We certainly lost a true music icon in Gordon Lightfoot.
For years I kept saying that I would love to see him perform at his favourite spot - Massey Hall in Toronto which he first performed at 13 years old, but never got around to catching one of his annual week-long concert stretches there. No excuse, and now I pay the price. Damn it!
Although I never saw one of his concerts, about 6 years ago I was lucky enough to meet him (at Aurora Canadian Legion of all places) while enjoying a Good Brothers concert that a friend of mine was playing in the band with them. Gordon was sitting at the next table to mine so at the intermission I took the opportunity to chat with him for a few minutes and he was such a nice, humble chap you would think we were buddies for years. After the intermission Gordon got up on stage with The Good Brothers and played a few tunes with them. Needless to say we were all very excited especially my friend who could then claim to have played with one of (if not) the greatest singer-songwriters of all time!
Gordon Lightfoot will be missed by many.