Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot is perhaps the most accomplished and well-known singer/songwriter to ever come out of Canada. He is internationally known for such monumental folk/pop/rock hits as "Sundown", "If You Could Read My Mind", "Early Mornin' Rain", "Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald" and many more. His songs have been covered by such music giants as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, Glen Campbell and Don Williams. Lightfoot began his music career fronting a variety of rock n roll bands around Toronto while still in his teens. In 1958, he relocated to Los Angeles where he found work writing jingles for TV commercials but returned to Toronto in 1962 where he rapidly became a fixture in the city's bugeoning folk music scene.

He made his first records for a local Toronto label in 1963 but it wasn't until he signed a major record deal and released his first album in 1966 that he became widely known.

Six children: Two children, Fred (born Feb 1, 1964) and Ingrid (born Dec 31, 1965), from his first marriage with wife Brita Two children out of wedlock, including Eric (born Dec 30, 1981) with Cathy Coonley. Two children, Miles (born ca. 1991) and Meredith (born ca. 1996), with current wife Elizabeth.One older sister, Bev.Two grandchildren.

In 1970, he scored his first top ten hit with "If You Could Read My Mind" beginning a decade of chart-topping albums and hit songs hightlighted by his #1 hit in 1974 with "Sundown".

After nearly 20 years of success, Lightfoot when into self-imposed semi-retirement in the late 1980s but reemerged in 1993 with the highly acclaimed album "Waiting For You".

Inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 1998 (charter member).

Saturday, September 7th 2002 - rushed to McMaster University Health Centre in Hamilton, Ontario by air ambulance after experiencing stomach pains. He had emergency stomach surgery and is expected to make a complete recovery. Details of the surgery are pending.

Inducted into the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame in 2003, in the Industry Achievement category, for his "Canadian Railroad Trilogy".

He is back at home after spending several months in hospital. According to a recent interview with the Globe & Mail newspaper, he has ready another album which will be titled "Twenty" and due for release sometime in 2004. [October 2003]

Pictured on one of four 52¢ Canadian commemorative postage stamps honoring Canadian Recording Artists, issued 29 June 2007. The other stamps pictured Paul Anka, Joni Mitchell, and Anne Murray.

Returning to his Canadian home in Toronto after a 10 show tour ending at the Sunrise in Fort Pierce Florida. [March 2010]