People die all the time. Usually, we sigh and nod. It's the same with the famous as with ordinary people. Yet another marker buoy along the river of life as we approach the open sea.
But some deaths knock us back on our heels and they register like wounds. That's how I felt about the death of Gordon Lightfoot just yesterday in Toronto. Two commenters in today's "Toronto Sun" proved that I was not alone:-
Gordon Lightfoot had a tuneful baritone singing voice and he inspired loyalty from the musicians who in turn supported him. He spent almost all of his life in music and was even performing at the end of last year. But the thing that I admired most about him was his craftsmanship - weaving words together to tell stories or to bare his soul in song. He had a rare gift for that kind of connection with other humans.
Here's one his most famous songs, performed for the BBC way back in 1969:-
A 12-string. Interesting that he sings what I think of as one of the harmony lines. You could record yourself singing along the main tune to entertain us.
ReplyDeleteIt knocked me back on my heals too.
ReplyDeleteI think I saw him in concert but now it's too many years to remember for sure. He was a good musician, though, and will be missed.. not only in Canada.
ReplyDeleteSome great music that will live on forever.
ReplyDeleteRIP
They don't make them like him anymore. A brilliant musician and a beautiful voice.
ReplyDeleteI did do a double take at the face who introduced him.
He had such a rich and melodious voice. My late husband was a huge fan. He loved him second only to John Denver.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on Gordon Lightfoot. He was a great writer.
ReplyDeleteHe was an icon. RIP
ReplyDeleteA nice tribute, YP - thank you. He was a wonderful storyteller and had a voice that was so easy to listen to.
ReplyDeleteI know him best from the song "Sundown" and honestly can't remember what else he sang.
ReplyDeleteNeither the name, nor the face, voice or song ring a bell for me. I guess I was born a little too late and in the wrong place to know him. The video was made when I was one year old. His voice was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOur music heroes live on in You Tube videos.
ReplyDeleteA strong voice from our coming of age,
ReplyDeleteI've been listening to his songs my whole life, Canadian content on CBC, without even realizing it. Love his voice and his songs. He will be missed.
ReplyDeleteI've long admired Gordon Lightfoot and his music. Some of my most frequently played songs on iTunes are his! "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" in particular always resonates with me -- an old-fashioned folk song, and yet tuneful and modern enough to become a top-10 hit when it came out.
ReplyDeleteI remember him and enjoyed his music. I think my favorite was "If you could read my mind".
ReplyDeleteAfter years of collecting his albums (yes, albums, not CDs), I attended a Gordon Lightfoot concert at Royal Albert Hall in 2016 while on a solo visit to the UK. Sitting alone in a box seat overlooking the stage, I was able to quietly sing along while listening to his melodic voice and self-deprecating comments; it made for a memorable evening. I'm so very grateful to have had that opportunity to see and hear him in person. RIP, Gordon.
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