He was one of Canada’s greatest singer/songwriters and well known around the world.  Gordon Lightfoot passed away at a Toronto Hospital at the age of 84.

Gordon Lightfoot, legendary Canadian singer-songwriter, dead at 84

Gordon appeared in Peterborough many times during his career including Peterborough Musicfest in the summer of 2001.  To this day that is still the largest crowd to ever attend at Musicfest show at Del Crary Park.

Back in August of 2004 following the big flood in Peterborough Gordon Lightfoot (who was 65 at the time) played the Peterborough Memorial Centre after a near-death illness to play the benefit concert for those effected by the flood.  He performed 5 songs alone on stage, accompanied only by his acoustic guitar

His good friend (local legend) Ronnie Hawkins invited Gordon to play the benefit concert.  Gordon hadn’t performed in public since 2002 when he nearly died after an artery ruptured in his abdomen.  He spent three months in hospital recovering, including five weeks in a coma.

In Dec 2017 Gordon Lightfoot donated 3 of his own personal canoes to the Canadian Canoe Museum here in Peterborough.  Lightfoot said he often paddled in those canoes in the Far North where he often found inspiration to write songs.

On May 8th 2014 Gordon Lightfoot played a sold out show at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.  Enjoy this video flashback.

 

 

© 2023 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.