Battling Cancer

Curtis Salgado, the singer and bluesman who was the visual inspiration for John Belushi’s Blues Brothers act, has liver cancer and has suspended concerts.
Salgado, who grew up here and lives in Portland, was diagnosed with cancer three weeks ago. The 52-year-old performer expects to begin radiation treatment in May and eventually hopes to have a liver transplant, said longtime manager Shane Tappendorf.

“We’re just staying optimistic,” Tappendorf said. “As we take each treatment, we’ll know more.”

Salgado was singing and playing harmonica for blues guitarist Robert Cray in 1977 when he met Belushi at the Eugene Hotel. Belushi was in town to film “Animal House.”

[MORE: Inside Bay Area - Singer and Bluesman Salgado Has Cancer]