Posted on 05/01/2023 6:48:41 PM PDT by Drew68
Legendary Canadian folk singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot has died at age 84.
Victoria Lord, a representative for the family, says the musician behind classic Canadian ballads "Early Morning Rain" and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" died at a Toronto hospital on Monday evening.
His cause of death was not immediately available.
The Orillia, Ont., native rose to fame in the early 1960s after a move to Toronto opened doors in the thriving Yorkville music scene, and hooked him up with fellow folkies Ian and Sylvia Tyson. They became great admirers of his work and covered two of his tracks.
His 1965 debut album "Lightfoot!" ushered in a new folk voice and by the turn of the decade he eased rather effortlessly into the pop scene, making his first appearance on the Billboard chart with 1971's "If You Could Read My Mind."
Lightfoot's popularity peaked in the mid-1970s when both his single and album "Sundown" topped Billboard -- his first and only time doing so.
But his chart positions did little to slow him down in the final decades of his career when he built a reputation as one of the stalwart road musicians, in spite of various health challenges.
Fair enough.
Honestly though, they're dropping so fast these days I often have to remember myself who's left us, --and who's left.
I'm bracing myself for the loss of all of my musical icons in the coming few years. Page, Clapton, Townshend, Gilmour, etc... They're all getting up there.
RIP
Some unreleased songs you can get on YouTube...
Face of a thousand people....lightfoot in Toronto (live)
and Echoes of Heroes...bootleggy type recording of his in a Cleveland club
As always, trenchant, poignant, and stirring lyrics...
I enjoyed his music.
Pity
Dodged a bullet with crazy girl
Up until I heard that song...I just liked his well known tunes...but after I heard that song...I wanted to see what others surprisingly good but unpopular songs I would discover...man,I was not disapointed...sit down young stranger, poor little Allison, your loves return...
We’re next in line.
He had a gift. Similar to the rappers of today.
Sundown is etched into my mind. I graduated from high school in 1974 and was headed to college in the fall. I worked at a sawmill that summer and spent a lot of time on the log pond. We had a radio on the deck of the float shack and with the way that sound travels over water, you could hear the songs clearly most of the time. Although released in the spring, this song was still getting a lot of play time that summer. It always brings back good memories.
Gordon Lightfoot was such a great lyricist. My personal favorite set of lyrics was from Did She Mention My Name?. Everyone can relate to the first verse:
It's so nice to meet an old friend and pass the time of day
And talk about the home town a million miles away.
Is the ice still in the river? Are the old folks still the same?
And, by the way, did she mention my name?
4 later
I have tried to listen to some of the rappin’ songs(?)...usually stop after a few minutes...I am sure someone, somewhere likes them...
“Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” was in my subconscious before Lightfoot had even written it. He was one of those rare artists who pull from the ether. God bless.
Every time I hear “hoe,” it makes me want to go out in the garden for some weedin’.
Saw him three times in concert. The first time I saw him, he announced that the prior evening had been the first anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald going down. He was one of a kind. One of my favorites.
Canadian Railroad Trilogy, Seven Island Suite and Ordinary Man my favorites. My wife and I were talking about seeing him in Phoenix in April but not able too. He looked older than 84.RIP.
RIP to The Voice of Canada.
Another legend gone. 😔
It FEELS like November in Michigan.
Well, here I am closing out a very busy day, check FR, and read that Gordon Lightfoot has passed... What a huge loss! :-(
I cannot improve on the acolades prior, but, yeah.. another great, and this one right at the top, gone. I always respected most, musicians who could not just play or sing well, but write / narrate stories or settings, real or imagined, superbly. A few Lightfoot tunes are in order for me before I hit the haY!
RIP, Mr. Lightfoot. And prayers for your friends and family.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.