Acclaimed Canadian folk artist Gordon Lightfoot has passed away. The news was announced on the artist’s Facebook page on Monday evening (May 1). He was 84 years old.
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“Gordon Lightfoot passed away this evening in a Toronto hospital at 7:30 p.m. More info to come..,” said the social media account for the singer. In less than an hour, the post had thousands of shares and comments.
The artist, who enjoyed a 60-plus-year career, began in the Toronto folk scene. The singer/songwriter is known for songs like “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” “If You Could Read My Mind” and “Sundown.” The Winnipeg Free Press called him Canada’s greatest songwriter.
[RELATED: Behind the Song: Gordon Lightfoot, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerld]
The news comes on the heels of Lightfoot canceling his North American tour dates earlier this year. “Gordon Lightfoot announces the cancellation of his U.S. and Canadian concert schedule for 2023,” said a statement at the time. “The singer is currently experiencing some health-related issues and is unable to confirm rescheduled dates at this time.”
In 2002, he suffered from severe health concerns with an abdominal condition and was even in a coma for six weeks. In 2006, he suffered a minor stroke that left him unable to use two fingers on his right hand.
Throughout his career, Lightfoot garnered four top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. His 1974 LP, Sundown, hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Several of his albums have achieved gold and platinum status. His songs have been recorded by Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Harry Belafonte and Neil Young, among many more.
[RELATED: Gordon Lightfoot Shows No Signs of Slowing Down: “I Was Into It for the Longevity]
The four-time Grammy-nominated artist was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012. He died at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and is survived by his wife, Kim Hasse, whom he married in 2011, and his six children.
So sad to hear of his passing.