We are sorry to report on the passing of Gordon Lightfoot. Lightfoot is perhaps the most well known and revered folk singer from Canada. He was 84 years old. His family reported that he passed earlier tonight at a hospital in Toronto, Canada.
Lightfoot’s musi has been described as ‘evocative’ and poetic and his sound is credited as helping to define the folk sound that developed in the 1960s and 70s.
Gordon Lightfoot’s song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is perhaps his most famous along with Sundown which was his highest chart topper. Lightfoot was internationally regarded, he is revered in his native Canada.
Born in 1938, Lightfoot’s career spanned over six decades. His body of work includes over twenty albums released. Over the course of those releases he sold nearly seven million albums. He performed incessantly including over 2500 public concerts over the course of his increcible career.
At this time no cause of death has been released.
Lightfoot was married three times and has four children. He has not spoken widely about his childhood growing up in Orillia Onatario.
Lightfoot won numerous Juno awards including Songwriter of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Folk Album of the Year, and Folk Artist of the Year. Though he never won a Grammy he was nominated four times.
Our sincerest condolences go out to Lightfoot’s fans and family. He is survived by his wife, Kim.
“I can’t think of any Gordon Lightfoot song I don’t like. Every time I hear a song of his, it’s like I wish it would last forever… Lightfoot became a mentor for a long time. I think he probably still is to this day.”—Bob Dylan
Tributes are pouring in regarding his passing.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweets, “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.”
New England singer songwriter Jay Psaros has been performing live as a support act for Lightfoot over the last few years. He posted “RIP Gordon Lightfoot. Your music inspired so many across so many generations. To say working with you was an honor would be an understatement. I am forever grateful for the kindness and memories you have given me. My heart goes out to his band, crew and his wonderful wife Kim 
.”
New York songwriter and performer Jack Grace remembers his times performing with Lightfoot, “After the second night of shows we played together in 2022, Gordon asked me if I would leave a CD of mine with him, “Pick your favorite album!” he said. “Well that’s not fair” I replied.
He looked at me quizzically. “Well you go ahead and pick your favorite album of yours” I responded.
Gordon nodded and smiled, understanding the challenge while shaking his head. He was looking up at the rafters for over a minute, then lowered his head and pronounced , “Dream Street Rose.” (he paused to agree with himself) “It doesn’t have any hits and we don’t play any of the songs , but…yes that is my favorite .”
It was a special moment shared, just as two songwriters talking songs. The crazy thing is it seemed he hadn’t been asked or at least decided on that question up to that moment. Gordon Lightfoot went out with a full tour schedule on the books. Love to Kim and family. There is no replacing that fella.”
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