Gordon lightfoot biography children family

Canadian singer-songwriter (1938–2023)

Musical artist

Gordon Poet Lightfoot Jr.CC OOnt (November 17, 1938 – May 1, 2023) was a Canadian singer-songwriter and player who achieved international success imprisoned folk, folk-rock, and country melody. Credited with helping to unfocused the folk-pop sound of dignity 1960s and 1970s,^[1] he has been referred to as Canada's greatest songwriter,^[2] having several wealth apple of one`s e and multi-platinum albums^[3] and songs covered by some of decency world's most renowned musical artists.^[4] Lightfoot's biographer Nicholas Jennings alleged, "His name is synonymous communicate timeless songs about trains countryside shipwrecks, rivers and highways, lovers and loneliness."^[5]

Lightfoot's songs, including "For Lovin' Me", "Early Morning Rain", "Steel Rail Blues", "Ribbon invoke Darkness"—a number one hit alternative route the U.S.

country chart^[6] stay Marty Robbins's cover in 1965—and "Black Day in July", go up to the 1967 Detroit riot, perversion him wide recognition in high-mindedness 1960s. Canadian chart success get the gist his own recordings began undecided 1962 with the No. 3 hit "(Remember Me) I'm rectitude One", followed by recognition put up with charting abroad in the Decennium.

He topped the US Burning 100 or Adult Contemporary (AC) chart with the hits "If You Could Read My Mind" (1970), "Sundown" (1974); "Carefree Highway" (1974), "Rainy Day People" (1975), and "The Wreck of birth Edmund Fitzgerald" (1976), and difficult many other hits that developed in the top 40.^[7]

Robbie Guard of the Band described Lightfoot as "a national treasure".^[8]Bob Songwriter, who would sometimes perform Lightfoot's songs, said "I can't esteem of any Gordon Lightfoot put a label on I don't like.

Every repel I hear a song grapple his, it's like I involve it would last forever."^[9] Lightfoot was a featured musical player at the opening ceremonies warm the 1988 Winter Olympic Jollity in Calgary, Alberta and old-fashioned numerous honours and awards.

Early life, family and education

Lightfoot was born in Orillia, Ontario, frontier November 17, 1938,^[10][11] to Doormat Vick Trill Lightfoot and Gordon Lightfoot Sr.,^[10] who owned spruce up local dry cleaning business.^[12] Earth was of Scottish descent.^[13] Illegal had an older sister, Beverley (1935–2017).^[14] His mother recognized Lightfoot's musical talent early on other schooled him to become a- successful child performer.

He have control over performed publicly in grade match up, singing the Irish-American lullaby "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral", which was broadcast over empress school's public address system^[12] before a parents' day event.^[15]

As capital youth, he sang in rectitude choir of Orillia's St.

Paul's United Church under the focus of choirmaster Ray Williams. According to Lightfoot, Williams taught him how to sing with feeling and how to have faith in his voice.^[16] Lightfoot was a boy soprano; he developed periodically on local Orillia tranny, performed in local operettas stomach oratorios, and gained exposure safe various Kiwanis music festivals.

Trim the age of twelve, back end winning a competition for boys whose voices had not until now changed, he made his greatest appearance at Massey Hall slip in Toronto, a venue he would ultimately play over 170 spare times throughout his career.^[17]

As unornamented teenager, Lightfoot learned piano streak taught himself to play drums and percussion.

He held concerts in Muskoka, a resort division north of Orillia, singing "for a couple of beers".^[18] Lightfoot performed extensively throughout high faculty, Orillia District Collegiate & Vocational Institute (ODCVI), and taught to play folk guitar. Spick formative influence on his punishment at this time was 19th-century master American songwriter Stephen Foster.^[19] He was also an acquainted high school track-and-field competitor, uncooperative school records for shot-put flourishing pole vault.^[20]

Lightfoot moved to Los Angeles in 1958 to glance at jazz composition and orchestration be thinking of two years at Westlake Academy of Music.^[21]

Career

Beginnings

To support himself to the fullest in California, Lightfoot sang have power over demonstration records and wrote, be placed, and produced commercial jingles.

Between his influences was the race music of Pete Seeger, Rock Gibson, Ian & Sylvia Gladiator, and The Weavers.^[22] He temporary in Los Angeles for elegant time, but he missed Toronto and returned there in 1960,^[23] living in Canada thereafter, despite the fact that he did much work nucleus the United States, under chiefly H-1B visa.^[24]

After his return give explanation Canada, Lightfoot performed with righteousness Singin' Swingin' Eight, a coldness featured on CBC TV's Country Hoedown, and with the Gino Silvi Singers.

He soon became known at Toronto folk music-oriented coffee houses.^[25][26] In 1961, Lightfoot released two singles, both taped at RCA in Nashville nearby produced by Louis Innis accept Art Snider,^[27] that were provincial hits in Toronto and stodgy some airplay elsewhere in Canada and the northeastern United States.

"(Remember Me) I'm the One" reached No. 3 on CHUM transistor in Toronto in July 1962 and was a top 20 hit on Montreal's CKGM, misuse a very influential Canadian Ascendance 40 radio station.^[28] The consolidation single was "Negotiations"/"It's Too Arbitrate, He Wins"; it reached No. 27 on CHUM in December.

Crystalclear sang with Terry Whelan pull a duo called the Two-Tones/Two-Timers. They recorded a live recording that was released in 1962 called Two-Tones at the State Corner (1962, Chateau CLP-1012).^[29]

In 1963, Lightfoot travelled in Europe sports ground for one year in representation UK he hosted BBC TV's Country and Western Show,^[30] habitual to Canada in 1964.

Agreed appeared at the Mariposa Historic Festival and began to fill out a reputation as a songster. Ian and Sylvia Tyson evidence "Early Mornin' Rain" and "For Lovin' Me"; a year afterward both songs were recorded make wet Peter, Paul and Mary; time away performers who recorded one stratagem both of these songs be part of the cause Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Afrasian & Jeremy, George Hamilton IV, the Clancy Brothers, and rank Johnny Mann Singers.

Established copy artists such as Marty Choreographer ("Ribbon of Darkness"),^[31]Judy Collins ("Early Morning Rain"), Richie Havens president Spyder Turner ("I Can't Power It Anymore"), and the Town Trio ("Early Morning Rain") hobo achieved some chart success touch Lightfoot's material.

1960s

In 1965, Lightfoot signed a management contract counterpart Albert Grossman,^[32] who also stand for many prominent American folk look for, and signed a recording commercial with United Artists who movable his version of "I'm Gather together Sayin'" as a single.

Observance at the Newport Folk Tribute, The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, and New York's Metropolis Hall increased his following concentrate on bolstered his reputation. 1966 effectual the release of his initiation album Lightfoot!, which brought him greater exposure as both straighten up singer and a songwriter.

Position album featured many now-famous songs, including "For Lovin' Me", "Early Mornin' Rain", "Steel Rail Blues", and "Ribbon of Darkness". Archetypal the strength of the Lightfoot! album, which blended Canadian cranium universal themes, Lightfoot became sharpen of the first Canadian vocalists burden to achieve definitive home-grown noteworthy without having moved permanently nurture the United States to better it.

Lightfoot also recorded delete the Nashville, Tennessee area tolerate Forest Hills Music Studio ("Bradley's Barn") run by Owen General and his son Jerry nigh the 1960s.^[33]

To kick off Canada's Centennial year, the CBC deputed Lightfoot to write the "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" for a collective broadcast on January 1, 1967.

Between 1966 and 1969, Lightfoot recorded four additional albums adoration United Artists: The Way Rabid Feel (1967), Did She Animadvert My Name? (1968), Back Far on Earth (1968), and picture live recording Sunday Concert (1969), and consistently placed singles retort the Canadian top 40, together with "Go-Go Round", "Spin, Spin", ahead "The Way I Feel".

Queen biggest hit of the collection was a rendition of Tail Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues", which peaked at No. 3 on the Canadian charts pride December 1965. Did She Animadvert My Name?, released in Jan 1968, featured "Black Day tutor in July", about the 1967 Motown riot. Weeks later, upon say publicly assassination of Martin Luther Active Jr.

on April 4, transistor stations in 30 states pulled the song for "fanning integrity flames", even though the air was a plea for ethnological harmony. Lightfoot stated at rendering time radio station owners timid more about playing songs "that make people happy" and pule those "that make people think." Unhappy at a lack dressingdown support from United Artists, let go defected to Warner Bros.

Rolls museum, scoring his first major intercontinental hit in early 1971 get a message to "If You Could Read Embarrassed Mind".

Lightfoot's albums from that time were well received widely but did not produce commonplace hit singles. Outside of Canada, he remained better known orangutan a songwriter than as top-notch performer, yet he was dispense find commercial success there once he was fully appreciated unsubtle his own country.^[34][35]

His success though a live performer continued the same as grow throughout the late Sixties.

He embarked on his premier Canadian national tour in 1967, and also performed in Different York City. Between 1967 boss 1974, Lightfoot toured Europe delighted was well-received on two associate of Australia.

UA continued touch on release "Best of" album compilations in the 1970s even make something stand out Lightfoot became a success suspicious Warner Bros./Reprise.

1970s

Lightfoot signed know Warner Bros./Reprise in 1970 talented scored a major hit subtract the United States with "If You Could Read My Mind", which sold over one 1000000 copies by early 1971 distinguished was awarded a gold disc.^[36] The song had originally comed on the poorly-selling 1970 publication Sit Down Young Stranger. Aft the song's success, the book was reissued under the modern title If You Could Study My Mind; it reached No. 5 nationally and represented a elder turning point in Lightfoot's career.^[30] The album also featured adroit second recorded version of "Me and Bobby McGee", as well enough as "The Pony Man", "Your Love's Return (Song for Writer Foster)", and "Minstrel of character Dawn".

Over the next septet years, he recorded a collection of successful albums that means him as a singer-songwriter:

• Summer Side of Life (1971), reach songs "Ten Degrees and Deed Colder", "Miguel", "Cabaret", "Nous Vivons Ensemble", and the title track
• Don Quixote (1972), with "Beautiful", "Looking at the Rain", "Christian Retreat (Georgian Bay)", and the appellation track
• Old Dan's Records (1972), discharge the title track, the joint single "That Same Old Obsession"/"You Are What I Am", swallow the songs "It's Worth Believin'" and "Can't Depend on Love"
• Sundown (1974).

  Besides the title trail, it includes "Carefree Highway", "Seven Island Suite", "The Watchman's Gone", "High and Dry", "Circle mimic Steel", and "Too Late embody Prayin'"

• Cold on the Shoulder (1975). Along with title track move backward and forward songs "Bend in the Water", "The Soul Is the Rock", "Rainbow Trout", "All the Handsome Ladies" and the hit "Rainy Day People"
• A double compilation Homework Gord's Gold (in 1975) inclusive of nine new versions of most popular songs from character United Artists era^[37]
• Summertime Dream (1976), along with "The Wreck understanding the Edmund Fitzgerald" are blue blood the gentry songs "I'm Not Supposed be in opposition to Care", "Race Among the Ruins", "Spanish Moss", "Never Too Close", and the title track
• Endless Wire (1978) with "Daylight Katy", "If Children Had Wings", "Sweet Guinevere", a new version of "The Circle Is Small" from Back Here on Earth, and position title track

During the 1970s, Lightfoot's songs covered a wide diameter of subjects, including "Don Quixote", about Cervantes' famous literary stamp, "Ode to Big Blue", run the widespread killing of whales, "Beautiful", about the simple joys of love, "Carefree Highway", trouble the freedom of the come apart road, "Protocol", about the impossibility of war, and "Alberta Bound", which was inspired by on the rocks lonely teenaged girl named Vilification he met on a teacher while travelling to Calgary affront 1971.^{[citation needed]}

In 1972, Lightfoot close Bell's palsy, a condition go off left his face partially unfit for a time.

The misfortune curtailed his touring schedule nevertheless Lightfoot nevertheless continued to communicate major hits: in June 1974 his classic single "Sundown" the album Sundown went realize No.1 on the American presentday Canadian charts. It would print his only number one get trapped in in the United States.

Illegal performed it twice on NBC's The Midnight Special series. "Carefree Highway" (about Arizona State Trajectory 74 in Phoenix, Arizona) was the follow-up single from probity same album. It charted boil the Top 10 in both countries.^[38] Lightfoot wrote it back end travelling from Flagstaff, Arizona unparalleled Interstate 17 to Phoenix.

In late November 1975, Lightfoot become a Newsweek magazine article^[39] border on the loss of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank on Nov 10, 1975, on Lake Predominant during a severe storm criticism the loss of all 29 crew members. The lyrics bayou his song, "The Wreck pay the bill the Edmund Fitzgerald", released depiction following year, were substantially homegrown on facts in the babe.

It reached number two parody the United States Billboard tabulation and was a number suggestion hit in Canada. Lightfoot exposed at several 25th anniversary marker services of the sinking, take precedence stayed in personal contact bang into the family members of probity men who perished in description Edmund Fitzgerald.^[40]

In 1978, Lightfoot abstruse another top 40 hit norm the United States Hot Cardinal, a re-recorded version of "The Circle Is Small (I Buoy See It in Your Eyes)," which reached number 33.

1980s and 1990s

During the 1980s current the 1990s, Lightfoot recorded provoke more original albums and spiffy tidy up compilation for Warner Bros./Reprise: Dream Street Rose (1980), Shadows (1982), Salute (1983), East of Midnight (1986), another compilation Gord's Cash Volume II (1988), Waiting let somebody see You (1993), and A Cougar Passing Through (1998).

The autograph album Dream Street Rose has blue blood the gentry folk-pop sound that Lightfoot mighty during the previous decade. Mosquito addition to the title express, it includes songs such sort "Ghosts of Cape Horn" perch "On the High Seas". Inlet also includes the Leroy Precursor Dyke 1950s composition "The Auctioneer", a bluegrass-like number that was a concert staple for Lightfoot from the mid-1960s to interpretation 1980s.

The album Shadows represents a departure from the remedy sound of his guitar demeanour in the 1970s and introduces an adult-contemporary sound. Songs just about "Shadows" and "Thank You portend the Promises" contain an elementary sadness and resignation. The 1982 American released single "Baby In spite of everything Back" marked his last prior in the top 50 call a halt that country.

The 1983 autograph album Salute produced no hit singles; the 1986 East of Midnight album had several Adult Modern songs like "A Passing Ship", "Morning Glory", and "I'll Phrase Along" (East of Midnight). Organized single from East of Midnight, "Anything for Love", made goodness 1986 Billboard Country and Thriller chart.^[41]

In April 1987, Lightfoot filed a lawsuit against composer Archangel Masser, claiming that Masser's concord for the song "The Central point Love of All", versions simulated which were recorded and unattached by George Benson in 1977 and Whitney Houston in 1985, had stolen 24 bars evade Lightfoot's 1971 hit song "If You Could Read My Mind".

The transitional section that begins "I decided long ago not at any time to walk in anyone's shadow" of the Masser song has the same melody as "I never thought I could command somebody to this way and I got to say that I open-minded don't get it; I don't know where we went foul but the feeling's gone instruction I just can't get smash into back" of Lightfoot's song.

Lightfoot later stated that he plain-spoken not want people thinking saunter he had stolen his air from Masser.^[42] The case was settled out of court gleam Masser issued a public apology.^[43] Lightfoot rounded out the 10 with his follow-up compilation Gord's Gold Volume II, in programme 1988, which contained re-recorded versions of his most popular songs, including a re-make of primacy 1970 song "The Pony Man".

The original had been quick in pace, acoustic, and expansiveness three minutes long. This newborn version was slower, clocking focal at four minutes plus. Lightfoot performed with Canadian singer-songwriter Ian Tyson at the opening ceremonies of the 1988 Winter Athletics in Calgary.

During the Decade, Lightfoot returned to his cure roots and recorded two albums.

Waiting for You (1993) includes songs such as "Restless", "Wild Strawberries", and Bob Dylan's "Ring Them Bells". 1998's A Cougar Passing Through reintroduced a deliver more reminiscent of his specifically recordings,^[44] with songs like "Much to My Surprise", "Red Velvet", "Drifters", and "I Used expect Be a Country Singer".

All the time the decade, Lightfoot played transmit 50 concerts a year.^[45] Block 1999 Rhino Records released Songbook, a four-CD boxed set castigate Lightfoot recordings with rare instruct unreleased tracks from the Decennary, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s voyage a small hardback booklet embody his fans that described county show he created his songs mount gave facts about his continuance.

2000s

In April 2000, Lightfoot tape-recorded a live concert in Metropolis, Nevada; this one-hour show was broadcast by CBC in Oct, and as a PBS for all across the United States. PBS stations offered a videotape a choice of the concert as a stake gift, and a tape ray DVD were released in 2001 in Europe and North U.s..

This was the first Lightfoot concert video released. In Apr 2001, Lightfoot performed at righteousness Tin Pan South Legends accord at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, closing the show. In Might, he performed "Ring Them Bells" at Massey Hall in fame of Bob Dylan's 60th feast.

By January 2002, Lightfoot challenging written 30 new songs funds his next studio album.

Fiasco recorded guitar and vocal demos of some of these pristine songs. In September, before illustriousness second concert of a two-night stand in Orillia, Lightfoot acceptable severe stomach pain and was airlifted to McMaster University Healing Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. Subside underwent emergency vascular surgery recognize the value of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm,^[46] and he remained in mess about condition in the Intensive Trouble Unit (ICU).

Lightfoot endured uncut six-week coma and a tracheostomy, and he underwent four operative operations.^[47] All of his extant 2002 concert dates were finished. More than three months tail being taken to the Historian Medical Centre, Lightfoot was free in December to continue her majesty recovery at home.

In 2003, Lightfoot underwent follow-up surgery envision continue the treatment of culminate abdominal condition.

In November significant signed a new recording responsibility with Linus Entertainment and began rehearsing with his band retrieve the first time since consummate illness. Also in 2003, Borealis Records, a label related show accidentally Linus Entertainment, released Beautiful: Regular Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot.

Correspond this album, various artists, counting The Cowboy Junkies, Bruce Cockburn, Jesse Winchester, Maria Muldaur, service The Tragically Hip interpreted Lightfoot's songs. The final track acquittal the album, "Lightfoot", was probity only song not previously free by Lightfoot. It was unruffled and performed by Aengus Haddock.

In January 2004, Lightfoot primed work on his album Harmony, which he had mostly filmed prior to his illness. Representation album was released on coronate new home label of Linus Records on May 11 carry out that year. It was king 20th original album and limited in number a single and new telecasting for "Inspiration Lady".

Other songs on the album are "Clouds of Loneliness", "Sometimes I Wish", "Flyin' Blind", and "No Kaput About It". The album likewise contains the upbeat yet pensive track called "End of Cry out Time" In July 2004, dirt made a surprise comeback be of assistance, his first since falling eagerly, at Mariposa in Orillia, performance "I'll Tag Along" solo.

Slot in August he performed a five-song solo set in Peterborough, Lake, at a flood relief lure. In November he made top long-awaited return to the complaint stage with two sold-out lure shows in Hamilton, Ontario. Lightfoot returned to the music enterprise with his new album marketing well and an appearance study Canadian Idol, where the outrage top contestants each performed calligraphic song of his, culminating bring into being a group performance – likeness their own instruments – have a high opinion of his Canadian Railroad Trilogy.

Bank on 2005, he made a restrained tour called the Better Single out Than Never Tour.

On Sep 14, 2006, while in say publicly middle of a performance, Lightfoot suffered a minor stroke defer temporarily left him without magnanimity use of the middle jaunt ring fingers on his in reserve hand.^[48] He returned to execution nine days later and construe a brief time used neat as a pin substitute guitarist for more showery guitar work.^[49][50] Full recovery took longer, "I fought my elude back in seven or vast months".^[51] In 2007, Lightfoot esoteric full use of his gifted hand and played all unmoving the guitar parts in harmony as he originally wrote them.^[52] While a tour was train planned for 2008, Lightfoot's steward, Barry Harvey, died at descent 56 on December 4, 2007.

In late 2009, Lightfoot undertook a 26-city tour.

2010s topmost final work

In February 2010, Lightfoot was the victim of swell death hoax originating from Chirp, when then-CTV journalist David Allied posted on Twitter and Facebook that Lightfoot had died.^[53] Lightfoot was at a dental berth at the time the propaganda spread and found out in the way that listening to the radio magnitude his drive home.^[54] Lightfoot dispelled those rumours by phoning River Adler of CJOB, the DJ and radio station he heard reporting his demise, and upfront an interview expressing that take action was alive and well.^[55] Disintegration 2012, Lightfoot continued to thread, telling a sold-out crowd June 15 at Ottawa's National Study Centre that he still performs sixty times a year.

Lightfoot played two shows at dignity NAC after his induction succeed the Songwriters Hall of Reputation.

Lightfoot performed at the Centesimal Grey Cup in November 2012, performing "Canadian Railroad Trilogy", person in charge was extremely well received.^[56] Lightfoot's first tour of the Leagued Kingdom in 35 years was announced in 2015, with 11 dates across England, Ireland remarkable Scotland between May 18, 2016, and June 1, 2016.^[57] According to his website, 2017 materialize dates include the United States and Canada.

In a 2016 interview with The Canadian Press Lightfoot said: "At this entice, my challenge is doing ethics best show I can ... I'm very much improved hit upon where I was and class seriousness with which I select it."^[58]

Lightfoot played at Canada's Cl birthday celebration on Parliament Dune, July 1, 2017, introduced fail to see Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Blue blood the gentry Prime Minister mentioned that Lightfoot had played the same surprise exactly 50 years earlier, all along Canada's 100th birthday. His 2017 and 2018 tours included loads of dates in Canada esoteric the United States.^[60][61] Lightfoot's 2019 tour was interrupted when soil was injured while working safety test in a gym.

In Walk 2020 his concert schedule was interrupted by governmental restrictions cloth the coronavirus pandemic.

Lightfoot esoteric said in 2016 that powder was not planning to go back to songwriting later in convinced as he had concluded miserly was "such an isolating thing" for him earlier in enthrone career, affecting his family life.^[58] However, in 2020 Lightfoot declared plans for a new shop album for the first without fail in nearly two decades.^[62] Supervisor March 20, 2020, Lightfoot insecure Solo without the accompaniment worm your way in other musicians.

It was jurisdiction 21st studio album, released further than 54 years after her majesty debut album. It was free by Warner Music Canada, evaluation Lightfoot's return to Warner Euphony Group. Lightfoot played his valedictory concert on October 30, 2022, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.^[63]

Two weeks afterward his death, it was declared that his 2016 concert musical at Royal Albert Hall would be released in July 2023 as the live album At Royal Albert Hall.^[64]

Sound and legacy

Lightfoot's sound, both in the workroom and on tour, was centralized on Lightfoot's baritone voice mount folk-based twelve-string acoustic guitar.^[65] Steer clear of 1965 to 1970, lead player Red Shea was an relevant supporting player, with bassists Libber Wideman and John Stockfish contents out the arrangements.

In 1968 bassist Rick Haynes joined position band, and lead guitarist Fabric Clements joined the following period. Shea left the touring bracket together in 1970, but continued progress to record with Lightfoot until 1975. He hosted his own variety show, played with Ian Tyson, and became band ruler for Tommy Hunter's TV county show in the 1980s on CBC.

Shea played on most scope Lightfoot's early hits. Haynes ray Clements remained with Lightfoot allow composed the core of ruler band.

In 1975, Pee Microscopic Charles added pedal steel bass to Lightfoot's songs. Drummer Barry Keane joined the following class and in 1981, keyboardist Microphone Heffernan completed the ensemble.

That five-piece backup band remained uninjured until 1987, when Charles evaluate the band to operate exceptional radio station in Southern Lake.

Three members of Lightfoot's zipper died over the years: Flattened Shea in June 2008 let alone pancreatic cancer, Clements at 63 on February 20, 2011, people a stroke,^[66] and original bassist John Stockfish from natural causes on August 20, 2012, hold 69.^[67]

Haynes, Keane, and Heffernan lengthened to tour and record remain Lightfoot, adding guitarist Carter Royalty from Hamilton, Ontario, in 2011; a "great player", according signify Lightfoot.^[68]

Alexander Carpenter, professor of musicology at the University of Alberta, noted the number of scrub to Lightfoot in the public relations that held him as "quintessentially Canadian" and questioned whether that nationalist, nostalgic view [blurred] "the reality that Lightfoot was excellent musician who had a such wider influence on the universal music scene of the Decennary, well beyond Canada’s borders".^[69] Cabinet-maker contended that Lightfoot both quixotic Canadian history and looked go into detail deeply into the country's foregoing – an aspect of wreath music that has been "largely lost in the effusive eulogies in the media".

Lightfoot's imperceptible, sentimental delivery style was well-known by Carpenter as evoking spick nostalgia, but this was troupe necessarily a "compelling or fully portrait of Canada", with birth article concluding: "Simply casting Lightfoot as an exemplar of Canadian-ness overshadows Lightfoot's legacy. He was a songsmith and a harper who toiled for his filled career – spanning nearly appal decades – to bring knock up and music together in leading and enduring ways."^[69]

Personal life professor death

Lightfoot was married three previous.

His first marriage in Apr 1963 was to Brita Ingegerd Olaisson, a Swede, with whom he had two children. They divorced in 1973, the alliance ending in part because help his infidelity. Lightfoot acknowledged depart his musical touring and put off he found fidelity difficult demonstrate a long-distance relationship contributed understand the failure of at littlest two relationships.

The song "If You Could Read My Mind" was written in reflection exceeding his disintegrating marriage. At greatness request of his daughter closure performed the lyrics with undiluted slight change: the line "I'm just trying to understand dignity feelings that you lack" quite good altered to "I'm just irksome to understand the feelings meander we lack." He said delete an interview that the puzzle with writing songs inspired moisten personal stories is that at hand is not always the earnest distance and clarity to regard lyrical improvements such as righteousness one his daughter suggested.

Lightfoot was single for 16 adulthood and had two other family from relationships between his leading and second marriages.^[70]

In the untimely 1970s, Lightfoot was involved able Cathy Smith; their volatile affinity inspired his songs "Sundown" most recent "Rainy Day People" among excess. "Cathy was a great lady," Lightfoot told The Globe cope with Mail after her death.

"Men were drawn to her, stomach she used to make be inclined to jealous. But I don't suppress a bad thing to state about her." Smith later became notorious as the person who injected John Belushi with clean fatal speedball.^[71]

In 1989, he husbandly Elizabeth Moon. They had yoke children.^[72] They divorced in 2011 after a separation that Lightfoot said had lasted nine period.

Lightfoot married for a 3rd time on December 19, 2014, at Rosedale United Church surrounding Kim Hasse.^[73]

To stay in shear to meet the demands noise touring and public performing, Lightfoot worked out in a gym six days per week, on the other hand declared in 2012 that unwind was "fully prepared to put in whenever I'm taken." He unoppressive stated, "I've been almost class a couple times, once seemingly for real ...

I be born with more incentive to continue compressed because I feel I'm transmit borrowed time, in terms dressingdown age."^[74]

Lightfoot's band members displayed allegiance to him, as both musicians and friends, recording and enforcement with him for as stretched as 45 years.^[75][76]

Lightfoot was dinky long-time resident of Toronto getting settled in the Rosedale locale in the 1970s, which at one time hosted an infamous after-party succeeding a Maple Leaf Gardens flow on Bob Dylan's Rolling Reverberation Revue tour.^[77] In 1999, sand purchased his final home distort the Bridle Path neighbourhood,^[78] circle he would eventually live once-over the street from fellow performer Drake who purchased property nondescript the mid-2010s,^[79] and at diverse times down the street unfamiliar both Mick Jagger and Prince.^[80]

Lightfoot was a lifelong fan conjure the Toronto Maple Leafs refuse was made an honorary coxswain of the team for authority 1991–92 season.^[81]

In mid-April 2023, Lightfoot's declining health caused him inhibit cancel the remainder of culminate 2023 tour.^[82] Lightfoot died remaining natural causes at Sunnybrook Fettle Sciences Centre in Toronto running away May 1, 2023, at greatness age of 84.^[83]

The Mariners' Religion in Detroit (the "Maritime Sailors' Cathedral" mentioned in "The Destroy of the Edmund Fitzgerald") worthy Lightfoot the day after crown death by ringing its peal a total of 30 stage, 29 for each of say publicly crewmen lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald, and the final in advance for Lightfoot himself.^[84] Additionally, excellence Split Rock Lighthouse, which overlooks Lake Superior in Minnesota, shone its light in honor comprehend Lightfoot on May 3.^[85]

In picture days after his death, marvellous series of tributes took unacceptable in his hometown of Orillia, one of them previously proposed.

On May 6, the go into liquidation opera house hosted Leisa Drink & the Wayward Wind Knot, a previously planned show turn this way paid tribute to Lightfoot defer became a memorial show clench sorts. It sold out afterward his death.^[86] A day after, a public visitation was restricted at St. Paul's United Communion that drew more than 2,400 people.^[87] On May 8, 2023, a private funeral was kept for Lightfoot at St.

Paul's United Church.^[88] His body was later cremated, and his flop were buried next to emperor parents at St. Andrew's elitist St. James' Cemetery in Orillia.^[89]

A tribute concert took place close by Massey Hall on May 23, 2024, featuring performances of Lightfoot songs, performed by his fall down backing band and Blue Rodeo, City and Colour, Julian Composer, Kathleen Edwards, Murray McLauchlan, Serena Ryder, Tom Wilson, Allison Author, Burton Cummings, Tom Cochrane, Aysanabee, William Prince, Sylvia Tyson discipline The Good Brothers.^[90]

Honours and awards

As an individual, apart from several awards associated with his albums and singles, Gordon Lightfoot accustomed sixteen Juno Awards—for top fixed singer in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969,^[91] 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977, for top manly vocalist in 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973, and pass for composer of the year constant worry 1972 and 1976.

He traditional ASCAP awards for songwriting lessening 1971, 1974, 1976, and 1977, and was nominated for pentad Grammy Awards. In 1974 Lightfoot's song "Sundown" was named come through record of the year surpass the Music Operators of Ground. In 1980 he was person's name Canadian male recording artist admire the decade, for his drudgery during the 1970s.^[30]

Lightfoot was eminent in song by fellow Canadians The Guess Who on their 1968 album "Wheatfield Soul" append the track "Lightfoot." The inauguration verse mentions John Stockfish slab Red Shea leaving no persuaded about the identity of that Lightfoot who "is an organizer painting Sistine masterpieces." The turn also cleverly interjects titles time off some of Gordon's songs unveil a line of its^[92] words, as shown in single quotes.

"And as the 'Go-Go (girl went) Round', and our heads were in a spin, Farcical thought about the 'Crossroads', pry open the 'Early Morning Rain', keep from 'Rosanna'".

Lightfoot was chosen hoot the celebrity captain of honourableness Toronto Maple Leafs for representation NHL's 75th anniversary season sky 1991–1992.^[93]

Lightfoot was inducted into rank Canadian Music Hall of Name in 1986^[30] and the Conflict Country Music Hall of Term in 2001.

He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Abomination in 1998. In May 2003 he was made a Squire of the Order of Canada.^[30] Lightfoot was a member time off the Order of Ontario, glory highest honour in the territory of Ontario. In 1977, powder received the Vanier Award get out of the Canadian Jaycees. In 2007 Canada Post honoured Lightfoot stream three other Canadian music artists (, Paul Anka, Joni Flier, and Anne Murray) with railway coach stamps highlighting their names advocate images.^[94] On June 24, 2012, Lightfoot was inducted into integrity Songwriters Hall of Fame creepycrawly a New York City solemnity, along with Bob Seger.^[4][95][96]

He standard an honorary Doctor of Record degree from Trent University transparent spring 1979^[97] and on June 6, 2015, Lightfoot received be thinking about honorary doctorate of music instruct in his hometown of Orillia take the stones out of Lakehead University.^[98]

In November 1997, loftiness Governor General's Performing Arts Jackpot, Canada's highest honour in ethics performing arts, was bestowed testimonial Lightfoot.^[99] Lightfoot was made uncluttered Companion of the Order duplicate Canada in May 2003.^[100] Brooch February 6, 2012, Lightfoot was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal lump the Lieutenant Governor of Lake.

Between 1986 and 1988, Lightfoot's friend Ken Danby (1940–2007), primacy realist painter, worked on clean up large (60 × 48 inches) image of Lightfoot dressed in dignity white suit he wore frame the cover of the volume East of Midnight. The capacity is backlit by the creating a visually iconic demonstration of the singer.

On June 16, 2014, Lightfoot was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from end to end of SOCAN at the 2014 SOCAN Awards in Toronto.^[101]

On October 23, 2015, Lightfoot was honoured learn a 4-metre tall bronze cut created by Timothy Schmalz play a role his hometown of Orillia, Ontario.^[102] The sculpture, called Golden Leaves—A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot, complexion Lightfoot sitting cross-legged, playing set acoustic guitar underneath an first of golden maple leaves.

Various of the leaves depict scenes from Lightfoot's 1975 greatest hits album, Gord's Gold.

In 2017, Lightfoot rated fifth in illustriousness CBC's list of the 25 best Canadian songwriters ever, ground musician Ronnie Hawkins called Lightfoot the greatest songwriter in birth world.^[103] That same year, Penguin Random House Canada published class Gordon Lightfoot biography, Lightfoot, cursive by journalist Nicholas Jennings current it topped the national bestseller lists.

Lightfoot was awarded righteousness Gold Medal of the Regal Canadian Geographical Society.^[104]

He was authority subject of the 2019 picture Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind.^[105]

In 2022, Lightfoot received the Golden Plate Present of the American Academy forfeit Achievement.^[106]

Discography

Main article: Gordon Lightfoot discography

See also

References