After more than 50 active years of hit song making and international album sales well into the multi-millions, it’s safe to say that esteemed singer-songwriter and musician Gordon Lightfoot resides with some very exclusive company atop the list of all-time greats. His song catalog is incredibly vast and includes such immortals as “Early Morning Rain,” “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Carefree Highway,” “Sundown,” “(That’s What You Get) For Lovin Me,” “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald,” “Canadian Railroad Trilogy,” “Ribbon Of Darkness,” “Beautiful,” “Song For A Winter’s Night,” and “Rainy Day People” to name a few.
For the true living legend, this year is special for Lightfoot with the announcements of a cross-country USA tour; a new, first time in 14-years, full-length record on Warner Brothers Rhino, titled: Gordon Lightfoot – Solo; and, the nation-wide release of the documentary film: Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind. The concert tour will feature his well-known hits as well as some deep album cuts for the die-hard fanatics. All of which are woven together with some of Lightfoot’s own behind-the-scenes stories and personal anecdotes about his historic 50-plus-years musical career. The Paramount Theater is an ideal venue for this kind of intimate performance.
“Lightfoot became a mentor for a long time. I think he probably still is to this day. I can’t think of any Gordon Lightfoot song I don’t like. Every time I hear a song of his, I wish it would last forever. ” – Bob Dylan
“I’ve always been trying to write songs like Lightfoot. A song of mine like ‘Come Monday’ is a direct result of me trying to write a Gordon Lightfoot song.” – Jimmy Buffett
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Gordon Lightfoot has recorded 21 albums and has five Grammy nominations. His songs have been aired regularly for over 50 years, earning him Radio Singles Chart Positions in North America achieved by few others. Lightfoot’s radio hits in the USA have earned Five #1s, Five Top 10s, and Thirteen Top 40 hits. In Canada, he has earned Sixteen #1s, Eighteen Top 10s, and Twenty One Top 40 hits.
Aside from his success in writing, singing, and performing his own songs, Lightfoot has found fortune in having his songs recorded and performed by other great artists including: Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Jr., Marty Robbins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Judy Collins, Johnny Mathis, Anne Murray, Olivia Newton-John, Sarah McLachlan, Barbra Streisand, Peter Paul & Mary, Harry Belafonte, Jane’s Addiction, Richie Havens, Glen Campbell, Toby Keith, and George Hamilton IV.
In June of 2012, Lightfoot’s legacy was further enhanced when he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. Lightfoot was honored for his role in defining the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and ’70s. Other impressive inductees who make up the roster enshrined in the Songwriters Hall of Fame include Barry Mann, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Hal David and Burt Bacharach, John Fogerty, Bob Dylan, Isaac Hayes, Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Sir Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, James Brown, Bruce Springsteen, Jim Croce, Phil Collins, Loretta Lynn, Jimmy Webb, Van Morrison, Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, Diane Warren, Garth Brooks, Leon Russell, and Leonard Cohen.
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