Singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot is one of the most influential and respected figures in Canadian music history. His career spans over six decades, during which he has released 20 albums and over 200 songs. He is best known for his folk-rock hits such as "If You Could Read My Mind", "Sundown", "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" and "Carefree Highway". He has also been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Walk of Fame. He has received 16 Juno Awards, five Grammy nominations, a Governor General's Performing Arts Award and the Order of Canada.
In this blog post, I will explore some of the highlights of Lightfoot's remarkable musical journey, from his early days as a choirboy in Orillia, Ontario, to his latest album Solo, released in 2020 at the age of 81. I will also share some of his insights and advice on songwriting, performing and living a creative life.
Lightfoot was born on November 17, 1938, in Orillia, a small town north of Toronto. He showed an interest in music from a young age, singing in the church choir and learning to play piano and drums. He also developed a love for folk music, listening to artists like Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie and The Weavers. He started writing his own songs when he was a teenager, inspired by the poetry of Robert Service and Edgar Allan Poe.
He moved to Toronto in 1958 to pursue a career in music. He performed at various clubs and coffeehouses, where he met other emerging musicians like Ian and Sylvia Tyson, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. He also worked as a songwriter for hire, composing songs for other artists such as Marty Robbins, Peter, Paul and Mary, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. His first major success as a songwriter came in 1964, when his song "For Lovin' Me" was recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary and became a hit.
He signed his first recording contract with United Artists in 1965 and released his debut album Lightfoot! in 1966. The album featured some of his most popular songs, such as "Early Morning Rain", "For Lovin' Me", "Steel Rail Blues" and "Ribbon of Darkness". He followed it with two more albums for United Artists: The Way I Feel (1967) and Did She Mention My Name? (1968). He then switched to Warner Bros. Records in 1969 and released his breakthrough album Sit Down Young Stranger (later renamed If You Could Read My Mind) in 1970. The title track became a top-five hit in both Canada and the US, establishing Lightfoot as a star.
He continued to produce successful albums throughout the 1970s, such as Summer Side of Life (1971), Don Quixote (1972), Old Dan's Records (1972), Sundown (1974), Cold on the Shoulder (1975), Summertime Dream (1976) and Endless Wire (1978). He also toured extensively across North America and Europe, playing at venues like Carnegie Hall, Massey Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. He became known for his distinctive voice, expressive guitar playing and poetic lyrics that captured the beauty and diversity of Canada.
Lightfoot faced some challenges in the 1980s, both personally and professionally. He struggled with alcoholism and divorce, which affected his health and productivity. He also faced competition from new genres and trends in the music industry. He released only three albums in that decade: Dream Street Rose (1980), Shadows (1982) and East of Midnight (1986). However, he still maintained a loyal fan base and received recognition for his achievements. In 1986, he was honoured with a tribute concert at Massey Hall featuring many of his peers and admirers. In 1989, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada.
Lightfoot made a comeback in the 1990s with two acclaimed albums: Waiting for You (1993) and A Painter Passing Through (1998). He also resumed touring regularly across Canada and the US. He celebrated his 60th birthday with a sold-out concert at Massey Hall in 1998. He also received several awards and honours during this period,
such as the Governor General's Performing Arts Award in 1997 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from SOCAN in 1999.
Lightfoot's career was almost cut short in 2002 when he suffered a near-fatal abdominal aneurysm that required emergency surgery. He spent six weeks in a coma and several