http://www.orilliapacket.com/2013/02...o-lightfoot-qa
Jim Wood waited all night to ask Gordon Lightfoot a question.
The occasion was Friday night at St. Paul’s United Church for An In-Depth Conversation with Gordon Lightfoot with Rev. Karen Hilfman Millson that lasted more than two hours.
The full house listened intently as Hilfman Millson guided Lightfoot through his life story, one that began with Lightfoot’s musical development in elementary school through to what he expects to be doing on his 75th birthday later this year (working on tour).
As the event headed for a conclusion, Wood, from his front-row seat, asked, “Will you take anything from the floor?”
It turned out the 96-year-old Wood was the choreographer of the barbershop quartet Lightfoot was in during high school and he wanted to know if Lightfoot remembered a particular song the quartet sang.
Lightfoot remembered the song and even sang a few lines with Wood joining in.
“I figured he would because I had a lot of fun with him back in those days. He was the acme of barbershopping in Orillia, as far as I was concerned,” Wood said afterward.
Lightfoot also remembered the influence Wood had on his musical knowledge.
“We learned. We learned well,” Lightfoot told the audience.
Lightfoot told engaging stories of his early career-shaping experiences (his first recording, Remember Me [I’m The One], turned into a Canada-wide hit, and it then took eight years to for another hit) to learning how the real story of what caused the Edmond Fitzgerald to sink made Lightfoot realize he had to change a line in one of his most famous songs, which, to this day, is how he sings it in performance.
Lightfoot said the original line cast blame on two crew members for the sinking and caused angst for their family members. He was always troubled by that and was happy to make the change.
Hilfman Millson publicly interviewed Lightfoot on three other occasions. She is leaving the pulpit April 7 and wanted to repeat the experience one more time.
“He told different stories this time because it got into some different topics that he hasn’t always got into, and he got into some poignant moments that were quite touching, I thought ...” said Hilfman Millson.
Mayumi Kumagai sat so far back she couldn’t see Lightfoot and Hilfman Millson on the dais. Fortunately, the set was projected onto two screens on either side of the house, so she could put a picture to the amplified words she heard form Lightfoot.
“I thought he’s able now to talk as well as he sings. He might end up being a talker,” said Kumagai.
Many members of the audience stayed after to meet Lightfoot at a reception.