Kevin Bronson on March 9th, 2016

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Emitt Rhodes, the ’70s popsmith who last month released his first album in 43 years, has been forced to cancel his appearance at the 2016 SXSW Music Festival for heath reasons.

Chris Price, Rhodes’ collaborator and producer on the album “Rainbow Ends,” reported on Facebook that the 66-year-old singer-songwriter collapsed at his home two days ago and sought doctor’s care. Rhodes had been battling the flu when he appeared at the Grammy Museum on Feb. 25, and, Price says, “never fully recovered.”

Price adds:

“Everyone is in agreement that Emitt’s health and longevity is the first priority. Thus, it appears that unfortunately Emitt and Co. will not be traveling to Texas for these shows. … I can assure you with 100% certainty that Emitt was ready and willing to do the shows and feels incredibly embarrassed and ashamed that he is unable to. But at a certain point, reputation be damned, a decision has to be made as to what the priority must be. Is it more important that Emitt try to get in a van and travel halfway across the country, days after he collapsed in his own home, so he can fulfill these announced gigs and potentially damage his health and well being even further? Or is it more important that he get the necessary rest and treatment from his own doctors at home, so we have him around for much longer? I think the choice is obvious.”