It has been reported on the Hoffman forum that Glen Campbell has been diagnosed with Alzheimers disease.

Very sad to hear that news...

http://content.usatoday.com/communities ... iagnosis/1

Glen Campbell reveals Alzheimer's diagnosis
By Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY

To those of you who can't think of Glen Campbell without humming a few bars of his classic 1968 songs Wichita Lineman or Gentle on My Mind,here's some sad news.

The country singer/actor, 75, and his wife, Kim, tell People magazine that Campbell has Alzheimer's disease.

They have decided to go public with Campbell's health news diagnosis because he's hoping to say farewell with a final slate of live performances this fall – and they want his fans to be aware of the musician's condition, reports People.

"Glen is still an awesome guitar player and singer," says Kim. "But if he flubs a lyric or gets confused on stage, I wouldn't want people to think, 'What's the matter with him? Is he drunk?' "

So that explains why he said that his next album (which is in the can, I think) will be his last.

Very sad, but what an incredible body of work he has behind him.

Alzheimers sucks.
Campbell has had a great career, and I 'm glad he will be able to end it with a final album and some live performances.
I wish the best for him and his family.

Very sad news.

It's not been a good week for guitar players...

But I'm glad for Glen's sake that his fans will get a chance to show their appreciation before it's too late for him to receive it. And kudos for the Campbells for being up front about his condition and cutting off any rumors about performance issues before they can get started.

Alan

The guy is 75 let's not forget, not too many out there recording at that age even without an illness.

I didn't realize he was that old. I thought he was in his early 20's when he hit it big in '67.

I thought he was a teen when he played with the Beach Boys. Guess not.

Nah, he was a member of The Champs in the late '50s.

I dug out Campbell's box set for a listen here at work. Wow, some great songs and fine arrangements on his 60s/70s output.

I'd be interested in seeing the tour when it hits NYC.

Campbell shines in 1st show since Alzheimer's news

By CHRIS TALBOTT - AP Entertainment Writer | AP – 20 hrs ago

BILOXI, Miss. (AP) — Glen Campbell leaned over his blue electric guitar, plucked a few strings and made a sour face.

"Dadgum it," he said.

Campbell, 75, fiddled a few seconds longer while standing backstage Friday night at the IP Casino and finally found a perfect D chord.

"There it is," he said, before turning on his heel and marching into the spotlight. He launched into "Gentle on my Mind" and — without so much as clearing his throat — nailed it.

"That first one is a doozey, ain't it?" Campbell asked the crowd.

It was classic Glen Campbell. Alzheimer's disease may have changed a lot of things in the Country Music Hall of Famer's life, but his ability to create sounds that still resonate in our shared memory with his blue G&L Comanche on "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" or his Hamer 12-string on "Southern Nights" is virtually untouched.

In the night's finest moment, Campbell brought the crowd to its feet after nailing the delicate runs in the middle of his classic "Wichita Lineman."

Campbell's first performance since announcing he has Alzheimer's, the degenerative brain disease that's slowly robbing him of his memories and abilities, was largely a triumph. His family and road crew were worried he might be rusty after a long layoff since his last performance. Except for a few flubbed lyrics, quickly corrected with the help of teleprompters, Campbell and his band powered through a tight 22-song set interspersed with self-deprecating jokes.

"I tell you I'm happy to be here," Campbell said. "At my age I'm happy to be anywhere. It seems like I've been doing this since Hitler was a corporal."

Fronting a band that includes four of his children and close friends, Campbell played favorites like "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Galveston" and finished the evening with two songs from his new album, "Ghost on the Canvas," out Aug. 30 on Surfdog Records.

The album, which features guest appearances and song contributions from Paul Westerberg, Jakob Dylan, Keith Urban, Billy Corgan, Brian Setzer, Rick Nielsen and Dick Dale, is Campbell's last studio album. He plans a goodbye tour as well. Friday's show was a one-off, an excuse to gather his family around him and have a little fun.

"When I get tired of playing golf I do one of these," Campbell joked in an interview earlier in the day.

Campbell was loose and easy-going all day, joking his way through rehearsal and posing for pictures with fans before and after the show. Two drove six hours and showed up with homemade shirts that read "Glen Campbell Fan." A couple flew in from Seattle. Another fan noted he keeps Campbell's music in heavy rotation on his iPod. "It's wonderful to meet someone with taste!" Campbell said with a laugh.

Tour manager Bill Maclay said the good mood is due to the presence of Campbell's family. His wife, Kim, began coming on the road with him three years ago. And his band includes his oldest daughter, Debby Campbell-Cloyd, who sings harmony, and his three youngest children: sons Cal on drums and Shannon on guitar, and daughter Ashley on banjo and keys.

All those familiar faces make Campbell feel comfortable.

"The road is home right now," Maclay said.

As much as Campbell enjoyed being on stage, the few moments he spent in the wings while watching Debby and Ashley sing a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" may have been his favorite.
"I like to hear sister harmonies," he said in a whisper. "I don't know what it is. They're amazing. I'm really blessed. It's awesome."