By MIKE ROSS --

Edmonton's music community received a real shock this week when word came that Alfie Zappacosta was critically ill.

The 43-year-old Edmonton singer was admitted to the intensive care unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital on July 23, with severe pneumonia.

A respirator tube was used to help him breathe, and after doctors and family agreed that the tube might cause vocal cord damage, a tracheotomy was performed.

He remains in intensive care.

"His temperature was the biggest problem here," Zappacosta's manager Lou Blair said yesterday.

"He's not down to where the doctors like to see him, but the word, as of 48 hours ago, is that they had finally stabilized it. He's still under heavy sedation."

Supporting his new album Innocence Ballet, Zappacosta and his band recently came off a gruelling tour of the U.S. The rigors of constant travel, no sleep and dozens of concerts in different cities can wear down a performer, Blair said, noting that a similar illness recently knocked out Loverboy's Mike Reno for three months.

There are no immediate plans for a Zappacosta benefit show, but in keeping with the charitable track record of local musicians, it was discussed almost as soon they heard the news.

Zappacosta's drummer, Steve Hoy, said there's no need.

"There's been some people who have expressed some interest in doing that," he said. "I don't think it's the right thing to do right now.

"All we can do is pray, man. There's a lot of people behind him."

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