Gordon Lightfoot Biography, Age, Height & Wife

Gordon Lightfoot Biography (Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Family, Career & More)

Gordon Lightfoot is perhaps Canada’s most skilled and well-known singer/songwriter. He is most known for his massive folk/pop/rock singles such as “Sundown,” “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Early Mornin’ Rain,” “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” and many more. Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, Glen Campbell, and Don Williams have all covered his tunes.

Lightfoot started his musical career in his teens, fronting a number of rock and roll bands in Toronto. He moved to Los Angeles in 1958, where he found employment creating jingles for television commercials, but he returned to Toronto in 1962, when he quickly became a fixture in the city’s bugeoning folk music scene.

Lightfoot created his first tracks for a tiny Toronto label in 1963, but he didn’t become well-known until he obtained a large record contract and released his debut album in 1966. He had his first top 10 success with “If You Could Read My Mind” in 1970, kicking off a decade of chart-topping albums and hit singles highlighted by his #1 smash with “Sundown” in 1974.

Lightfoot went into self-imposed semi-retirement in the late 1980s after over 20 years of fame, but reemerged in 1993 with the critically praised album “Waiting For You.” His 1998 CD “Painter Passing Through” received great accolades from both reviewers and fans.

Personal Details

Physical Appearance

Personal Life (Family, Friends, Girlfriends, Children)

Early Life

Gordon Lightfoot was born in Orillia, Ontario, on November 17, 1938, to Gordon Lightfoot Sr. and Jessica Lightfoot. His mother saw and acknowledged his obvious singing abilities and pushed him to perform in public. He was a consistent performer in school. He was also a member of the St. Paul’s United Church choir, which was directed by Ray Williams, his first mentor and inspiration.

Gordon used to often perform at Orillia District Collegiate and Vocational Institute while he was in high school. He also studied the piano, folk guitar, drums, and percussions. He made his debut performance in the district at Massey Hall before moving on to other venues.

Aside from music, Gordon was a natural athlete who competed in shot throw, pole vault, and football. His diverse skills earned him scholarships at the School of Music at McGill University and the University of Toronto. He relocated to California in 1958 to attend Westlake College of Music. He also worked on jingles and ads to supplement his income. In 1960, he returns to Toronto.

Career

Gordon Lightfoot returned to his hometown and performed in local cafes with ‘The Swinging Eight,’ a well-known local band. He also collaborated with Gino Silvi Singers. His popularity grew gradually, and in 1962 he released two singles. His singles ‘I’m the One’ and ‘It’s Too Late, He Wins’ were popular in his hometown and were played on the radio. In 1962, he collaborated with Terry Whelan on the live album ‘Two-Tones at the Village Corner.’

In 1963, he began touring in Europe and the United Kingdom. He was the host of the BBC’s ‘Country and Western Show.’ He was last seen at the Mariposa Folk Festival in 1964, where he established himself as a songwriter. Gordon’s songs were recorded by many popular artists, including Elvis Presley and Marty Robbins.

In 1965, he signed a recording contract with United Artists and chose Albert Grossman as his manager. His debut album, titled ‘Lightfoot!’, was released the following year. The album was a huge success, earning him numerous awards. In 1967, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation commissioned him to write a special broadcast. Under United Artists, he released four albums in the following years: ‘The Way I Feel’ (1967), ‘Did She Mention My Name?’ (1968), ‘Back Here on Earth’ (1968), and ‘Sunday Concert’ (1969). Several songs from these albums went on to chart high in Canada.

Following a falling out with United Artists, he got a recording contract with Warner Bros. In 1971, he released his song ‘If You Could Read My Mind,’ which became a worldwide smash. The song received a gold disc. Lightfoot’s worldwide tour schedule intensified after signing with Warner Bros.

He had performances in New York, Europe, and Australia. With Warner Bros., he enjoyed a brilliant career that included multiple hit albums. 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 (1976) were among them (1978).

In 1972, he developed Bell’s Palsy, which made his travels difficult. But Lightfoot kept making music at the same pace. He remained at Warner Bros. during the 1980s and 1990s. Dream Street Rose (1980), Shadows (1982), Salute (1983), East of Midnight (1986), Waiting for You (1993), and A Painter Passing Through (1993) are among his original albums (1998).

He played in a performance in Nevada in 2000, which was live televised by the CBC and PBS. The next year, he performed at Ryman Auditorium as part of the Tin Pan South Legends programme.

In 2002, he underwent stomach surgery and remained in serious condition. His health didn’t get any better till the end of the year. He recuperated at home and missed his tours and shows. He signed with Linus Entertainment in 2003, and his new album, ‘Harmony,’ was published in 2004. This was his first album after his recovery from illness. He returned to the stage in 2004 and performed in Mariposa, Peterborough, and Hamilton. These concerts were a big success.

He had a small stroke in 2006, which caused damage to his fingers. He utilised a replacement guitarist at first, but finally learned enough control and agility to play the guitar himself. Despite his failing health and advanced age, he continued to perform several times a year. He played at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and during the 100th Grey Cup in 2012. In 2015, he visited the United Kingdom, stopping in Ireland and Scotland. Throughout his travels, his performances were sold out.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked him to perform on Parliament Hill in 2017. This was in honour of Canada’s 150th anniversary. He is still considered Canada’s finest singer-songwriter today. Gordon is a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Walk of Fame in Canada. He was also made a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honour.

Facts

• Gordon Lightfoot performed during the opening ceremony of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, with K. D. Lang.
• In his hometown, a bronze sculpture named ‘Golden Leaves: A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot’ was unveiled in October 2015.

Gordon Lightfoot  Biography (Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Family, Career & More)