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| Gordon Lightfoot Kicks Off His 2008 Ontario Tour Beloved music icon Gordon Lightfoot will perform in Southam Hall of the National Arts Centre on Saturday April 19 and Sunday April 20, 2008 at 20:00. The NAC performances are the first on a four-city Ontario tour which concludes on May 10 after appearances in Hamilton, Kitchener, and Toronto. A modern day troubadour, Gordon Lightfoot's time-defying style and legendary hits have made him one of Canada's most anticipated live performers. His concerts the world over continually fill to capacity with legions of fans eager to experience Lightfoot's melodic, soulful voice and unmistakable sound. "Canadian fans have always held a special place in my heart, " says Lightfoot about the tour. "Our shared cultural experiences have coloured my songs over the years, and performing this music for them live is always such a thrill for me." Born November 17, 1938 in Orillia, Ontario, Gordon Lightfoot studied at Westlake College of Music in Los Angeles. He returned to Canada in the early 1960s and began performing at the 'Riverboat' at the heart of Toronto's fabled folk music scene. In 1966, his debut album Lightfoot! was released. Tracks such as For Lovin' Me, Early Mornin' Rain, Steel Rail Blues, and Ribbon of Darkness brought him international recognition as a songwriter. Cover versions of his songs were recorded by artists such as Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley, until 1971 when his own version of If You Could Read My Mind became a Top Ten hit. In 1974, his classic single, Sundown, went to No.1 on the American charts, followed two years later by Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, inspired by a Newsweek magazine article; it reached No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard charts. By the 1990s he was mostly touring, giving just fifty concerts a year by 1998, mainly in North America, while he released two albums during that period. In 2004, he released his 20th album, Harmony, appeared on Canadian Idol, and toured in 2005. Mr. Lightfoot has won 15 Juno Awards and been nominated for 5 Grammy Awards. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2001. In May 2003, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada; he is also a member of the Order of Ontario, and in 2004 was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |