno in both 2001 and 2007, and was nominated for other Juno Awards as well. Neale also won a Canadian Urban Music Award for Songwriter of the Year in 2004. Jacksoul's previous hits include "Can't Stop" and "Still Believe in Love," and the band toured as the opening act for James Brown in the summer of 2004. Neale also served as president of the Songwriters' Association of Canada for several years in the 2000s.

Neale performed at SOCAN's all-staff meeting in 2006 (with Jacksoul guitarist Justin Abedin), where he thanked the organization for its long-term support of his work, and was warmly received by SOCAN staff from across the country. He also won a SOCAN Urban Music Award in 2005 (which he shared with co-writers Michael St. Clair and Curtis Richardson [BMI]) for writing Jacksoul's hit song "Shady Day."

You can leave messages of condolence at www.jacksoul.com.