Folk singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot dies at 84

FILE - Singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, strums backstage at the Westbury Music Fair on Sept. 8, 1987, in Westbury, N.Y. Canada's legendary folk singer-songwriter, whose hits include Early Morning Rain and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," died on Monday, May 1, 2023, at a Toronto hospital, a representative of his family said. He was 84.

He toured late into his life. Just last month he canceled upcoming U.S. and Canadian shows, citing health issues. “I simply write the songs about where I am and where I’m from,” he once said. “I take situations and write poems about them.” He began singing in his church choir and dreamed of becoming a jazz musician. At age 13, the soprano won a talent contest at the Kiwanis Music Festival, held at Toronto’s Massey Hall.

Life in Hollywood wasn’t a good fit, however, and it wasn’t long before Lightfoot returned to Canada. He pledged to move to Toronto to pursue his musical ambitions, taking any job available, including a position at a bank before landing a gig as a square dancer on CBC’s “Country Hoedown.” By 1964, he was garnering positive word-of-mouth around town and audiences were starting to gather in growing numbers. By the next year, Lightfoot’s song “I’m Not Sayin’” was a hit in Canada, which helped spread his name in the United States.

Entertainment Entertainment Latest News, Entertainment Entertainment Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Legendary folk singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot dies at 84Gordon Lightfoot, Canada’s legendary folk singer-songwriter whose hits include “Early Morning Rain” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” has died at age 84. FOX13
Source: fox13seattle - 🏆 328. / 59 Read more »

Gordon Lightfoot, legendary Canadian folk singer-songwriter, dies at 84Gordon Lightfoot, the Canadian folk singer-songwriter known for his poetic lyrics and reserved disposition, died in Toronto on Monday. He was 84.
Source: washingtonpost - 🏆 95. / 72 Read more »

Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot, known for ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’, dies at 84Gordon Lightfoot, Canada’s legendary folk singer-songwriter whose hits including “Early Morning Rain” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” told a tale of Canadian identity that was exported worldwide, died on Monday. He was 84.
Source: chicagotribune - 🏆 8. / 91 Read more »

Gordon Lightfoot, Canadian Folk Singer-Songwriter, Dies at 84Singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, the Canadian folk music laureate who crossed over to major pop fame in the U.S. during the ‘70s, died Monday evening at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. He was 84…
Source: Variety - 🏆 108. / 63 Read more »

Gordon Lightfoot dies: Canadian folk singer was 84Gordon Lightfoot, Canada’s legendary folk singer-songwriter whose hits including “Early Morning Rain” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” told a tale of Canadian identity that was exported worldwide, died on Monday. He was 84.
Source: denverpost - 🏆 13. / 72 Read more »