Well-known blind busker Kelven Scott died of a suspected heart attack while listening to music in his Christchurch home.

A Christchurch character known as the "blind busker", who regularly performed in Cathedral Square, has died.

Kelven Scott, 57, died of a suspected heart attack on Tuesday night while listening to music at his home.

Scott told Stuff before Christmas of his love of music, notably wind instruments, folk music and his passion for "all things South American".

He overcame adversity throughout his life and wished people could see beyond his disability.

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Dean Kozanic/Stuff Kelven Scott, known as the "Blind Busker", performs next to the Bridge of Remembrance in central Christchurch in 2011.

"My mother was born blind and was in and out of institutes ... I experienced a toxic childhood with physical abuse ... music helped me."

He had cataracts and glaucoma from birth, which meant he could only "see vague shadow shapes" for most of his life. He became blind about 10 years ago.

Scott held strong views on what he called "awful institutes" that only saw his disability and not his "worth or potential".

Stacy Squires/Stuff Kelven Scott was an iconic figure in Christchurch's Cathedral Square.

Paul Kean of The Bats described Scott as an "astute gentleman".

"He always knew what was going on. He was great to chat to and had a good sense of humour."

Scott worked in a factory at Atlas Appliances for more than 20 years until he was made redundant in 2006.

Because he was blind, people often emphasised what he couldn't do and wanted him to be "safe" and "live a small life".

Supplied Scott was a regular at Black Betty's cafe.

But Scott didn't want a small life.

"People need to stop treating people with disabilities as if they are vastly inferior human beings because we are not."

He started busking in Cathedral Square in 2006 and considered it his "job".

He had nicknames and hugs for his favourite regular listeners. After the February 2011 earthquake, there were rumours he had died when the Christ Church Cathedral spire collapsed on to the spot he usually performed.

Well travelled, Scott claimed to speak eight languages and liked to greet tourists in their native language.

"I'd often eat lunch in Cathedral Square and we just became friends after that, he had a nickname for me," long-time friend Sharon Thompson said. "A lot of people had his back, he even had members of the Mongrel Mob step up to help him one day."

Thompson went grocery shopping with Scott twice a week.

"He was fiercely independent and I greatly admired his tenacity and determination. People would meet him and always underestimate him, then you'd see them change once they spoke to him."

SUPPLIED Sharon Thompson videoed her friend, blind busker Kelven Scott, as he performed at The Bog on his birthday in November. He died of a suspected heart attack on Tuesday.

Tom Gregg of The Jamesons Irish Band said Scott had a "powerful singing voice", which he showed off at a recent visit to the The Bog Irish Bar.

"His effort stunned and delighted the punters."

Scott's landlord, Karina Machirus, said she would miss him greatly.

"We'd eat tea and watch Shortland Street together. He had his favourite meal that last night and was in his happy place listening to his music when he went."

"He was inspirational because he went out there and did what he wanted with his life despite everything and everyone saying no to him," Thompson said.

"He didn't live a small life ... he left a huge legacy."

Supplied Scott, the ''blind busker'' of Cathedral Square, was a passionate musician. He had a huge range of wind instruments, a powerful singing voice and was a familiar sight around Christchurch.