Gordon Lightfoot died at 84

Gordon Lightfoot died at 84. He was a Canadian singer-songwriter who became famous in the 60s and 70s with hits like Early Morning Rain and If You Could Read My Mind.

The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described him as one of the country’s greatest singer-songwriters. 

“Gordon Lightfoot captured our country;s spirit in his music – and in doing so, he helped shape Canada’s soundscape,” Prime Minister said.

“May his music continue to inspire future generations, and may his legacy live on forever.”

His songs were covered by artists including Elvis Presley, Barbara Streisand and Johnny Cash.

According to reports, Gordon Lightfoot died naturally at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto on Monday.

Life of Gordon Lightfoot

Lightfoot was born in Ontario and won a talent competition as part of a barbershop quartet while still in high school.

At the age of 18, he headed to the US to study music composition before returning to Canada.

He made his radio debut in 1962 with (Remember Me) I’m the One, which led to a number of hit songs and partnerships with other musicians.

Gordon Lightfoot made his first appearance in the US Billboard Chart in 1971, when If You Could Read My Mind reached number five.

It was his biggest hit in the UK, where it peaked at number 30 in the same year. It reached a new audience in the early 2000s when it was used on the soundtrack to Channel 4 comedy Trigger Happy TV.

The comedian, Dam Joly, described Gordon Lightfoot as a “legend” on a Twitter post.

“RIP Gordon Lightfoot. If you could read my mind, it was the most popular song on any of the Trigger Happy Soundtracks,” he added.

Ben Stiller, an American Actor and Comedian, said that Lightfoot was a great songwriter and wonderful performer. 

Lightfoot had a vast catalog of more than 200 songs and some were covered by artists including Harry Belafonte, Bob Dyan and The Grateful Dead.

Lightfoot was nominated for four Grammy Awards, including for The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, about the drowning of 29 sailors when a freight ship sank in Lake Superior.

He dominated Canada’s Junos in the 1970s, winning 12 awards during the decade.

And in 2003 he was awarded the companion of the Order of Canada – the country’s highest civilian honor.

However, Lightfoot was more reserved about his talents, telling Canada’s The Globe and Mail: Sometimes I wonder why I’m being called an icon, because I really don’t think of myself that way.”

The Canadian singer-songwriter is survived by his wife Kim Hasse, six children and several grandchildren.

Category: Entertainment