Glen Campbell, the US country singer-songwriter, will officially retire from the music industry later this year after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Campbell will draw the curtain on his 50-year career with one final record and a series of farewell concerts, reports People Magazine.
The 75-year-old, best known for his smash-hit track 'Rhinestone Cowboy', was diagnosed with the common form of dementia six months ago. His wife Kim Campbell said the singer wanted fans to know the truth in case he "flubs a lyrics or gets confused on stage". Campbell himself said, "I still love making music, and I still love performing for my fans. I'd like to thank them for sticking with me through thick and thin". The Grammy Award-winner will play dates in Biloxi and Toronto in July and August, before heading out on a tour of the UK in October. The singer will perform in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and York before taking to the stage at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow. News of Campbell's Alzheimer's diagnosis comes just weeks after the songwriter received poor reviews for a concert in Carmel, Indiana, with most journalists focusing their criticism on Campbell's disorientation and off-key guitar notes.
Throughout his career, Glen Campbell has released over 70 albums, selling 45 million records worldwide. He once made the foray into acting, and was handpicked by John Wayne to appear in the western 'True Grit'.