Charleston Interview/article
 

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Still getting airplay on soft rock radio, Gordon Lightfoot coming to Charlotte
Wednesday, February 11, 2015 5:25 PM

Even the most upbeat Gordon Lightfoot songs sound somewhat laid-back. The lyrics are memorable, the melodies smooth and timeless.

The folk singer whose sound helped define a generation is equally honored as a songwriter. He began recording 50 years ago and still enjoys sharing his best-known hits with fans.

Lightfoot, 76, will bring his band to Charlotte for a concert on Feb. 19. For North Carolinians, it’s a rare opportunity to see the native Canadian perform live. He recalls appearing in the Queen City only about four or five times since 1965.

These days, his die-hard fans are silver headed and bring their family members to shows. Lightfoot said it’s interesting to see the age range of his audiences, from infants to senior citizens.

“We always have enough people to continue what we do. It’s just a pleasure being on stage and working for the people,” he said. “I do believe in the material that I perform on stage very strongly. There are some very powerful songs in there.”

His musical repertoire includes hits “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Sundown,” and “Rainy Day People,” which remain mainstays on light rock radio stations.

You can reach Wade Allen at 704-669-3331 and follow him on Twitter @wadeallen7.

An Evening with Gordon Lightfoot

“50 Years on the Carefree Highway Tour”

WHERE: Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts, 430 S. Tryon St., Charlotte

WHEN: 8 p.m. Feb. 19

COST: $37-$67 per ticket

INFORMATION AND TICKETS: 704- 372-1000 or carolinatix.org

FEELING SOCIAL? Follow Gordon Lightfoot on Twitter: @Lightfoot365

IN HIS WORDS

Singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot reminisces on 50 years in entertainment

On something crazy or interesting done by a fan: “I remember one of my fans gave her ticket away to a guy who had driven from Kentucky to see us in Ohio. And when she went back to get one, they were sold out. I heard that story and thought it was an amazing story.”

On the biggest challenge he’s faced professionally: “I was always up against The Beatles. It was kind of a competitive feel about this whole thing, when you’re under contract and have to produce. Every time you’d have an album, The Beatles would have an album. It would take the wind out of your sails, so to speak. I would get discouraged.”

On the popularity of “If You Could Read My Mind”: “I guess the image that’s created in the song and also it has a very good melody. I had a particularly good day with melodies that morning (I wrote it). That would strike occasionally. It’s a good song. It’s a good, powerful song. It has forward momentum to it. It’s actually a very optimistic song. I wrote that song just as my first divorce was coming down on me.”

On anything he would change about his career: “I would’ve changed a couple of album titles.”

On writing his hit song “Sundown”: “I was writing on a farm and there were beautiful sunsets every night. I was renting a farm house to use as a place to write songs. I was out there with my girlfriend. I said ‘I wonder if someone is hitting on my girl at a local bar?’ It really came out of that simple thought like that, combined with a sunset at the farm. It was interesting and very fast. It was written very quickly. It took me a couple of hours.”

On what his audience in Charlotte can expect: “We’ve got the new, we’ve got the old. There’s always two or three good ones sitting back and all the standards, of course. The cream of the crop. About a dozen or more songs will be from that level. It’s a pretty rounded-out show. It tells a lot of stories and has a lot of variety and a good bit of humor. We bring a really professional level of entertainment to people when we come to do concerts. I have an excellent band, a really good group of musicians. I have to keep up with them, which keeps me practicing. I practice every day. I don’t practice the vocals but I practice the guitar.”

Remember these classic Lightfoot songs?

“If You Could Read My Mind”

“Sundown”

“Rainy Day People”

“Carefree Highway”

“The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald”

“Early Morning Rain”

“Canadian Railroad Trilogy”

“Beautiful”

“Ribbon of Darkness (Over Me)”

10 singers who recorded songs written by Gordon Lightfoot

1. Elvis Presley

2. Barbra Streisand

3. Bob Dylan

4. Glen Campbell

5. Anne Murray

6. Toby Keith

7. Harry Belafonte

8. Sarah McLachlan

9. Peter, Paul and Mary

10. Richie Havens