October 18, 2020
“Gordon Lightfoot”
Canada’s greatest songwriter.
If only one could read his mind…to be able to peer into the genius that has been writing and recording music since 1966...
He has also been a masterful pilot of his career’s ship. From changing record labels due to non-confidence to suing other artists for plagiarism, to writing and releasing an album during a global pandemic - it is safe to say that Gordon has done it all.
Oh and health issues, did I mention that? He’s fought (and won) through those as well.
Bell’s Palsy paralyzed a portion of his face for a short time in 1972. A ruptured splenic artery aneurism (yeah, say that 5 times quickly) put him in ICU for 6 weeks with a coma in 2002. A tracheotomy.
A stroke in 2006 took away use of his middle and ring fingers on his right hand. He was back to performing 9 days later…using a studio musician for the more difficult guitar passages. He regained full use of his hand by the new year.
He has performed at many of Canada’s historical moments from the time he was commissioned in 1966 to write an album for Canada’s centennial (thus producing The Canadian Trilogy). He performed on the same stage in Ottawa, on Parliament Hill, 50 years to the day later for Canada’s 150 Anniversary celebration.
His latest album?
It’s appropriately called ‘Solo’…a knack that Gordon has for releasing recordings at just the right time. It is his 23rd solo album, released more than 54 years after his debut.
One of my first 45s was (of course) “If You Could Read My Mind”.
One of my favourite songs of his is “Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald” - a relation of a Newsweek story about the ship that sank in Lake Superior on November 10, 1975. I FINALLY got to see him live, several years ago during one of his many performances at Toronto’s Massey Hall, a place where he has performed more than 160 times throughout his career.
A storied career. An all-too-short tribute to the gentleman who defined the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 70s. A gentleman of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario. A gentleman. End of.
Have a great day everyone. Please stay safe.
#CanadaOnAShirt