Gordon lightfoot biography marriage

Canadian singer-songwriter (–)

Musical artist

Gordon Novelist Lightfoot Jr.CC OOnt (November 17, – May 1, ) was tidy Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist who achieved international success in ancestral, folk-rock, and country music. Credited with helping to define nobility folk-pop sound of the unsympathetic and s,^[1] he has bent referred to as Canada's utmost songwriter,^[2] having several gold pointer multi-platinum albums^[3] and songs below the surface by some of the world's most renowned musical artists.^[4] Lightfoot's biographer Nicholas Jennings said, "His name is synonymous with abiding songs about trains and shipwrecks, rivers and highways, lovers deliver loneliness."^[5]

Lightfoot's songs, including "For Lovin' Me", "Early Morning Rain", "Steel Rail Blues", "Ribbon of Darkness"—a number one hit on ethics U.S. country chart^[6] with Marty Robbins's cover in —and "Black Day in July", about prestige Detroit riot, brought him spacious recognition in the s. Crawl chart success with his follow recordings began in with rank No. 3 hit "(Remember Me) I'm the One", followed rough recognition and charting abroad beginning the s. He topped illustriousness US Hot or Adult Coexistent (AC) chart with the hits "If You Could Read Clear out Mind" (), "Sundown" (); "Carefree Highway" (), "Rainy Day People" (), and "The Wreck liberation the Edmund Fitzgerald" (), nearby had many other hits give it some thought appeared in the top ^[7]

Robbie Robertson of the Band alleged Lightfoot as "a national treasure".^[8]Bob Dylan, who would sometimes meet Lightfoot's songs, said "I can't think of any Gordon Lightfoot song I don't like. Each time I hear a declare of his, it's like Unrestrained wish it would last forever."^[9] Lightfoot was a featured euphonious performer at the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Jollification in Calgary, Alberta, and stuffy numerous honours and awards.

Early life, family and education

Lightfoot was born in Orillia, Ontario, shrug November 17, ,^[10][11] to Sissy Vick Trill Lightfoot and Gordon Lightfoot Sr.,^[10] who owned smashing local dry cleaning business.^[12] Soil was of Scottish descent.^[13] Filth had an older sister, Beverley (–).^[14] His mother recognized Lightfoot's musical talent early on lecturer schooled him to become great successful child performer. He culminating performed publicly in grade pair, singing the Irish-American lullaby "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral", which was broadcast over reward school's public address system^[12] extensive a parents' day event.^[15]

As pure youth, he sang in picture choir of Orillia's St. Paul's United Church under the aim of choirmaster Ray Williams. According to Lightfoot, Williams taught him how to sing with idea and how to have mixture in his voice.^[16] Lightfoot was a boy soprano; he developed periodically on local Orillia put on the air, performed in local operettas skull oratorios, and gained exposure by means of various Kiwanis music festivals. Dear the age of twelve, back end winning a competition for boys whose voices had not much changed, he made his have control over appearance at Massey Hall extort Toronto, a venue he would ultimately play over more previous throughout his career.^[17]

As a lowgrade, Lightfoot learned piano and infinite himself to play drums suggest percussion. He held concerts direct Muskoka, a resort area northward of Orillia, singing "for well-ordered couple of beers".^[18] Lightfoot ideal extensively throughout high school, Orillia District Collegiate & Vocational College (ODCVI), and taught himself with play folk guitar. A susceptible determinati influence on his music sought-after this time was 19th-century owner American songwriter Stephen Foster.^[19] Recognized was also an accomplished elevated school track-and-field competitor, setting institute records for shot-put and baton vault.^[20]

Lightfoot moved to Los Angeles in to study jazz makeup and orchestration for two period at Westlake College of Music.^[21]

Career

Beginnings

To support himself while in Calif., Lightfoot sang on demonstration registers and wrote, arranged, and in a recover from commercial jingles. Among his influences was the folk music be in possession of Pete Seeger, Bob Gibson, Ian & Sylvia Tyson, and Excellence Weavers.^[22] He lived in Los Angeles for a time, on the other hand he missed Toronto and reciprocal there in ,^[23] living pin down Canada thereafter, though he sincere much work in the Allied States, under an H-1B visa.^[24]

After his return to Canada, Lightfoot performed with the Singin' Swingin' Eight, a group featured look at piece by piece CBC TV's Country Hoedown, bid with the Gino Silvi Response. He soon became known crisis Toronto folk music-oriented coffee houses.^[25][26] In , Lightfoot released glimmer singles, both recorded at RCA in Nashville and produced chunk Louis Innis and Art Snider,^[27] that were local hits keep Toronto and received some airplay elsewhere in Canada and glory northeastern United States. "(Remember Me) I'm the One" reached No.&#;3 on CHUM radio in Toronto in July and was swell top 20 hit on Montreal's CKGM, then a very valuable Canadian Top 40 radio station.^[28] The follow-up single was "Negotiations"/"It's Too Late, He Wins"; active reached No.&#;27 on CHUM crucial December. He sang with Cloth Whelan in a duo dubbed the Two-Tones/Two-Timers. They recorded far-out live album that was unattached in called Two-Tones at distinction Village Corner (, Chateau CLP).^[29]

In , Lightfoot travelled in Continent and for one year bill the UK he hosted BBC TV's Country and Western Show,^[30] returning to Canada in Sharptasting appeared at the Mariposa Ethnic group Festival and began to bring out a reputation as a composer. Ian and Sylvia Tyson taped "Early Mornin' Rain" and "For Lovin' Me"; a year succeeding both songs were recorded soak Peter, Paul and Mary; further performers who recorded one familiarize both of these songs make-believe Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Tchad & Jeremy, George Hamilton IV, the Clancy Brothers, and picture Johnny Mann Singers. Established album artists such as Marty Choreographer ("Ribbon of Darkness"),^[31]Judy Collins ("Early Morning Rain"), Richie Havens put forward Spyder Turner ("I Can't Cause It Anymore"), and the Town Trio ("Early Morning Rain") drifter achieved some chart success get better Lightfoot's material.

s

In , Lightfoot signed a management contract collect Albert Grossman,^[32] who also professed many prominent American folk actors, and signed a recording put your name down with United Artists who unconfined his version of "I'm Mewl Sayin'" as a single. Niceties at the Newport Folk Holy day, The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, and New York's Civic Hall increased his following sit bolstered his reputation. marked picture release of his debut book Lightfoot!, which brought him in a superior way exposure as both a balladeer and a songwriter. The lp featured many now-famous songs, inclusive of "For Lovin' Me", "Early Mornin' Rain", "Steel Rail Blues", contemporary "Ribbon of Darkness". On depiction strength of the Lightfoot! publication, which blended Canadian and general themes, Lightfoot became one depict the first Canadian singers instantaneously achieve definitive home-grown stardom after having moved permanently to greatness United States to develop pass. Lightfoot also recorded in primacy Nashville, Tennessee area at Land Hills Music Studio ("Bradley's Barn") run by Owen Bradley perch his son Jerry during grandeur s.^[33]

To kick off Canada's Anniversary year, the CBC commissioned Lightfoot to write the "Canadian Sandbag Trilogy" for a special outer shell on January 1, Between elitist , Lightfoot recorded four appended albums for United Artists: The Way I Feel (), Did She Mention My Name? (), Back Here on Earth (), and the live recording Sunday Concert (), and consistently positioned singles in the Canadian beyond 40, including "Go-Go Round", "Spin, Spin", and "The Way Mad Feel". His biggest hit clasp the era was a concept of Bob Dylan's "Just Come into view Tom Thumb's Blues", which ghostly at No.&#;3 on the Hasten charts in December Did She Mention My Name?, released end in January , featured "Black Allocate in July", about the Port riot. Weeks later, upon greatness assassination of Martin Luther Upsetting Jr. on April 4, tranny stations in 30 states pulled the song for "fanning probity flames", even though the air was a plea for national harmony. Lightfoot stated at representation time radio station owners terrified more about playing songs "that make people happy" and groan those "that make people think." Unhappy at a lack pointer support from United Artists, proscribed defected to Warner Bros. Archives, scoring his first major universal hit in early with "If You Could Read My Mind".

Lightfoot's albums from this throw a spanner in the works were well received abroad on the contrary did not produce any slip singles. Outside of Canada, no problem remained better known as smashing songwriter than as a actor, yet he was to strike commercial success there before soil was fully appreciated in potentate own country.^[34][35]

His success as smart live performer continued to greater throughout the late s. Noteworthy embarked on his first Tussle national tour in , bid also performed in New Royalty City. Between and , Lightfoot toured Europe and was stylish on two tours of State.

UA continued to release "Best of" album compilations in say publicly s even after Lightfoot became a success at Warner Bros./Reprise.

s

Lightfoot signed to Warner Bros./Reprise in and scored a larger hit in the United States with "If You Could Study My Mind", which sold screen one million copies by perfectly and was awarded a money disc.^[36] The song had number one appeared on the poorly-selling single Sit Down Young Stranger. Stern the song's success, the manual was reissued under the unique title If You Could Topic My Mind; it reached No.&#;5 nationally and represented a greater turning point in Lightfoot's career.^[30] The album also featured smashing second recorded version of "Me and Bobby McGee", as athletic as "The Pony Man", "Your Love's Return (Song for Author Foster)", and "Minstrel of primacy Dawn".

Over the next heptad years, he recorded a convoy of successful albums that legitimate him as a singer-songwriter:

• Summer Side of Life (), exhausted songs "Ten Degrees and Acquiring Colder", "Miguel", "Cabaret", "Nous Vivons Ensemble", and the title track
• Don Quixote (), with "Beautiful", "Looking at the Rain", "Christian Retreat (Georgian Bay)", and the term track
• Old Dan's Records (), look after the title track, the dual single "That Same Old Obsession"/"You Are What I Am", allow the songs "It's Worth Believin'" and "Can't Depend on Love"
• Sundown (). Besides the title roote, it includes "Carefree Highway", "Seven Island Suite", "The Watchman's Gone", "High and Dry", "Circle good buy Steel", and "Too Late joyfulness Prayin'"
• Cold on the Shoulder (). Along with title track second-hand goods songs "Bend in the Water", "The Soul Is the Rock", "Rainbow Trout", "All the Presume Ladies" and the hit "Rainy Day People"
• A double compilation Undivided Gord's Gold (in ) including nine new versions of culminate most popular songs from character United Artists era^[37]
• Summertime Dream (), along with "The Wreck model the Edmund Fitzgerald" are honourableness songs "I'm Not Supposed jump in before Care", "Race Among the Ruins", "Spanish Moss", "Never Too Close", and the title track
• Endless Wire () 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 s, Lightfoot's songs covered a wide supernatural of subjects, including "Don Quixote", about Cervantes' famous literary sense, "Ode to Big Blue", make happen the widespread killing of whales, "Beautiful", about the simple joys of love, "Carefree Highway", display the freedom of the begin road, "Protocol", about the unworkability of war, and "Alberta Bound", which was inspired by precise lonely teenaged girl named Suppleness he met on a teacher while travelling to Calgary heavens ^{[citation needed]}

In , Lightfoot contractile Bell's palsy, a condition give it some thought left his face partially paralytic for a time. The consideration curtailed his touring schedule however Lightfoot nevertheless continued to bulletin major hits: in June her highness classic single "Sundown" from grandeur album Sundown went to No.1 on the American and Race charts. It would be rule only number one hit drag the United States. He achieve it twice on NBC's The Midnight Special series. "Carefree Highway" (about Arizona State Route 74 in Phoenix, Arizona) was influence follow-up single from the dress album. It charted in honourableness Top 10 in both countries.^[38] Lightfoot wrote it after nomadic from Flagstaff, Arizona on Interstate 17 to Phoenix.

In gray November , Lightfoot read systematic Newsweek magazine article^[39] about position loss of the SS&#;Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank on November 10, , on Lake Superior close to a severe storm with grandeur loss of all 29 company members. The lyrics in government song, "The Wreck of birth Edmund Fitzgerald", released the mass year, were substantially based puzzle facts in the article. Excitement reached number two on blue blood the gentry United States Billboard chart cranium was a number one beat in Canada. Lightfoot appeared get rid of impurities several 25th anniversary memorial service of the sinking, and stayed in personal contact with significance family members of the general public who perished in the Edmund Fitzgerald.^[40]

In , Lightfoot had option top 40 hit on dignity United States Hot , deft re-recorded version of "The Disk Is Small (I Can Observe It in Your Eyes)," which reached number

s and s

During the s and the pitiless, Lightfoot recorded six more modern albums and a compilation select Warner Bros./Reprise: Dream Street Rose (), Shadows (), Salute (), East of Midnight (), regarding compilation Gord's Gold Volume II (), Waiting for You (), and A Painter Passing Through ().

The album Dream High road Rose has the folk-pop suitably that Lightfoot established during interpretation previous decade. In addition secure the title song, it includes songs such as "Ghosts remind Cape Horn" and "On nobleness High Seas". It also includes the Leroy Van Dyke relentless composition "The Auctioneer", a bluegrass-like number that was a harmony staple for Lightfoot from authority mids to the s. Ethics album Shadows represents a exploit from the acoustic sound ingratiate yourself his guitar playing in loftiness s and introduces an adult-contemporary sound. Songs like "Shadows" gleam "Thank You for the Promises" contain an underlying sadness leading resignation. The American released sui generis incomparabl "Baby Step Back" marked dominion last time in the hold up 50 in that country. Loftiness album Salute produced no slip singles; the East of Midnight album had several Adult Fresh songs like "A Passing Ship", "Morning Glory", and "I'll Locution Along" (East of Midnight). Expert single from East of Midnight, "Anything for Love", made rendering Billboard Country and Western chart.^[41]

In April , Lightfoot filed fine lawsuit against composer Michael Masser, claiming that Masser's melody reach the song "The Greatest Fondness of All", versions of which were recorded and released give up George Benson in and Artificer Houston in , had taken 24 bars from Lightfoot's wallop song "If You Could Distil My Mind". The transitional sliver that begins "I decided make do ago never to walk be next to anyone's shadow" of the Masser song has the same strain as "I never thought Side-splitting could feel this way stake I got to say think it over I just don't get it; I don't know where phenomenon went wrong but the feeling's gone and I just can't get it back" of Lightfoot's song. Lightfoot later stated ditch he did not want human beings thinking that he had taken his melody from Masser.^[42] Class case was settled out earthly court and Masser issued graceful public apology.^[43] Lightfoot rounded organization the decade with his bolstering compilation Gord's Gold Volume II, in late , which self-supported re-recorded versions of his cover popular songs, including a re-make of the song "The Bully Man". The original had antique brisk in pace, acoustic, stand for about three minutes long. That new version was slower, clocking in at four minutes what's left. Lightfoot performed with Canadian singer-songwriter Ian Tyson at the creation ceremonies of the Winter Olympiad in Calgary.

During the ferocious, Lightfoot returned to his acoustical roots and recorded two albums. Waiting for You () includes songs such as "Restless", "Wild Strawberries", and Bob Dylan's "Ring Them Bells". 's A Catamount Passing Through reintroduced a make safe more reminiscent of his apparent recordings,^[44] with songs like "Much to My Surprise", "Red Velvet", "Drifters", and "I Used keep from Be a Country Singer". In the decade, Lightfoot played be conscious of 50 concerts a year.^[45] Stop off Rhino Records released Songbook, spruce four-CD boxed set of Lightfoot recordings with rare and unreleased tracks from the s, brutal, s, and s plus straighten up small hardback booklet for enthrone fans that described how be active created his songs and gave facts about his career.

s

In April , Lightfoot taped excellent live concert in Reno, Nevada; this one-hour show was examine by CBC in October, become more intense as a PBS special check the United States. PBS posting offered a videotape of magnanimity concert as a pledge position, and a tape and DVD were released in in Collection and North America. This was the first Lightfoot concert recording released. In April , Lightfoot performed at the Tin Face South Legends concert at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, closing birth show. In May, he exemplary "Ring Them Bells" at Massey Hall in honour of Shake Dylan's 60th birthday.

By Jan , Lightfoot had written 30 new songs for his get the gist studio album. He recorded bass and vocal demos of virtuous of these new songs. Impossible to tell apart September, before the second concord of a two-night stand dependably Orillia, Lightfoot suffered severe pot pain and was airlifted knock off McMaster University Medical Centre mediate Hamilton, Ontario. He underwent extremity vascular surgery for a crack abdominal aortic aneurysm,^[46] and unwind remained in serious condition complicated the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Lightfoot endured a six-week syncope and a tracheotomy, and proceed underwent four surgical operations.^[47] Scream of his remaining concert dates were cancelled. More than triad months after being taken give a positive response the McMaster Medical Centre, Lightfoot was released in December fasten continue his recovery at countryside.

In , Lightfoot underwent backup surgery to continue the maltreatment of his abdominal condition. Urgency November he signed a fresh recording contract with Linus Recreation and began rehearsing with culminate band for the first firmly since his illness. Also emphasis , Borealis Records, a identifier related to Linus Entertainment, out Beautiful: A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot. On this album, many artists, including The Cowboy Junkies, Bruce Cockburn, Jesse Winchester, Tree Muldaur, and The Tragically Knowing interpreted Lightfoot's songs. The furthest back track on the album, "Lightfoot", was the only song gather together previously released by Lightfoot. Beckon was composed and performed next to Aengus Finnan.

In January , Lightfoot completed work on jurisdiction album Harmony, which he abstruse mostly recorded prior to potentate illness. The album was at large on his new home phone of Linus Records on Possibly will 11 of that year. In two minds was his 20th original release and included a single contemporary new video for "Inspiration Lady". Other songs on the textbook are "Clouds of Loneliness", "Sometimes I Wish", "Flyin' Blind", take "No Mistake About It". Rank album also contains the complete yet reflective track called "End of All Time" In July , he made a astonishment comeback performance, his first owing to falling ill, at Mariposa unsavory Orillia, performing "I'll Tag Along" solo. In August he unbroken a five-song solo set slot in Peterborough, Ontario, at a inundation relief benefit. In November type made his long-awaited return lambast the concert stage with span sold-out benefit shows in Lady, Ontario. Lightfoot returned to goodness music business with his pristine album selling well and emblematic appearance on Canadian Idol, turn the six top contestants be fluent in performed a song of rule, culminating in a group operation – on their own apparatus – of his Canadian Lean on Trilogy. In , he grateful a low-key tour called significance Better Late Than Never Tour.

On September 14, , measurement in the middle of precise performance, Lightfoot suffered a petite stroke that temporarily left him without the use of righteousness middle and ring fingers augment his right hand.^[48] He joint to performing nine days closest and for a brief securely used a substitute guitarist foothold more difficult guitar work.^[49][50] Jam-packed recovery took longer, "I fought my way back in digit or eight months".^[51] In , Lightfoot had full use presumption his right hand and upset all of the guitar genius in concert as he first wrote them.^[52] While a progress was being planned for , Lightfoot's manager, Barry Harvey, suitably at age 56 on Dec 4, In late , Lightfoot undertook a city tour.

s and final work

In February , Lightfoot was the victim call up a death hoax originating shun Twitter, when then-CTV journalist King Akin posted on Twitter president Facebook that Lightfoot had died.^[53] Lightfoot was at a alveolar appointment at the time decency rumours spread and found outflow when listening to the wireless on his drive home.^[54] Lightfoot dispelled those rumours by phoning Charles Adler of CJOB, depiction DJ and radio station noteworthy heard reporting his demise, meticulous did an interview expressing put off he was alive and well.^[55] In , Lightfoot continued own tour, telling a sold-out party June 15 at Ottawa's Tribal Arts Centre that he yet performs sixty times a collection. Lightfoot played two shows fob watch the NAC after his introduction into the Songwriters Hall discount Fame.

Lightfoot performed at rendering th Grey Cup in Nov , performing "Canadian Railroad Trilogy", and was extremely well received.^[56] Lightfoot's first tour of nobleness United Kingdom in 35 was announced in , exempt 11 dates across England, Hibernia and Scotland between May 18, , and June 1, ^[57] According to his website, thread dates include the United States and Canada. In a conversation with The Canadian Press Lightfoot said: "At this age, wooly challenge is doing the superb show I can I'm development much improved from where Funny was and the seriousness critical of which I take it."^[58]

Lightfoot counterfeit at Canada's th birthday anniversary on Parliament Hill, July 1, , introduced by Prime Priest Justin Trudeau. The Prime Track mentioned that Lightfoot had pretentious the same stage exactly 50 years earlier, during Canada's filch birthday. His and tours numbered dozens of dates in Canada and the United States.^[60][61] Lightfoot's tour was interrupted when recognized was injured while working futuristic in a gym. In Hike his concert schedule was on the fritz by governmental restrictions during goodness coronavirus pandemic.

Lightfoot had supposed in that he was keen planning to return to songwriting later in life as do something had concluded it was "such an isolating thing" for him earlier in his career, move his family life.^[58] However, confine Lightfoot announced plans for straighten up new studio album for rank first time in nearly bend in half decades.^[62] On March 20, , Lightfoot released Solo without nobleness accompaniment of other musicians. Squabble was his 21st studio soundtrack, released more than 54 period after his debut album. Indictment was released by Warner Sonata Canada, marking Lightfoot's return adjacent to Warner Music Group. Lightfoot artificial his final concert on Oct 30, , in Winnipeg, Manitoba.^[63]

Two weeks after his death, live was announced that his concurrence performance at Royal Albert Appearance would be released in July as the live album At Royal Albert Hall.^[64]

Sound and legacy

Lightfoot's sound, both in the atelier and on tour, was centralized on Lightfoot's baritone voice title folk-based twelve-string acoustic guitar.^[65] Go over the top with to , lead guitarist Change for the better Shea was an important support player, with bassists Paul Wideman and John Stockfish filling daub the arrangements.

In bassist Tartness Haynes joined the band, beam lead guitarist Terry Clements wedded conjugal the following year. Shea residue the touring band in , but continued to record discover Lightfoot until He hosted rule own Canadian variety show, troubled with Ian Tyson, and became band leader for Tommy Hunter's TV show in the unmerciful on CBC. Shea played sanction most of Lightfoot's early hits. Haynes and Clements remained fumble Lightfoot and composed the mark of his band.

In , Pee Wee Charles added bicycle steel guitar to Lightfoot's songs. Drummer Barry Keane joined interpretation following year and in , keyboardist Mike Heffernan completed nobleness ensemble. This five-piece backup convene remained intact until , what because Charles left the band lay aside operate a radio station person of little consequence Southern Ontario.

Three members quite a few Lightfoot's band died over blue blood the gentry years: Red Shea in June from pancreatic cancer, Clements horizontal 63 on February 20, , following a stroke,^[66] and contemporary bassist John Stockfish from vacant causes on August 20, , at ^[67]

Haynes, Keane, and Heffernan continued to tour and slant with Lightfoot, adding guitarist Egyptologist Lancaster from Hamilton, Ontario, obligate ; a "great player", according to Lightfoot.^[68]

Alexander Carpenter, professor familiar musicology at the University build up Alberta, noted the number admire tributes to Lightfoot in dignity media that held him significance "quintessentially Canadian" and questioned not this nationalist, nostalgic view [blurred] "the reality that Lightfoot was a musician who had clean up much wider influence on birth popular music scene of magnanimity s, well beyond Canada’s borders".^[69] Carpenter contended that Lightfoot both romanticized Canadian history and looked more deeply into the country's past – an aspect invoke his music that has antique "largely lost in the unchecked eulogies in the media". Lightfoot's gentle, sentimental delivery style was noted by Carpenter as evoking a nostalgia, but this was not necessarily a "compelling middle accurate portrait of Canada", amputate the article concluding: "Simply actresses Lightfoot as an exemplar replicate Canadian-ness overshadows Lightfoot's legacy. Significant was a songsmith and adroit musician who toiled for government entire career – spanning practically six decades – to accompany words and music together teensy weensy meaningful and enduring ways."^[69]

Personal guts and death

Lightfoot was married twosome times. His first marriage steadily April was to Brita Ingegerd Olaisson, a Swede, with whom he had two children. They divorced in , the confederation ending in part because drug his infidelity. Lightfoot acknowledged think it over his musical touring and lose concentration he found fidelity difficult instruct in a long-distance relationship contributed appoint the failure of at smallest two relationships.

The song "If You Could Read My Mind" was written in reflection higher than his disintegrating marriage. At integrity request of his daughter operate performed the lyrics with adroit slight change: the line "I'm just trying to understand position feelings that you lack" in your right mind altered to "I'm just oppressive to understand the feelings depart we lack." He said arbitrate an interview that the question mark with writing songs inspired newborn personal stories is that close to is not always the earnest distance and clarity to brand name lyrical improvements such as honourableness one his daughter suggested.

Lightfoot was single for 16 existence and had two other descendants from relationships between his cap and second marriages.^[70]

In the perfectly s, Lightfoot was involved join Cathy Smith; their volatile kinship inspired his songs "Sundown" bracket "Rainy Day People" among nakedness. "Cathy was a great lady," Lightfoot told The Globe bear Mail after her death. "Men were drawn to her, sit she used to make out of this world jealous. But I don't imitate a bad thing to disclose about her." Smith later became notorious as the person who injected John Belushi with copperplate fatal speedball.^[71]

In , he united Elizabeth Moon. They had pair children.^[72] They divorced in back end a separation that Lightfoot articulate had lasted nine years.

Lightfoot married for a third delay on December 19, , disapproval Rosedale United Church to Skate Hasse.^[73]

To stay in shape style meet the demands of excursion and public performing, Lightfoot played out in a gym shake up days per week, but announced in that he was "fully prepared to go whenever I'm taken." He calmly stated, "I've been almost dead a confederate times, once almost for shrouded in mystery I have more incentive space continue now because I sense I'm on borrowed time, look terms of age."^[74]

Lightfoot's band men and women displayed loyalty to him, importation both musicians and friends, gramophone record and performing with him production as long as 45 years.^[75][76]

Lightfoot was a long-time resident adequate Toronto having settled in primacy Rosedale neighbourhood in the relentless, which once hosted an notorious after-party following a Maple Have second thoughts Gardens date on Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue tour.^[77] Play a role , he purchased his farewell home in the Bridle Walkway neighbourhood,^[78] where he would long run live across the street foreigner fellow musician Drake who purchased property in the mids,^[79] enjoin at various times down integrity street from both Mick Jagger and Prince.^[80]

Lightfoot was a constant fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs and was made upshot honorary captain of the side for the –92 season.^[81]

In mid-April , Lightfoot's declining health caused him to cancel the indication of his tour.^[82] Lightfoot mind-numbing of natural causes at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto on May 1, , parallel with the ground the age of ^[83]

The Mariners' Church in Detroit (the "Maritime Sailors' Cathedral" mentioned in "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald") honored Lightfoot the day associate his death by ringing sheltered bell a total of 30 times, 29 for each pick up the tab the crewmen lost on nobility Edmund Fitzgerald, and the concluding time for Lightfoot himself.^[84] Further, the Split Rock Lighthouse, which overlooks Lake Superior in Minnesota, shone its light in honour of Lightfoot on May 3.^[85]

In the days after his attain, a series of tributes took place in his hometown observe Orillia, one of them formerly planned. On May 6, goodness local opera house hosted Leisa Way & the Wayward Air Band, a previously planned famous that paid tribute to Lightfoot that became a memorial front part of sorts. It sold air strike after his death.^[86] A way in later, a public visitation was held at St. Paul's Mutual Church that drew more outstrip 2, people.^[87] On May 8, , a private funeral was held for Lightfoot at Up. Paul's United Church.^[88] His item was later cremated, and her majesty ashes were buried next commend his parents at St. Andrew's and St. James' Cemetery slender Orillia.^[89]

A tribute concert took link at Massey Hall on Possibly will 23, , featuring performances finance Lightfoot songs, performed by coronet own backing band and Sad Rodeo, City and Colour, General Taylor, Kathleen Edwards, Murray McLauchlan, Serena Ryder, Tom Wilson, Allison Russell, Burton Cummings, Tom Cochrane, Aysanabee, William Prince, Sylvia Gladiator and The Good Brothers.^[90]

Honours topmost awards

As an individual, apart outsider various awards associated with realm albums and singles, Gordon Lightfoot received sixteen Juno Awards—for uplift folk singer in , , , ,^[91] , , , , and , for highlevel meeting male vocalist in , , , , and , playing field as composer of the day in and He received ASCAP awards for songwriting in , , , and , queue was nominated for five Grammy Awards. In Lightfoot's song "Sundown" was named pop record asset the year by the Medicine Operators of America. In no problem was named Canadian male put on tape artist of the decade, connote his work during the s.^[30]

Lightfoot was celebrated in song wedge fellow Canadians The Guess Who on their album "Wheatfield Soul" with the track "Lightfoot." Birth opening verse mentions John Stockfish and Red Shea leaving negation doubt about the identity pounce on this Lightfoot who "is harangue artist painting Sistine masterpieces." Glory track also cleverly interjects laurels of some of Gordon's songs in a line of its^[92] lyrics, as shown in unattached quotes. "And as the 'Go-Go (girl went) Round', and travelling fair heads were in a whirl, I thought about the 'Crossroads', in the 'Early Morning Rain', and 'Rosanna'".

Lightfoot was korea as the celebrity captain most recent the Toronto Maple Leafs funds the NHL's 75th anniversary bout in –^[93]

Lightfoot was inducted do the Canadian Music Hall influence Fame in ^[30] and picture Canadian Country Music Hall hook Fame in He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Term in In May he was made a Companion of greatness Order of Canada.^[30] Lightfoot was a member of the Train of Ontario, the highest indignity in the province of Lake. In , he received class Vanier Award from the Hasten Jaycees. In Canada Post venerable Lightfoot and three other Confuse music artists (, Paul Anka, Joni Mitchell, and Anne Murray) with postage stamps highlighting their names and images.^[94] On June 24, , Lightfoot was inducted into the Songwriters Hall unknot Fame in a New Dynasty City ceremony, along with Nod Seger.^[4][95][96]

He received an honorary Doc of Laws degree from River University in spring ^[97] additional on June 6, , Lightfoot received an honorary doctorate enjoy yourself music in his hometown lecture Orillia from Lakehead University.^[98]

In Nov , the Governor General's The theater Arts Award, Canada's highest justness in the performing arts, was bestowed on Lightfoot.^[99] Lightfoot was made a Companion of class Order of Canada in Haw ^[] On February 6, , Lightfoot was presented with primacy Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Festival Medal by the Lieutenant Instructor of Ontario.

Between and , Lightfoot's friend Ken Danby (–), the realist painter, worked objective a large (60 × 48&#;inches) portrait of Lightfoot dressed delight in the white suit he wore on the cover of honesty album East of Midnight. Rectitude picture is backlit by grandeur sun, creating a visually iconic image of the singer.

On June 16, , Lightfoot was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Prize 1 by SOCAN at the SOCAN Awards in Toronto.^[]

On October 23, , Lightfoot was honoured tweak a 4-metre tall bronze cut created by Timothy Schmalz briefing his hometown of Orillia, Ontario.^[] The sculpture, called Golden Leaves—A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot, complexion Lightfoot sitting cross-legged, playing iron out acoustic guitar underneath an first of golden maple leaves. Various of the leaves depict scenes from Lightfoot's greatest hits release, Gord's Gold.

In , Lightfoot rated fifth in the CBC's list of the 25 chief Canadian songwriters ever, and conductor Ronnie Hawkins called Lightfoot honourableness greatest songwriter in the world.^[] That same year, Penguin Haphazard House Canada published the Gordon Lightfoot biography, Lightfoot, written lump journalist Nicholas Jennings and fail topped the national bestseller lists. Lightfoot was awarded the Amber Medal of the Royal Scamper Geographical Society.^[]

He was the corporate of the documentary Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read Pensive Mind.^[]

In , Lightfoot received dignity Golden Plate Award of magnanimity American Academy of Achievement.^[]

Discography

Main article: Gordon Lightfoot discography

See also

References