Prolific Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, recognized for the folk-pop hits as 'If You May Learn My Thoughts', 'Early Morning Rain' and 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald', has died aged 84.
His household stated in a press release launched by publicist Victoria Lord that Lightfoot died of pure causes.
Lightfoot, born in Ontario, made his performing debut in 1943, on the age of 5, singing 'I am A Little Teapot' at an area church Sunday college. He later discovered himself immersed within the Canadian and American folks scene, amid contemporaries like Joni Mitchell and Neil Younger.
The songwriter’s 1976 epic, 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald', concerning the drowning of 29 sailors when a freighter sank in a storm on Lake Superior, stays one in all his most beloved songs.
Whereas he is named a folk-pop star of the late twentieth century, Lightfoot's recognition meant he was touring internationally till simply final month.
In April, the singer cancelled his 2023 tour dates, citing unspecified well being points.
Lightfoot's songs - coping with every part from a failed marriage to the fantastic thing about the Canadian countryside - have been coated by artists together with Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Glen Campbell, Harry Belafonte, The Grateful Useless and Bob Dylan.
Dylan as soon as known as Lightfoot one in all his favorite artists, saying "I am unable to consider any (songs) I do not like."
The singer was typically hailed as a modern-day poet in his native Canada.
"He's our poet laureate. He's our iconic singer-songwriter," Geddy Lee, the lead singer of Rock band Rush, instructed a 2019 documentary about Lightfoot.
His sentiments have been echoed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who took to Twitter to say that Canada had misplaced "one in all our biggest singer-songwriters.” Lightfoot "captured our nation's spirit in his music - and in doing so, he helped form Canada's soundscape."
All through his profession, Lightfoot acquired an array of tributes recognizing his contribution to Canadian tradition, together with honorary levels, a postage stamp and even a guitar created in his title. He gained a Governor Basic's Performing Arts Award in 1997 and was invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada - the order's highest degree - in 2003.
He acquired 5 Grammy nominations and gained 17 Juno Awards (Canada's equal music honour) and was inducted into many halls of fame, together with the Canadian Music Corridor of Fame.
Lightfoot is survived by his spouse, Kim, six youngsters - Fred, Ingrid, Galen, Eric, Miles and Meredith - and several other grandchildren.