Gordon Lightfoot Inspiration
Gordon Lightfoot was born on Nov. 17, 1938, in Orillia, Ca.
His first concert at Massey Hall in Toronto, encouraged by his parents,
He won a contest for boys with unmodified voices prior to turning 13.
In the early 1960s, Lightfoot went solo after singing in quartets and duos.
As he joined country music and folk revival scenes, he wrote about 75 songs.
Bob Dylan, Merle Travis' Dark As A Dungeon, and his love, genius, and great voice
ended in his unique vocal and structural style.
In less than two years, from late 1961 to 1963,
His sound and life were altered forever.
His music was discovered in 1964 when he was performing on the Toronto folk scene;
Early Mornin' Rain and For Lovin' Me were chosen for their next album by Ian and Sylvia.
After United Artists, Lightfoot signed with Warner/Reprise.
He left Grossman and founded his own company,
Harmony, his 2004 Linus release, was his last studio album.
He only charted in Canada throughout the 60s, despite touring the US.
If You Could Read My Mind, Lightfoot's US chart debut, reached #5
and became one of the most covered songs in popular music history.
His songs and approach are adaptable beyond this tune.
Lightfoot went from country/folk to folk/rock, pop, and adult modern.
Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and Lightfoot have covered his tunes from the 1960s until the present.
Canada and the music business have honored him.
He won four Grammy selections, 17 Juno Awards, and a 1986 Canadian Music Hall of Fame entry.
He entered the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in September 2001.
The U.S. Songwriters Hall of Fame inducted him in June 2012.
Seven of his albums have achieved US "gold" status.
The listener discovers various concepts in the song as he says and how he says it.
Lightfoot continues to write and tour, thankfully writing his legacy.
He has written and recorded nearly 200 songs over 45 years.
Other successful musicians have cited him as a big inspiration.
He has composed and recorded a song for every music lover.
Dylan admires Lightfoot. My favorite. Maybe he's yours?
Gordon Lightfoot died in May 2023 with a $40 million net worth.
His best-selling album was GORD'S GOLD, which sold 2,260,000 copies.
He was 6 feet tall and got married to 3 ladies: Kim Hasse, Elizabeth Moon, and Brita Olaisson.
He had 4 children: Ingrid, Fred, Miles, and Eric.
Lightfoot's songs, including
"For Lovin' Me",
"Early Morning Rain",
"Steel Rail Blues",
"Ribbon of Darkness"—
are a number one hit on the U.S.
Written: May 10, 2023
Gordon Lightfoot Inspiration Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Robert James Liguori
Copyright © Sotto Poet | Year Posted 2023
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