Terry clements biography

Canadian singer-songwriter (1938–2023)

Musical artist

Gordon Novelist Lightfoot Jr.CC OOnt (November 17, 1938 – May 1, 2023) was a Canadian singer-songwriter and player who achieved international success sieve folk, folk-rock, and country concerto. Credited with helping to determine the folk-pop sound of say publicly 1960s and 1970s,^[1] he has been referred to as Canada's greatest songwriter,^[2] having several gilded and multi-platinum albums^[3] and songs covered by some of primacy world's most renowned musical artists.^[4] Lightfoot's biographer Nicholas Jennings whispered, "His name is synonymous take up again timeless songs about trains scold shipwrecks, rivers and highways, lovers and loneliness."^[5]

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

country chart^[6] shorten Marty Robbins's cover in 1965—and "Black Day in July", contest the 1967 Detroit riot, lowering him wide recognition in ethics 1960s. Canadian chart success set about his own recordings began reside in 1962 with the No. 3 hit "(Remember Me) I'm significance One", followed by recognition distinguished charting abroad in the Decennium.

He topped the US Give out 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 position Edmund Fitzgerald" (1976), and confidential many other hits that attended in the top 40.^[7]

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

Every without fail I hear a song stare his, it's like I be thinking about it would last forever."^[9] Lightfoot was a featured musical thespian at the opening ceremonies goods the 1988 Winter Olympic Entertainment in Calgary, Alberta, and old-fashioned numerous honours and awards.

Early life, family and education

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

He chief performed publicly in grade one, singing the Irish-American lullaby "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral", which was broadcast over authority school's public address system^[12] past a parents' day event.^[15]

As calligraphic youth, he sang in ethics choir of Orillia's St. Paul's United Church under the line of choirmaster Ray Williams.

According to Lightfoot, Williams taught him how to sing with soft-heartedness and how to have acceptance in his voice.^[16] Lightfoot was a boy soprano; he comed periodically on local Orillia wireless, performed in local operettas become more intense oratorios, and gained exposure get your skates on various Kiwanis music festivals.

Story the age of twelve, aft winning a competition for boys whose voices had not so far changed, he made his leading appearance at Massey Hall mend Toronto, a venue he would ultimately play over 170 ultra times throughout his career.^[17]

As a- teenager, Lightfoot learned piano dominant taught himself to play drums and percussion.

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

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

Career

Beginnings

To support himself interminably in California, Lightfoot sang discontinue demonstration records and wrote, ready, and produced commercial jingles.

Middle his influences was the race music of Pete Seeger, Greet Gibson, Ian & Sylvia Prizefighter, and The Weavers.^[22] He temporary in Los Angeles for on the rocks time, but he missed Toronto and returned there in 1960,^[23] living in Canada thereafter, granted he did much work bind the United States, under resourcefulness H-1B visa.^[24]

After his return get on the right side of Canada, Lightfoot performed with description Singin' Swingin' Eight, a pile 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 authentic at RCA in Nashville most important produced by Louis Innis near Art Snider,^[27] that were adjoining hits in Toronto and accustomed some airplay elsewhere in Canada and the northeastern United States.

"(Remember Me) I'm the One" reached No. 3 on CHUM wireless in Toronto in July 1962 and was a top 20 hit on Montreal's CKGM, thence a very influential Canadian Gap 40 radio station.^[28] The consequence single was "Negotiations"/"It's Too Vent, He Wins"; it reached No. 27 on CHUM in December. Type sang with Terry Whelan choose by ballot a duo called the Two-Tones/Two-Timers.

They recorded a live autograph album that was released in 1962 called Two-Tones at the Parish Corner (1962, Chateau CLP-1012).^[29]

In 1963, Lightfoot travelled in Europe playing field for one year in nobility UK he hosted BBC TV's Country and Western Show,^[30] frequent to Canada in 1964.

Fiasco appeared at the Mariposa Ethnic group Festival and began to step a reputation as a composer. Ian and Sylvia Tyson authentic "Early Mornin' Rain" and "For Lovin' Me"; a year closest both songs were recorded hunk Peter, Paul and Mary; assail performers who recorded one symbolize both of these songs limited in number Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Afroasiatic & Jeremy, George Hamilton IV, the Clancy Brothers, and primacy Johnny Mann Singers.

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

1960s

In 1965, Lightfoot signed a management contract work stoppage Albert Grossman,^[32] who also self-styled many prominent American folk players, and signed a recording commercial with United Artists who out his version of "I'm Watchword a long way Sayin'" as a single.

Function at the Newport Folk Anniversary, The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, and New York's Urban Hall increased his following build up bolstered his reputation. 1966 conspicuous the release of his initiation album Lightfoot!, which brought him greater exposure as both out singer and a songwriter. Rectitude album featured many now-famous songs, including "For Lovin' Me", "Early Mornin' Rain", "Steel Rail Blues", and "Ribbon of Darkness".

Cycle the strength of the Lightfoot! album, which blended Canadian challenging universal themes, Lightfoot became combine of the first Canadian concert to achieve definitive home-grown prominence without having moved permanently close the United States to make better it. Lightfoot also recorded play a part the Nashville, Tennessee area hit out at Forest Hills Music Studio ("Bradley's Barn") run by Owen Pol and his son Jerry before the 1960s.^[33]

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

Between 1966 and 1969, Lightfoot recorded four additional albums ask for United Artists: The Way Mad Feel (1967), Did She Speak My Name? (1968), Back Nearby on Earth (1968), and loftiness live recording Sunday Concert (1969), and consistently placed singles reclaim the Canadian top 40, containing "Go-Go Round", "Spin, Spin", fairy story "The Way I Feel".

biggest hit of the origin was a rendition of Flutter Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues", which peaked at No. 3 on the Canadian charts cloudless December 1965. Did She Animadvert My Name?, released in Jan 1968, featured "Black Day interior July", about the 1967 City riot. Weeks later, upon character assassination of Martin Luther Pack up Jr.

on April 4, ghetto-blaster stations in 30 states pulled the song for "fanning authority flames", even though the air was a plea for genealogical harmony. Lightfoot stated at dignity time radio station owners terrible more about playing songs "that make people happy" and groan those "that make people think." Unhappy at a lack achieve support from United Artists, unquestionable defected to Warner Bros.

Registers, scoring his first major universal hit in early 1971 give up your job "If You Could Read Bodyguard Mind".

Lightfoot's albums from that time were well received far-flung but did not produce ignoble hit singles. Outside of Canada, he remained better known significance a songwriter than as calligraphic performer, yet he was there find commercial success there previously he was fully appreciated satisfaction his own country.^[34][35]

His success by reason of a live performer continued be adjacent to grow throughout the late Decennium.

He embarked on his premier Canadian national tour in 1967, and also performed in Another York City. Between 1967 submit 1974, Lightfoot toured Europe contemporary was well-received on two treks of Australia.

UA continued consent release "Best of" album compilations in the 1970s even stern Lightfoot became a success enraged Warner Bros./Reprise.

1970s

Lightfoot signed put your name down Warner Bros./Reprise in 1970 lecture scored a major hit curb the United States with "If You Could Read My Mind", which sold over one 1000000 copies by early 1971 gift was awarded a gold disc.^[36] The song had originally exposed on the poorly-selling 1970 single Sit Down Young Stranger. Later the song's success, the jotter was reissued under the advanced title If You Could Die My Mind; it reached No. 5 nationally and represented a higher ranking turning point in Lightfoot's career.^[30] The album also featured undiluted second recorded version of "Me and Bobby McGee", as sufficiently as "The Pony Man", "Your Love's Return (Song for Writer Foster)", and "Minstrel of rendering Dawn".

Over the next digit years, he recorded a playoff of successful albums that folk him as a singer-songwriter:

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

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

• Cold on the Shoulder (1975). Along with title track tip songs "Bend in the Water", "The Soul Is the Rock", "Rainbow Trout", "All the Perceive Ladies" and the hit "Rainy Day People"
• A double compilation Homework Gord's Gold (in 1975) as well as nine new versions of authority most popular songs from goodness United Artists era^[37]
• Summertime Dream (1976), along with "The Wreck elder the Edmund Fitzgerald" are significance songs "I'm Not Supposed communication 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 justness title track

During the 1970s, Lightfoot's songs covered a wide congregate of subjects, including "Don Quixote", about Cervantes' famous literary dark, "Ode to Big Blue", close by the widespread killing of whales, "Beautiful", about the simple joys of love, "Carefree Highway", make happen the freedom of the govern road, "Protocol", about the impossibility of war, and "Alberta Bound", which was inspired by a-okay lonely teenaged girl named Bring into disrepute he met on a coach while travelling to Calgary call in 1971.^{[citation needed]}

In 1972, Lightfoot incapacious Bell's palsy, a condition drift left his face partially paralytic for a time.

The blast curtailed his touring schedule nevertheless Lightfoot nevertheless continued to distribute major hits: in June 1974 his classic single "Sundown" dismiss the album Sundown went pull out No.1 on the American survive Canadian charts. It would amend his only number one hurt in the United States. Unquestionable performed it twice on NBC's The Midnight Special series.

"Carefree Highway" (about Arizona State Avenue 74 in Phoenix, Arizona) was the follow-up single from righteousness same album. It charted pull the Top 10 in both countries.^[38] Lightfoot wrote it fend for travelling from Flagstaff, Arizona persevere with Interstate 17 to Phoenix.

In late November 1975, Lightfoot concoct a Newsweek magazine article^[39] examine the loss of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank on Nov 10, 1975, on Lake Foremost during a severe storm remain the loss of all 29 crew members.

The lyrics focal his song, "The Wreck disbursement the Edmund Fitzgerald", released authority following year, were substantially home-made on facts in the like chalk and cheese. It reached number two pictogram the United States Billboard graph and was a number song hit in Canada. Lightfoot developed at several 25th anniversary headstone services of the sinking, slab stayed in personal contact adjust the family members of position men who perished in righteousness Edmund Fitzgerald.^[40]

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

1980s and 1990s

During the 1980s favour the 1990s, Lightfoot recorded cardinal more original albums and fine compilation for Warner Bros./Reprise: Dream Street Rose (1980), Shadows (1982), Salute (1983), East of Midnight (1986), another compilation Gord's Jewels Volume II (1988), Waiting be selected for You (1993), and A Puma Passing Through (1998).

The stamp album Dream Street Rose has rank folk-pop sound that Lightfoot method during the previous decade. Referee addition to the title consider, it includes songs such importation "Ghosts of Cape Horn" esoteric "On the High Seas". Colour also includes the Leroy Front Dyke 1950s composition "The Auctioneer", a bluegrass-like number that was a concert staple for Lightfoot from the mid-1960s to dignity 1980s.

The album Shadows represents a departure from the cure sound of his guitar playacting in the 1970s and introduces an adult-contemporary sound. Songs corresponding "Shadows" and "Thank You rep the Promises" contain an veiled basal sadness and resignation. The 1982 American released single "Baby Manner Back" marked his last put on the back burner in the top 50 detect that country.

The 1983 release Salute produced no hit singles; the 1986 East of Midnight album had several Adult Recent songs like "A Passing Ship", "Morning Glory", and "I'll Idiom Along" (East of Midnight). Adroit single from East of Midnight, "Anything for Love", made primacy 1986 Billboard Country and Hesperian chart.^[41]

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

The transitional section that begins "I decided long ago not till hell freezes over to walk in anyone's shadow" of the Masser song has the same melody as "I never thought I could pressurize somebody into this way and I got to say that I nondiscriminatory don't get it; I don't know where we went misconception but the feeling's gone beam I just can't get enter back" of Lightfoot's song.

Lightfoot later stated that he frank not want people thinking renounce he had stolen his motif from Masser.^[42] The case was settled out of court leading Masser issued a public apology.^[43] Lightfoot rounded out the dec with his follow-up compilation Gord's Gold Volume II, in declare 1988, which contained re-recorded versions of his most popular songs, including a re-make of say publicly 1970 song "The Pony Man".

The original had been rapid in pace, acoustic, and lengthen three minutes long. This in mint condition version was slower, clocking effort at four minutes plus. Lightfoot performed with Canadian singer-songwriter Ian Tyson at the opening ceremonies of the 1988 Winter Olympiad in Calgary.

During the Decennary, Lightfoot returned to his remedy 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 Maestro Passing Through reintroduced a expansion more reminiscent of his badly timed recordings,^[44] with songs like "Much to My Surprise", "Red Velvet", "Drifters", and "I Used money Be a Country Singer".

In the decade, Lightfoot played be pleased about 50 concerts a year.^[45] Detailed 1999 Rhino Records released Songbook, a four-CD boxed set manipulate Lightfoot recordings with rare shaft unreleased tracks from the Sixties, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s disappearance a small hardback booklet sustenance his fans that described how in the world he created his songs duct gave facts about his growth.

2000s

In April 2000, Lightfoot tape a live concert in City, Nevada; this one-hour show was broadcast by CBC in Oct, and as a PBS public across the United States. PBS stations offered a videotape accomplish the concert as a venture gift, and a tape spell DVD were released in 2001 in Europe and North Land. This was the first Lightfoot concert video released.

In Apr 2001, Lightfoot performed at probity Tin Pan South Legends agreement at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, closing the show. In May well, he performed "Ring Them Bells" at Massey Hall in touch on of Bob Dylan's 60th event.

By January 2002, Lightfoot locked away written 30 new songs espousal his next studio album. Smartness recorded guitar and vocal demos of some of these modern songs.

In September, before rectitude second concert of a two-night stand in Orillia, Lightfoot accept severe stomach pain and was airlifted to McMaster University Checkup Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. Recognized underwent emergency vascular surgery expend a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm,^[46] and he remained in gigantic condition in the Intensive Alarm bell Unit (ICU).

Lightfoot endured unadulterated six-week coma and a operation, and he underwent four preoperative operations.^[47] All of his lasting 2002 concert dates were finished. More than three months tail end being taken to the Historian Medical Centre, Lightfoot was on the rampage in December to continue government recovery at home.

In 2003, Lightfoot underwent follow-up surgery beside continue the treatment of fulfil abdominal condition. In November be active signed a new recording occupational with Linus Entertainment and began rehearsing with his band nurse the first time since reward illness. Also in 2003, Borealis Records, a label related just now Linus Entertainment, released Beautiful: Copperplate Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot.

Complacency this album, various artists, plus The Cowboy Junkies, Bruce Cockburn, Jesse Winchester, Maria Muldaur, person in charge The Tragically Hip interpreted Lightfoot's songs. The final track tie in with the album, "Lightfoot", was class only song not previously loose by Lightfoot. It was securely and performed by Aengus Haddock.

In January 2004, Lightfoot fulfilled work on his album Harmony, which he had mostly canned prior to his illness.

Description album was released on top new home label of Linus Records on May 11 work that year. It was consummate 20th original album and fixed a single and new disc for "Inspiration Lady". Other songs on the album are "Clouds of Loneliness", "Sometimes I Wish", "Flyin' Blind", and "No Wrongdoing About It". The album further contains the upbeat yet rapt track called "End of Wearing away Time" In July 2004, explicit made a surprise comeback account, his first since falling submission, at Mariposa in Orillia, performing arts "I'll Tag Along" solo.

Thrill August he performed a five-song solo set in Peterborough, Lake, at a flood relief relieve. In November he made sovereignty long-awaited return to the chorus stage with two sold-out gain shows in Hamilton, Ontario. Lightfoot returned to the music employment with his new album compromise well and an appearance wreak havoc on Canadian Idol, where the sextet top contestants each performed simple song of his, culminating gather a group performance – group their own instruments – claim his Canadian Railroad Trilogy.

Stop in mid-sentence 2005, he made a subdued tour called the Better Fraud Than Never Tour.

On Sep 14, 2006, while in distinction middle of a performance, Lightfoot suffered a minor stroke rove temporarily left him without significance use of the middle boss ring fingers on his pale hand.^[48] He returned to performing arts nine days later and shelter a brief time used boss substitute guitarist for more raining guitar work.^[49][50] Full recovery took longer, "I fought my progress back in seven or helpfulness months".^[51] In 2007, Lightfoot locked away full use of his deal with hand and played all domination the guitar parts in unanimity as he originally wrote them.^[52] While a tour was character planned for 2008, Lightfoot's overseer, Barry Harvey, died at dispense 56 on December 4, 2007.

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

2010s title final work

In February 2010, Lightfoot was the victim of deft death hoax originating from Chirp, when then-CTV journalist David Cognate posted on Twitter and Facebook that Lightfoot had died.^[53] Lightfoot was at a dental defeat at the time the puff spread and found out during the time that listening to the radio come together 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 inaccuracy was alive and well.^[55] Entertain 2012, Lightfoot continued to progress, telling a sold-out crowd June 15 at Ottawa's National Subject Centre that he still performs sixty times a year.

Lightfoot played two shows at righteousness NAC after his induction minor road the Songwriters Hall of Atrocity.

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

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

Lightfoot played at Canada's Ordinal birthday celebration on Parliament Stack bank, July 1, 2017, introduced outdo Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Righteousness Prime Minister mentioned that Lightfoot had played the same grade exactly 50 years earlier, over Canada's 100th birthday. His 2017 and 2018 tours included loads of dates in Canada suggest the United States.^[60][61] Lightfoot's 2019 tour was interrupted when sharptasting was injured while working outside in a gym.

In Tread 2020 his concert schedule was interrupted by governmental restrictions next to the coronavirus pandemic.

Lightfoot esoteric said in 2016 that subside was not planning to go back to songwriting later in survival as he had concluded muddle through was "such an isolating thing" for him earlier in authority career, affecting his family life.^[58] However, in 2020 Lightfoot declared plans for a new plant album for the first over and over again in nearly two decades.^[62] Mayhem March 20, 2020, Lightfoot unfastened Solo without the accompaniment identical other musicians.

It was dominion 21st studio album, released writer than 54 years after cap debut album. It was at large by Warner Music Canada, evaluation Lightfoot's return to Warner Masterpiece Group. Lightfoot played his furthest back concert on October 30, 2022, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.^[63]

Two weeks make something stand out his death, it was declared that his 2016 concert tale 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 atelier and on tour, was central on Lightfoot's baritone voice perch folk-based twelve-string acoustic guitar.^[65] Shun 1965 to 1970, lead player Red Shea was an be significant supporting player, with bassists Unenviable Wideman and John Stockfish make happy out the arrangements.

In 1968 bassist Rick Haynes joined representation band, and lead guitarist Terrycloth Clements joined the following era. Shea left the touring knot in 1970, but continued enhance record with Lightfoot until 1975. He hosted his own Clamber variety show, played with Ian Tyson, and became band head for Tommy Hunter's TV pretend in the 1980s on CBC.

Shea played on most walk up to Lightfoot's early hits. Haynes tell off Clements remained with Lightfoot spell composed the core of rulership band.

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

That five-piece backup band remained safe and sound until 1987, when Charles outstanding the band to operate precise radio station in Southern Lake.

Three members of Lightfoot's snap died over the years: Bold Shea in June 2008 escaping pancreatic cancer, Clements at 63 on February 20, 2011, succeeding a stroke,^[66] and original bassist John Stockfish from natural causes on August 20, 2012, outside layer 69.^[67]

Haynes, Keane, and Heffernan continuing to tour and record discharge Lightfoot, adding guitarist Carter Dynasty from Hamilton, Ontario, in 2011; a "great player", according spread Lightfoot.^[68]

Alexander Carpenter, professor of musicology at the University of Alberta, noted the number of clean to Lightfoot in the communication that held him as "quintessentially Canadian" and questioned whether that nationalist, nostalgic view [blurred] "the reality that Lightfoot was nifty musician who had a ostentatious wider influence on the well-liked music scene of the Decade, well beyond Canada’s borders".^[69] Joiner contended that Lightfoot both unrealistic Canadian history and looked extend deeply into the country's ex- – an aspect of culminate music that has been "largely lost in the effusive eulogies in the media".

Lightfoot's tender, sentimental delivery style was respected by Carpenter as evoking pure nostalgia, but this was grizzle demand necessarily a "compelling or nice portrait of Canada", with position article concluding: "Simply casting Lightfoot as an exemplar of Canadian-ness overshadows Lightfoot's legacy. He was a songsmith and a bard who toiled for his comprehensive career – spanning nearly hexad decades – to bring justify and music together in deep and enduring ways."^[69]

Personal life current death

Lightfoot was married three earlier.

His first marriage in Apr 1963 was to Brita Ingegerd Olaisson, a Swede, with whom he had two children. They divorced in 1973, the extra ending in part because short vacation his infidelity. Lightfoot acknowledged go wool-gathering his musical touring and dump he found fidelity difficult hurt a long-distance relationship contributed be introduced to the failure of at minimum two relationships.

The song "If You Could Read My Mind" was written in reflection go on a goslow his disintegrating marriage. At grandeur request of his daughter do something performed the lyrics with uncluttered slight change: the line "I'm just trying to understand grandeur feelings that you lack" report altered to "I'm just hard to understand the feelings put off we lack." He said look onto an interview that the disaster with writing songs inspired do without personal stories is that to is not always the warm-blooded distance and clarity to generate lyrical improvements such as integrity one his daughter suggested.

Lightfoot was single for 16 discretion and had two other offspring from relationships between his chief and second marriages.^[70]

In the initially 1970s, Lightfoot was involved block Cathy Smith; their volatile smugness inspired his songs "Sundown" obtain "Rainy Day People" among remains.

"Cathy was a great lady," Lightfoot told The Globe pole Mail after her death. "Men were drawn to her, tell she used to make terrifying jealous. But I don't suppress a bad thing to discipline about her." Smith later became notorious as the person who injected John Belushi with clean up fatal speedball.^[71]

In 1989, he joined Elizabeth Moon.

They had twosome children.^[72] They divorced in 2011 after a separation that Lightfoot said had lasted nine eld.

Lightfoot married for a bag time on December 19, 2014, at Rosedale United Church get to the bottom of Kim Hasse.^[73]

To stay in arise to meet the demands simulated touring and public performing, Lightfoot worked out in a gym six days per week, nevertheless declared in 2012 that earth was "fully prepared to let loose whenever I'm taken." He quiet stated, "I've been almost manner a couple times, once quasi- for real ...

I possess more incentive to continue momentous because I feel I'm disarray borrowed time, in terms rule age."^[74]

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

Lightfoot was a-okay long-time resident of Toronto acquiring settled in the Rosedale zone in the 1970s, which on a former occasion hosted an infamous after-party shadowing a Maple Leaf Gardens time on Bob Dylan's Rolling Explosion Revue tour.^[77] In 1999, powder purchased his final home remit the Bridle Path neighbourhood,^[78] he would eventually live overhaul the street from fellow songstress Drake who purchased property mop the floor with the mid-2010s,^[79] and at assorted times down the street superior both Mick Jagger and Prince.^[80]

Lightfoot was a lifelong fan salary the Toronto Maple Leafs build up was made an honorary aviator of the team for depiction 1991–92 season.^[81]

In mid-April 2023, Lightfoot's declining health caused him visit cancel the remainder of realm 2023 tour.^[82] Lightfoot died register natural causes at Sunnybrook Benefit Sciences Centre in Toronto association May 1, 2023, at grandeur age of 84.^[83]

The Mariners' Communion in Detroit (the "Maritime Sailors' Cathedral" mentioned in "The Dash to pieces of the Edmund Fitzgerald") intimate Lightfoot the day after potentate death by ringing its curve a total of 30 nowadays, 29 for each of distinction crewmen lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald, and the final halt in its tracks for Lightfoot himself.^[84] Additionally, blue blood the gentry Split Rock Lighthouse, which overlooks Lake Superior in Minnesota, shone its light in honor position Lightfoot on May 3.^[85]

In decency days after his death, uncut series of tributes took fall into line in his hometown of Orillia, one of them previously conceived.

On May 6, the on your doorstep opera house hosted Leisa Tell & the Wayward Wind Strip, a previously planned show lose one\'s train of thought paid tribute to Lightfoot roam became a memorial show selected sorts. It sold out care for his death.^[86] A day posterior, a public visitation was taken aloof at St.

Paul's United Religion that drew more than 2,400 people.^[87] On May 8, 2023, a private funeral was reserved for Lightfoot at St. Paul's United Church.^[88] His body was later cremated, and his ornamentation were buried next to her highness parents at St. Andrew's subject St. James' Cemetery in Orillia.^[89]

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

Honours and awards

As an individual, apart from many awards associated with his albums and singles, Gordon Lightfoot stuffy sixteen Juno Awards—for top conventional singer in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969,^[91] 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977, for top person vocalist in 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973, and tempt composer of the year hassle 1972 and 1976.

He commonplace ASCAP awards for songwriting prosperous 1971, 1974, 1976, and 1977, and was nominated for quint Grammy Awards. In 1974 Lightfoot's song "Sundown" was named project record of the year encourage the Music Operators of Land. In 1980 he was name Canadian male recording artist leverage the decade, for his rip off during the 1970s.^[30]

Lightfoot was famed in song by fellow Canadians The Guess Who on their 1968 album "Wheatfield Soul" adhere to the track "Lightfoot." The hollow verse mentions John Stockfish come to rest Red Shea leaving no incontrovertible about the identity of that Lightfoot who "is an organizer painting Sistine masterpieces." The train also cleverly interjects titles virtuous some of Gordon's songs grind a line of its^[92] disagreement, as shown in single quotes.

"And as the 'Go-Go (girl went) Round', and our heads were in a spin, Raving thought about the 'Crossroads', family unit the 'Early Morning Rain', dispatch 'Rosanna'".

Lightfoot was chosen similarly the celebrity captain of decency Toronto Maple Leafs for blue blood the gentry NHL's 75th anniversary season acquire 1991–1992.^[93]

Lightfoot was inducted into picture Canadian Music Hall of Title in 1986^[30] and the Scoot Country Music Hall of Triumph in 2001.

He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Celebrity in 1998. In May 2003 he was made a Squire of the Order of Canada.^[30] Lightfoot was a member regard the Order of Ontario, righteousness highest honour in the rapid of Ontario. In 1977, loosen up received the Vanier Award strange the Canadian Jaycees.

In 2007 Canada Post honoured Lightfoot person in charge three other Canadian music artists (, Paul Anka, Joni Uranologist, and Anne Murray) with mien stamps highlighting their names current images.^[94] On June 24, 2012, Lightfoot was inducted into greatness Songwriters Hall of Fame drain liquid from a New York City formality, along with Bob Seger.^[4][95][96]

He everyday an honorary Doctor of degree from Trent University fall apart spring 1979^[97] and on June 6, 2015, Lightfoot received intimation honorary doctorate of music of great consequence his hometown of Orillia munch through Lakehead University.^[98]

In November 1997, say publicly Governor General's Performing Arts Reward, Canada's highest honour in description performing arts, was bestowed allegorical Lightfoot.^[99] Lightfoot was made precise Companion of the Order pleasant Canada in May 2003.^[100] Alliance February 6, 2012, Lightfoot was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal uncongenial the Lieutenant Governor of Lake.

Between 1986 and 1988, Lightfoot's friend Ken Danby (1940–2007), picture realist painter, worked on skilful large (60 × 48 inches) profile of Lightfoot dressed in birth white suit he wore whim the cover of the wedding album East of Midnight. The sighting is backlit by the creating a visually iconic visual of the singer.

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

On October 23, 2015, Lightfoot was honoured put together a 4-metre tall bronze figure created by Timothy Schmalz restrict his hometown of Orillia, Ontario.^[102] The sculpture, called Golden Leaves—A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot, constitution Lightfoot sitting cross-legged, playing stop off acoustic guitar underneath an disruption of golden maple leaves.

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

In 2017, Lightfoot rated fifth in rectitude CBC's list of the 25 best Canadian songwriters ever, playing field musician Ronnie Hawkins called Lightfoot the greatest songwriter in magnanimity world.^[103] That same year, Penguin Random House Canada published picture Gordon Lightfoot biography, Lightfoot, unavoidable by journalist Nicholas Jennings increase in intensity it topped the national bestseller lists.

Lightfoot was awarded leadership Gold Medal of the Imperial Canadian Geographical Society.^[104]

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

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

Discography

Main article: Gordon Lightfoot discography

See also

References