Canadian Hall of Famer and Folk music legend Gordon Lightfoot died May 1, 2023 in a Toronto hospital at the age of 84.  A cause of death was not revealed.

On Monday when the Mariner’s Church rang the bells, they tolled not 29 times but 30.

While he released 20 albums over the course of his career and wrote hundreds of songs, Lightfoot will forever be associated with the story song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” – a story about a ship that sunk during a storm on Lake Superior. 


Speaking on the national treasure that was Gordon Lightfoot, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said via Twitter, “we have lost one of our greatest singer-songwriters.  Gordon Lightfoot captured our country’s spirit in his music – and in doing so, he helped shape Canada’s soundscape. May his music continue to inspire future generations, and may his legacy live on forever.”

Lightfoot was known for story songs, songs about his native Canada, and being autobiographical in his lyrics.  He once noted, “I simply write the songs about where I am and where I’m from.  I take situations and write poems about them.”

Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr was born on November 17, 1938 in Orillia, Ontario.

With dreams of being a jazz musician, a young Gordon began his musical journey in the church choir.  Like all boys before their voices change, a 13 year old soprano, he won a Kiwanis Music Festival talent contest at Massey Hall in Toronto.  Speaking on the event he said, “I remember the thrill of being in front of the crowd.  It was a stepping stone for me…”

In college his voice now deeper, it was a barbershop quartet – The Collegiate Four – who won a CBC talent contest.

He didn’t even pick up a guitar until he was 18 years old and began his songwriting efforts some months after that.  His first serious composition was inspired by a plastic ring that had users swinging their hips – “The Hula Hoop Song”.

A move to the U.S. after graduation was a short lived experiment that had him moving back across the border to Toronto.  His first gig was at a local restaurant – Fran’s Restaurant – and in 1962, he got a break when “(Remember Me) I’m the One” was played on the radio which led to a long standing engagement at the Mariposa Folk Festival in Orillia, Ontario.

He was successful in the U.S. long before music fans knew his name when artists like Peter, Paul, and Mary and Marty Robbins.

His first American hit came in 1971 when “If You Could Read My Mind” topped out at number five on the Billboard Hot 100.  “Sundown” – album and single – gave Lightfoot his only number ones on the Billboard Hot 100 and Album 200 charts.



His accomplishment include 12 Juno Awards – including six Folksinger of the Year Awards – member of the Canadian Music, Country Music, and Railway Halls of Fame, and a governor General’s Award recipient.  He is a Companion of the Order of Canada.

He is survived by his third wife Kim, children, and grandchildren.

Gordon Lightfoot discography:
“Lightfoot!”
“The Way I Feel”
“Did She Mention My Name?”
“Back Here on Earth”
“Sunday Concert”
“If You Could Read My Mind”
“Sit Down Young Stranger”
“Summer Side of Life”
“Old Dan’s Records”
“Don Quixote”
“Sundown”
“Cold on the Shoulder”
“Summertime Dream”
“Endless Wrie”
“Dream Street Rose”
“Shadows”
“Salute”
“East of Midnight”
“Waiting for You”
“A Painter Passing Through”
“Harmony”
“Solo”

Feature photo credit: Gordon Lightfoot at Massey Hall, Toronto, Ont. Photo by Kasra Ganjavi