A HUGELY popular entertainer from Greenock who won fans all over the globe with his online singing videos during pandemic lockdown has tragically died just days after being diagnosed with cancer.
Fun-loving Joe Ballantyne, an all-round performer who sang in care homes, ran line-dancing classes and also worked as a DJ, first fell ill suddenly on November 15.
Doctors gave him the devastating news he had Lymphoma and he sadly passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, aged 72.
During the Covid outbreak Joe became an internet hit and helped lift spirits, with one duet alone attracting 38,000 views.
Since his death his sons Graeme, Stephen and daughter Lesley have been overwhelmed by hundreds of messages of condolence that have flooded in.
Joe's passing comes two years after he lost his beloved wife Irene, who he was devoted to and looked after for many years.
Lesley said: "We are still in so much shock, it was so sudden.
"But all the messages help so much and are a great comfort to us.
"It would have made dad so happy to know how much he meant to people.
"Everyone knew him and loved him, you couldn't walk down the street without him speaking to people. He never forgot a name or a face and just loved performing, it was everything to him.
"My dad was a gentleman with old fashioned values but he had a wicked sense of humour and was devoted to his family.
"I don't know what we are going to do without him."
Talented singer and musician Joe spent ten years performing in care homes across Inverclyde, belting out everything from Dean Martin to George Ezra.
Lesley added: "The residents just loved him and he loved them back, he really connected with them."
Joe started going along to line-dancing with his wife Irene and soon caught the bug. He started entering competitions and even ran his own classes.
During the pandemic he began posting daily videos and his singing went to a much wider audience.
Right up until his death Joe continued to sing online and took requests from all his new friends across the globe.
Joe previously told the Tele that it was this friendship found through his singing that helped him cope when Irene died aged 66 after suffering from illness for many years.
The veteran performer continued to play live until very recently, including a regular slot at a charity country and western night in the Grand Ole Opry in Glasgow.
Joe died only a month before his 73rd birthday.
He fell at his home in Partridge Road and an ambulance was called.
Joe's condition deteriorated while back staying with Lesley and when he fell again he was rushed back to Inverclyde Royal.
Son Stephen added: "He ended up going into hospital and never came home. We were told he had lymphoma and it couldn't be treated. He died three days later.
"We were altogether round his beside, all his sisters made it to be with him as well.
"In a way it is what he would have wanted, to go so quickly. His own dad died young from lung cancer, it was a long and drawn out and that stayed with him. "
Even in IRH the family were reminded of how much their dad meant to so many people.
Stephen said: "A nurse from ICU came to tell us that she had loved his singing and watched his videos."
Joe grew up in Grieve Road the oldest and only boy in his family, with five younger sisters.
He stayed close by all his days, living for 40 years in the family home.
As a teenager he had a love of music and his own band and it was while performing in clubs that he met his future wife.
Joe spent most of his working life as compositor with McKelvies, where he had close links with the Tele, and then when it closed down he worked for a printers in Glasgow.
Lesley said: "He absolutely loved that job and kept going until it all went digital."
Before retiring Joe worked for the DWP at the jobcentre.
He was a devoted dad to his three children Graeme, 50, Stephen, 45 and Lesley, 44.
Stephen said: "When I was a wee boy I was always asking him to take me fishing, because that is what he used to do with his dad.
"He had a weekend job in the taxis to get extra money and gave it up so me and him could do fishing together, and I loved it."
The talented singer also doted on his grandchildren Nicole, 25, Joshua, 21, Matthew, 16, and Abigail, seven.
Joe was also a devoted father-in-law as well as brother to Kathleen, Margaret, Esther, Joan and Maria.
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