The Harmonize For Speech Fund - A Conversation With Gordon Lightfoot
 

Re: The Harmonize For Speech Fund - A Conversation With Gordon Lightfoot
 

Thank you! That was really interesting. I've worked with a few children with severe speech problems and it's so neat to know Gord supports one of my causes.

Re: The Harmonize For Speech Fund - A Conversation With Gordon Lightfoot
 

Terrific report...for such a worthy cause.

Re: The Harmonize For Speech Fund - A Conversation With Gordon Lightfoot
 

I've grown so used to Gordon being alternately guarded or overly rehearsed in his speaking...it was nice to see him spontaneous and engaged. A good cause.

Re: The Harmonize For Speech Fund - A Conversation With Gordon Lightfoot
 

Great to see such passion amongst the old boys as they discuss the glory of group harmony. Ironic that Gord's show basically is void of harmonies. The harmonies are as integral to those studio recordings as the lead guitar parts are. IMO anyhow. The brief moments when the boys chime in on Sundown Sweet Guinevere and Triangle are always savoured. The possibilities.

Well, I sent the clip to a producer colleague who had worked on a 'child stuttering' themed documentary that I knew Gord had participated in.

I don't think the doc is online but it was very well received, award winning and very heartbreaking and moving.

Anyhow - He just contacted me to tell me the HE was the actual interviewer here! He hadnt seen this particular edited montage. It was done a few years ago. Small world....

Re: The Harmonize For Speech Fund - A Conversation With Gordon Lightfoot
 

I should have mentioned the interviewer (producer and also actor) is Vladimir Bondarenko and his internationally acclaimed documentary films I referred to are called “Speaking of Courage” (the one which Gord appeared in) and “Voices to Remember”. They tell the stories of children and adults who live with a stutter.

This all came about during a tribute night for George Shields and with Gord in attendance, the opportunity for an interview with the old pals couldn't be passed up!


here's a fun little David McEachern anecdote from a decade ago (i'd love to hear that rendition!):

"Our quartet and chorus (Toronto Northern Lights) were performing at the
John Bassett Theatre and we had a special guest performer by the name of
'Gordon Lightfoot'.

We found out on Thursday that he would be coming to sing a couple of songs
on this show. Our Musical Director, Steve Armstrong, stayed up till 1 AM
Friday to write a terrific, backup arrangement for 'If You Could Read My
Mind Love". He sent it to Associate Director and learning tape maker
extraordinaire, Chris Arnold, and by Friday at noon Alex Beamish, our
webmaster had the written music and MP3's posted on our website. Everyone
in our chorus has email btw. The Chorus members learned the music on their
own and we got together an hour before the show Saturday night to go over
it."

"One of our supporters, George Shields, is an old friend of Lightfoot's and
asked him at the show if we could back him up on this song. Gordon
said...... "Are we just going to wing it?". LOL He sang it with us once
in the dressing room, we made one small change and he said "That's great!
It'll be perfect by the time we get on stage". The Northern Lights went on
stage and performed our part of the show and then invited Gordon Lightfoot
on stage and performed the song with him. It was an awesome experience.
He loved it and the crowd went bonkers."

Re: The Harmonize For Speech Fund - A Conversation With Gordon Lightfoot
 

well that's a video I'd like to see...!
and the crowd went BONKERS!
lol
of course they did.

Re: The Harmonize For Speech Fund - A Conversation With Gordon Lightfoot
 

ok, maybe some missed this...not too many GL interviews with this vibe, imo

i see over 5000 views with only 6 comments (do i sound like mr Fowles? lol)


um, this related video reaffirms that there are some really good folks on our Earth

Re: The Harmonize For Speech Fund - A Conversation With Gordon Lightfoot
 

This really is a wonderful thing to see happening. Very heart-wrenching indeed and thank you for sharing it with us.

It's something that has touched many of us throughout life in many ways, be it family or otherwise.
It's easy to see how Gord would connect here.

The power of song rings out it's chorus in this one.

RJ.