Some people believe Gordon Lightfoot was the greatest Canadian songwriter of all time. His biggest hits include “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Sundown” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”
Now the sad news comes that Lightfoot has died at the age of 84. The cause of death is reported to be “natural causes.” He died in a hospital in Toronto on May 1, 2023.
Lightfoot, who was born in 1938, released his first few singles in 1962. They brought him success locally, but in 1970, he found success internationally. “If You Could Read My Mind” became a number 1 hit in both Canada and the United States. He wrote the song about his marriage, which was falling apart.
Lightfoot went on to record hit songs including “Beautiful” and “Talking in my Sleep,” but his 1974 song “Sundown” is still popular in the United States today due to its use in films and TV shows including “Knives Out,” “Supernatural” and “The Black List.”
One year later, in 1975, Lightfoot wrote about a shipwreck and ended up with another hit song titled “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”
Beyond his recording career, Lightfoot spent quite a bit of time on tour. In fact, he never stopped touring; although, he did have a couple health scares that caused him to put his touring plans on pause. In 2002, he had to have an emergency surgery for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. He was in a coma for six weeks, but he survived. Then, four years later, he had a stroke while on stage. Again, he survived and was back on stage after just 9 days.
Lightfoot planned to go on tour again in 2023, but the tour ended up getting canceled because of his health.
After hearing the news of Lightfoot’s death, multiple people have posted tributes to him.
“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.” – Bob Dylan pic.twitter.com/MOtJFYwIIp
— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) May 2, 2023
Lightfoot is survived by his wife, Kim Lightfoot, and his six children, Fred, Ingrid, Eric, Galen, Miles and Meredith, as well as multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Rest in peace.