Saginaw News interview

[Auburn Annie]

Gordon Lightfoot making music for himself
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
SUE WHITE
THE SAGINAW NEWS

Talking with Gordon Lightfoot -- "Call me Gord," he said, seconds into the interview -- unwinds like one of his biggest hits.

If you could read his mind, what a tale his thoughts could tell. Just like an old-time movie ...

"It's an ongoing story," he said, laughing, and he wasn't only talking about "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," his musical account of the Lake Superior tragedy.

But since we did bring that up, did you know that the Rev. Richard W. Ingalls from the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral -- actually the Mariners Church of Detroit -- where the bell tolled 29 times in honor of the men who died, just passed away?

"I never guessed that song would find that kind of success," said the Canadian singer/songwriter. "It was a complete surprise; it went worldwide.

"I saw the story (of the shipwreck) in Newsweek, and this was about a month after it happened. After that, I started pulling the newspaper accounts, and one spelled Edmund wrong. That's when I decided to write the song; 29 people died, and the newspaper couldn't even spell the name of the ship right."

For those who keep track of such things, Lightfoot made a determined effort to preserve the chronological order in his musical account. And while it remains a favorite in the Great Lakes state, he admitted some of his other hits -- "Sundown," for example, and "If You Could Read My Mind" and even "Early Morning Rain" -- are more recognizable to the global audience.

"Johnny Cash recorded 'If You Could Read My Mind' on his last album, and I was quite honored," he said. "He was an all-time great; I've been able to work with a lot of great people through the years."

And if you catch Lightfoot on Thursday at Meadow Brook Music Festival on the grounds of Oakland University, he can't wait for you to hear "In My Fashion."

"People don't know it all that well; it's not as popular as others, but it's a good song," he said. "I get to the point of the show where people are really listening, and it gets almost hypnotic.

"The communication is so great, it's part of them and part of you, and it gets you charged up for more."

Lightfoot comes to the stage with quite a history behind him. Studying with a choirmaster at his neighborhood church in Ontario -- "He thought I was potentially a good singer," Lightfoot said of his mentor -- he learned to put expression into his musical performance.

At 13, Lightfoot entered a vocal competition at Toronto's Massey Hall, marking the first of many performances there, and started his path to a musical career.

Along the way, it took him to Los Angeles, where he studied jazz in a course on musical composition, and to Nashville, Tenn., where he explored the country genre. Those early years also brought him success as a songwriter, with everyone from Peter, Paul and Mary to Bob Dylan performing covers of his work.

Lightfoot earned four Grammy nominations in the years since -- "and those mean a lot to me," he said without a thread of sarcasm -- and countless other honors, including the prestigious Order of Canada, the Governor General's award and induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and Canada's Country Music Hall of Fame.

He also battled alcoholism -- "I gave up drinking in 1982," he said -- and faced his own demise, spending two months in a coma after suffering a stomach hemorrhage.

"It tightens up the music, I'll tell you that," he said, laughing. "I have a ton more energy; I'm in an exercise program, and I'm careful about what I eat."

He's also making music for himself these days, or at least independent of record label suits watching over his shoulder for the next "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."

"For many years, we played Massey Hall every fall, and it became our home," Lightfoot said. "Then we decided to introduce a little guesswork, and we made it every 18 months. The prodigal son returned!

"We've recorded our shows, too, and when everything's over, you might see a compilation of our Massey Hall moments. Or maybe I won't wait that long."

You can't take it all too seriously, he said of his music-making today. There's family now, five children who all live in Toronto, too, and then the grandchildren. And he's busy watching the world go by.

"We live in the most amazing times," he said. "I'm watching CNN, hoping all the people can get out of Lebanon in time, and I realize there are five times as many Canadians there as Americans. We have a huge Lebanese population!"

Maybe there's another song in this?

Lightfoot laughed.

"There's something to be said for a good love song," he said. "I've had a few of them, too; I've been lucky to have a few."v

Sue White covers entertainment for The Saginaw News. You may reach her at 776-9601.

[Auburn Annie]

Gordon Lightfoot making music for himself
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
SUE WHITE
THE SAGINAW NEWS

Talking with Gordon Lightfoot -- "Call me Gord," he said, seconds into the interview -- unwinds like one of his biggest hits.

If you could read his mind, what a tale his thoughts could tell. Just like an old-time movie ...

"It's an ongoing story," he said, laughing, and he wasn't only talking about "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," his musical account of the Lake Superior tragedy.

But since we did bring that up, did you know that the Rev. Richard W. Ingalls from the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral -- actually the Mariners Church of Detroit -- where the bell tolled 29 times in honor of the men who died, just passed away?

"I never guessed that song would find that kind of success," said the Canadian singer/songwriter. "It was a complete surprise; it went worldwide.

"I saw the story (of the shipwreck) in Newsweek, and this was about a month after it happened. After that, I started pulling the newspaper accounts, and one spelled Edmund wrong. That's when I decided to write the song; 29 people died, and the newspaper couldn't even spell the name of the ship right."

For those who keep track of such things, Lightfoot made a determined effort to preserve the chronological order in his musical account. And while it remains a favorite in the Great Lakes state, he admitted some of his other hits -- "Sundown," for example, and "If You Could Read My Mind" and even "Early Morning Rain" -- are more recognizable to the global audience.

"Johnny Cash recorded 'If You Could Read My Mind' on his last album, and I was quite honored," he said. "He was an all-time great; I've been able to work with a lot of great people through the years."

And if you catch Lightfoot on Thursday at Meadow Brook Music Festival on the grounds of Oakland University, he can't wait for you to hear "In My Fashion."

"People don't know it all that well; it's not as popular as others, but it's a good song," he said. "I get to the point of the show where people are really listening, and it gets almost hypnotic.

"The communication is so great, it's part of them and part of you, and it gets you charged up for more."

Lightfoot comes to the stage with quite a history behind him. Studying with a choirmaster at his neighborhood church in Ontario -- "He thought I was potentially a good singer," Lightfoot said of his mentor -- he learned to put expression into his musical performance.

At 13, Lightfoot entered a vocal competition at Toronto's Massey Hall, marking the first of many performances there, and started his path to a musical career.

Along the way, it took him to Los Angeles, where he studied jazz in a course on musical composition, and to Nashville, Tenn., where he explored the country genre. Those early years also brought him success as a songwriter, with everyone from Peter, Paul and Mary to Bob Dylan performing covers of his work.

Lightfoot earned four Grammy nominations in the years since -- "and those mean a lot to me," he said without a thread of sarcasm -- and countless other honors, including the prestigious Order of Canada, the Governor General's award and induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and Canada's Country Music Hall of Fame.

He also battled alcoholism -- "I gave up drinking in 1982," he said -- and faced his own demise, spending two months in a coma after suffering a stomach hemorrhage.

"It tightens up the music, I'll tell you that," he said, laughing. "I have a ton more energy; I'm in an exercise program, and I'm careful about what I eat."

He's also making music for himself these days, or at least independent of record label suits watching over his shoulder for the next "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."

"For many years, we played Massey Hall every fall, and it became our home," Lightfoot said. "Then we decided to introduce a little guesswork, and we made it every 18 months. The prodigal son returned!

"We've recorded our shows, too, and when everything's over, you might see a compilation of our Massey Hall moments. Or maybe I won't wait that long."

You can't take it all too seriously, he said of his music-making today. There's family now, five children who all live in Toronto, too, and then the grandchildren. And he's busy watching the world go by.

"We live in the most amazing times," he said. "I'm watching CNN, hoping all the people can get out of Lebanon in time, and I realize there are five times as many Canadians there as Americans. We have a huge Lebanese population!"

Maybe there's another song in this?

Lightfoot laughed.

"There's something to be said for a good love song," he said. "I've had a few of them, too; I've been lucky to have a few."v

Sue White covers entertainment for The Saginaw News. You may reach her at 776-9601.

[brink-]

Woo Hoo, there is that mention again about Massey concerts to be made into CD's. Love it!!!

Thanks Annie!

[Auburn Annie]

Yeah - that's my favorite part of the interview. A compilation - heck, there have been enough MH concerts to release a multiple disk set. We can dream.

[Auburn Annie]

Yeah - that's my favorite part of the interview. A compilation - heck, there have been enough MH concerts to release a multiple disk set. We can dream.

[Jesse Joe]

Many thanks, for sharing this Auburn Annie, I read it all, and could not wait for what he was going to say next. An album of the Massey-Hall moments, that would be just great.

Im not the only one watching CNN, Good company there.

No but, seriously CNN, is the one channel, I check every day. It's worldwide, It's American, would love to see Larry King interview the poet genius.

Thank's again Annie, appreciate this very much...Jesse.

[Jesse Joe]

Many thanks, for sharing this Auburn Annie, I read it all, and could not wait for what he was going to say next. An album of the Massey-Hall moments, that would be just great.

Im not the only one watching CNN, Good company there.

No but, seriously CNN, is the one channel, I check every day. It's worldwide, It's American, would love to see Larry King interview the poet genius.

Thank's again Annie, appreciate this very much...Jesse.

[Gord H]

Thanks for the interview info Annie, I know I would certainly snap up any MH concerts he decides to release.

[Borderstone]

Thamk you Annie! I like it when new interviews crop up.

I just wish they wouldn't re-hash about his alcoholism. It's been almost 25 years,why bring it up?

I'd rather they ask about how great it feels to alive and loved still by so many.

[Jesse Joe]

Originally posted by Borderstone:
Thamk you Annie! I like it when new interviews crop up.

I just wish they wouldn't re-hash about his alcoholism. It's been almost 25 years,why bring it up?

I'd rather they ask about how great it feels to alive and loved still by so many.

[Jesse Joe]

Originally posted by Borderstone:
Thamk you Annie! I like it when new interviews crop up.

I just wish they wouldn't re-hash about his alcoholism. It's been almost 25 years,why bring it up?

I'd rather they ask about how great it feels to alive and loved still by so many.

[Jesse Joe]

Thats true Borderstone, but he must be proud that he did not have a drop since, Labor Day, 1982.

[Jesse Joe]

Thats true Borderstone, but he must be proud that he did not have a drop since, Labor Day, 1982.