Folk Hero

While many singer/songwriters peak early and fade fast, Gordon Lightfoot remains durable, his name synonymous with Canadian music. And while the songs of Gordon Lightfoot remain ubiquitous, the man behind them is more elusive.

But recently, Gordon Lightfoot agreed to sit down with 16×9 at his home in Toronto for an extensive interview. Lightfoot was in the midst of a North American tour that will have its finale at Toronto’s storied Massey Hall. It’s the venue where Lightfoot gave one of his first public performances, singing a Schubert song at the age of thirteen.

“I competed for three years in the Kiwanis festival as a soloist. I won my last class, and as a reward I was able to perform – sing a solo at Massey Hall,” he says. “I never forgot the experience, I never forgot how well-rehearsed I was, and how – I felt that I’d done a good job.”

Sixty years has passed since that day. Gordon Lightfoot is about to turn 74 and life is slowing down a bit. His concerts remain energetic, but Lightfoot acknowledges that his vocals are strained from years of smoking.

“I go to the gym just about every day because I know how wonderfully well it works for the breathing apparatus and the lungs and all that sort of thing. And I still smoke cigarettes too… I’ve talked to my heart specialist about this point a couple times, and he keeps trying to get me to quit.”

While performing in Orillia in 2002, Lightfoot suffered a burst abdominal artery that almost killed him.
“That kept me out for two and a half years… I was on the floor about 4:00 in the afternoon, and I couldn’t get up. And it was just that simple. So they took me to the hospital and they gave me a shot and I didn’t wake up for six weeks.”

Lightfoot had another near death experience ten years later. This time the Canadian legend heard his own death notice while driving in his car.

“First, I heard ‘If You Could Read My Mind, and I said that’s funny…they don’t play music on this station, this is talk radio. And all of a sudden, I heard my obituary being read.” Lightfoot would later phone into a radio station and confirm he was alive.

These days, there’s a balance and calm to Gordon Lightfoot’s life that he says has never been there before.

“Life’s been a lot easier, more simple for me now since the illness because now all I’ve got to do is concentrate on my show,” he says. “I love the work, and because I love the way it makes me feel, and I love it so much, it has to radiate itself, somehow it has to make that connection to the audience. If they know that I love it, then they’re going to love it too.”

For the full story watch 16×9 this Friday at 8 PM – AT/MT, 9 PM – CT, 10 PM – ET/PT.