TULSA article
 

http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/arti...1_ULNSog749054

Singer-songwriter Lightfoot is healthier than ever

http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/arti...1_ULNSog749054

By JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
Published: 1/22/2012 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 1/22/2012 4:14 AM

In recent years, he's suffered a minor stroke onstage, written and partially recorded an album from a hospital bed and still plays close to 80 live shows a year.

No, after 50 years in the music business, Gordon Lightfoot is not pushing himself too hard, he said. He's healthier than ever.

He dropped the bottle and picked up the weights in the early 1980s. "I've paid a price for my years of hard living," he admitted. "But I work out every single day that I'm not performing. I'm in a gym. I'm lifting weights. I've worked out every day since 1982. I'm 73 years old and I'm ready to rock!" he said.

The Canadian singer-songwriter has "re-invented myself five times." Each decade is a transformation. He's crossed over from coffeehouse folk to folk-rock, pop and even country. If he was a cat, well, you know.

Believe it or not, his earliest influences rely heavily on jazz - he studied jazz arrangement, writing and playing for several years as a teen in California.

"I loved jazz, played it all through high school," he said during a recent telephone interview from his home in Canada. "That's where I learned how to arrange and write music, how to play in every key.

"People thought I was this strange, tiny, small-town kid, the son of working-class parents, going to California to learn jazz. My family was in the dry-cleaning business. But that jazz training built the foundation for all these years."

Those years in the late 1950s were the only time he ever lived in the United States, but his music is synonymous with many American acts who have covered his songs, including everyone from Bob Dylan to the Dandy Warhols, John Mellencamp, Glen Campbell and dozens of others.

"I'm most honored by Elvis' version of 'Early Morning Rain' and 'For Lovin' Me,' " he said. Also topping his list of favorite versions of his tunes includes Toby Keith's "Sundown" and Barbara Streisand's "If You Could Read My Mind."

Not once has he stopped playing music, even during a 28-month stretch where he couldn't tour and was rehabbing from health issues.

"Perseverance," he said, like a true folk singer. "I will take days, weeks, months to write a song. I don't give up. It's a very strong element of who I am."

He first arose from the Toronto folk club scene in the early 1960s and has since earned five Grammy nominations and 17 Canadian Juno awards. He was recently inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In 2004, he released his 20th album, "Harmony." It's how he lives.

Much of it was written and "roughed out" while hospitalized with an abdominal hemorrhage. While touring for the album in 2006, he suffered a small stroke - he returned to the stage just days later.

" 'Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated,' isn't that what Mark Twain wrote in 1897?"

In 2010, he was driving down an Ontario highway with the radio on when a local station broadcast the news of Lightfoot's death.

"I drove to work and called the radio station." A newspaper snapped a photo of him walking into the building. "I called my family and most of us had a really good laugh about it."

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GORDON LIGHTFOOT
When: Doors 7 p.m., showtime 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Brady Theater, 105. W. Brady St.

Tickets: All ages. Tickets start at $57, plus fees, available at Reasor's, Starship Records, Ida Red, Buy For Less stores, by phone at 866-977-6849 and online at tulsaworld.com/bradytheater

Online: tulsaworld.com/lightfoot

Jennifer Chancellor 918-581-8346
jennifer.chancellor@tulsaworld.com

Re: TULSA article
 

I love this photo!

Re: TULSA article
 

Funny how they can't get the year right often..it was 2002, not 2006.

Re: TULSA article
 

I will be in Tulsa , cant wait

Re: TULSA article
 

I think the writer is referring to this incident in 2006: http://www.corfid.com/vbb/showthread...schemic+stroke

Re: TULSA article
 

Home from Tulsa , Gords shows go by so fast . The set list was the same they have been doing on this two week sprint .The band was tight , enjoyed Carter . missed Terry , a lot . Some of the songs I dont here as often ,(ex. Home for the forest) were very enjoyable and fit Gords voice better . They have slowed it down and quieted it down , no complaint , just an observance . I would like the band to pick out songs that fit them right now and lets go . I don't have to here the usual's , I like them all , just keep going.

We were able to get passes for after the show , thank you Warren , all but Mike came out . Talked a while with Carter . I don't get on this site as much so this has probably been discussed. Rick was signing Harmony for me , I said something to the effect it being the last one and he said no, you will have one more , looked at me and said one more three times smiling and told me about the Massey live . To cool. I wish they would also put out a dvd.

Loved the show , as always . Looking for next time . I wish you all good health . Dale

Re: TULSA article
 

@ DALE - here's some info @ http://www.corfid.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=26089

Glad you got to hear Carter and spend some time with the guys. I have to agree...Gord shows go by so fast...too fast for my liking..

Re: TULSA article
 

Thanks Charlene . Rick told me the years Gord was using recordings from , but as usual I forget details , seems like he said 2001 to 2003. It would make some sense to go back a few years , you would have Terry ( sigh) and Gords voice a little stronger . But I want a DVD.Don't get me wrong , I also want the CD. I told Rick I could hear him singing on Sundown . He said good , your supposed to , I said that was the first time for me and he said he was really bellowing it out.

The band seemed really tight for Sundown . Gordon turned and clapped for them at the end and told he doesn't applaud them often , but it seemed like Sundown was really tight and Rick bellowing out . I thought get that man a microphone.

One other note , on the Interstate going to the show , the car in front of me straddled what I thought was about a half sheet of plywood . The car going over it sucked it up and sent it flying flat at our windshield neck high . I had enough time to say OH S***. I have an awesome God , He sent an Angel and gave it a slight lift. Impact was on the hood and top of the car just missing glass and the top of the car . We are grateful , minimum damage . Rattled ,shaken but not detoured we drove on to the show with no more issues.

Char , that link you attached mentioned Massey in November . That is a dream for me . I am long way from there and live in another country. It is good to have dreams. Thanks for the response . Dale

Re: TULSA article
 

I'm so glad that your incident with flying plywood wasn't any worse. That must have been terrifying!
Rick always belts it out on SUNDOWN. Carter joins in now too. I imagine if there were 2 more microphones tossed into the mix we'd never hear Gord's vocals. lol
The Church of Gord, Massey Hall in Toronto - that's the place to see him...Mid November-4 nites - sublime..c'mon up!