Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot | |
|---|---|
 GordonLightfoot in Toronto. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. |
| Born | 17 November 1938 Orillia,Ontario,Canada |
| Died | 1 May 2023(aged 84) Toronto,Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Folk,country |
| Occupation(s) | Musician,singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar,voice |
| Years active | 1962–2023 |
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr.[1](November 17, 1938 – May 1, 2023) was aCanadiansinger and songwriter. He is famous around the world for hisfolk,country,andpop musicsongs. He was first heard in the 1960s. He had hit radio songs in the 1970s including "If You Could Read My Mind", "Sundown", "Carefree Highway", "Rainy Day People" and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald".[2]
Some of his songs have been recorded by other famous singers includingElvis Presley,Johnny Cash,Marty Robbins,Jerry Lee Lewis,Barbra StreisandandTony Rice.
Robbie Robertsonof the Canadian music group calledthe Bandsaid Lightfoot was his "favourite Canadian songwriter".[3]
Lightfoot's music career lasted sixty years. He recorded more than 200 songs. His folk music of the 1960s and 1970s influenced many famous singers includingBob DylanandJim Croce.Like Robertson, Bob Dylan called Lightfoot one of his favourite songwriters.[4]
Awards
[change|change source]In his career, Lightfoot received sixteenJuno Awards.He won Junos as top folk singer in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977. He won a Juno as top male vocalist in 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973 And he won in 1972 and 1976 for being composer of the year.
Lightfoot receivedASCAPawards for songwriting in 1971, 1974, 1976 and 1977.
Lightfoot was nominated for fiveGrammy Awards.
In 1980, Lightfoot was named Canadian Male Recording Artist of the Decade for his music of the 1970s.
Lightfoot was inducted into theCanadian Music Hall of Famein 1986. He was added toCanada's Walk of Famein 1998. He was inducted into theCanadian Country Music Hall of Famein 2001.
In May 2003, Lightfoot was made aCompanion of the Order of Canada,[5]which is one of Canada's highest awards.
Death
[change|change source]Lightfoot died at a hospital inTorontoon May 1, 2023. He was 84 years old.[6]
Music
[change|change source]- 1966Lightfoot!
- 1967The Way I Feel
- 1968Did She Mention My Name
- 1968Back Here on Earth
- 1969Sunday Concert'
- 1970Sit Down Young Stranger
- 1971Summer Side of Life
- 1972Don Quixote
- 1972Old Dan's Records
- 1974Sundown
- 1975Cold on the Shoulder
- 1976Summertime Dream
- 1978Endless Wire
- 1980Dream Street Rose
- 1982Shadows
- 1983Salute
- 1986East of Midnight
- 1993Waiting for You
- 1998A Painter Passing Through
- 2004Harmony
- 2012All Live
- 2020Solo
Notes
[change|change source]- ↑CCArchived2008-12-07 at theWayback Machine
- ↑Adam White & Fred Bronson (1988).The Billboard Book of Hits.Billboard Books.ISBN0-8230-8285-7.
- ↑Seely, Mike (22 August 2007)."Fantasy Trade: Gordon Lightfoot for Neil Diamond, The Last Waltz: Canadian songwriter passed on the night-of invitation, much to this author's regret".Seattle Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon 2008-01-23.Retrieved2008-04-05.
- ↑Active Musician.Gordon Lightfoot biography,retrieved November 19, 2007.ArchivedNovember 5, 2014, at theWayback Machine
- ↑http:// gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=1014Archived2008-12-07 at theWayback Machine
- ↑Morris, Chris."Gordon Lightfoot, Canadian Folk Singer-Songwriter, Dies at 84".Variety.RetrievedMay 1,2023.