Iconic Folk Singer Gordon Lightfoot Dies at 83
Gordon Lightfoot, the Canadian singer-songwriter who wrote and performed some of the most iconic folk songs of the 20th century, has died at the age of 83. His death was confirmed by his family, who said he passed away peacefully on May 2, 2023.
Lightfoot was best known for hits such as “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Sundown,” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” which have become staples of the folk and pop music canon. Over the course of his long career, he released over 20 albums and won numerous awards for his songwriting and performances.
Born in Orillia, Ontario, in 1938, Lightfoot began his career as a performer in the early 1960s, playing in coffeehouses and folk clubs across Canada. He rose to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a string of hits that showcased his distinctive voice and poetic lyrics.
Lightfoot continued to perform and record into his 80s, remaining a beloved figure in the folk music community. His death is being mourned by fans and fellow musicians around the world, who have paid tribute to his enduring legacy as a songwriter and performer.
