Canadian folk singer, Gordon Lightfoot, passed away last night at the age of 84.
Lightfoot was known for his stirring lyrics and developed an international presence after the now-folk music standard, “If you Could Read My Mind” in the early 1970s.
He was also known for his hits, “Sundown,” “Rainy Day People,” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” He earned some famous fans who covered his songs, like Elvis Presley, Baraba Stresiand, and Johnny Cash, according to People.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to Twitter to share his condolences.
We have lost one of our greatest singer-songwriters. Gordon Lightfoot captured our country’s spirit in his music – and in doing so, he helped shape Canada’s soundscape. May his music continue to inspire future generations, and may his legacy live on forever. To his family,…
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) May 2, 2023
Despite rising health issues, Lightfoot told The New York Times in 2004, “I want to be like Ralph Carter, Stompin’ Tom Willie Nelson. Just do it for as long as humanly possible.”
Story via Anna Lazarus Caplan with People
