Sentimental Tributes Pour In For Music Icon Gordon Lightfoot

Singer-songwriter and Canadian icon Gordon Lightfoot passed away on Monday. Leaving many fans and celeb friends heartbroken.

The singer responsible for hits like  “If You Could Read My Mind” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” passing is bringing tributes in from people who felt the singers presence through his music.

Music journalist George Stroumboulopoulos took to Twitter to write, “He sat on top of the mountain. He shared what he saw. For so many around the world, they knew our stories because of him. Rest in peace Gord. Golden forever.”

He also shared a video of the last interview he did with Lightfoot. TV writer and author Mark Critch shared his own memories of the singer. “Gordon Lightfoot has left us. There’s something about Canada and Gordons.. This is a photo of him alongside fellow Gords Downie and Pinsent.  Pinsent then painted the image. All gone now. To quote Mr. Lightfoot, “If you plan to face tomorrow, do it soon.” #GordanLightfoot.”

Canadian native Kiefer Sutherland praised Lightfoot. “The world lost one of its great storytellers yesterday. Canada lost part of itself. And I lost a hero. Gordon Lightfoot, may you rest in peace.”

Lightfoot passed away from natural causes on Monday evening at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. He lived a great long life, passing away at 84 years old. His passing was confirmed by his long-time agent Victoria Lord.

Lightfoot rose to fame in the 60s with folk hits like “Early Morning Rain” and “Ribbon of Darkness”. Lightfoot didn’t cross over into American success until a little while later when he signed with Warner Bros.

The singer has served as an inspiration for many artists like fellow Canadians Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. When he did make it into the American scene, he then became a role model for talents like Bob Dylan who wrote about it in the liner notes of his anthology. “Every time I hear a song of his, it’s like I wish it would last forever.”

Lightfoot didn’t allow old age to slow him down he continued to tour and performed at California’s Stagecoach Festival in 2018, touring slowed down but only because of COVID-19. Just ahead of the lockdown, a film was made about Lightfoot.

Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind, directed by Martha Kehoe and Joan Tosoni, was released in 2019.

The well-wishes for Lightfoot and his family continued to roll in from the likes of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. “Rest in peace, Gordon Lightfoot,” he wrote and shared a photo of his favorite Lightfoot hit, “If You Could Read My Mind”.

Author Stephen King wrote “Gordon Lightfoot has died. He was a great songwriter and a wonderful performer. Sundown, you better take care/If I catch you creepin' 'round my back stairs.”

Fans of the singer shared their memories of how they encountered the creative. “I grew up with my parents playing Gordon’s music & have tried to keep this phenomenally talented Artist’s work alive on here over the years. His songs were stories, beautiful melodic stories. He leaves a timeless legacy.”

“When I think of Gordon Lightfoot I think of car rides up north My parents putting on Sundown And all feeling right in the world. Rest In Peace, Gordon Lightfoot.”

RIP Gordon.