On September 7th 2002, Gordon was felled, during a concert in his hometown of Orillia, Ontario by a burst artery. He underwent emergency surgery and slipped into a coma for six weeks. The process of recovery was long, but Gordon has since recovered. His legacy continues with a concert tour planned for the spring of 2005 and the release of his latest album of original songs.
The new CD, Harmony is Gordon Lightfoot's 20th album. A stunning collection of new and previously unreleased songs which he has been working on over the last two years. Harmony was released May 11th, simultaneously in Canada on Linus/Warner and in the USA on SpinART/Ryko. The video for Inspiration Lady was released in March 2004. Producer Bob Doidge and Gordon's band went to work on the recordings, overdubbing parts and bringing their work to Gordon in the hospital for his approval and changes. The result is Harmony. The title track is a truly haunting ballad, followed by the traveling tale of River Of Light. The first single Inspiration Lady is yet another inspiring ballad of love and adoration. The album ends on a song of hope and dreaming with the song Sometimes I Wish. This story is told by Gordon himself in the liner notes of Harmony: "In early September of 2002 I was playing a two day event in my birthplace of Orillia, Ontario, when felled by an burst artery followed by total blackness. The fall tour was cancelled. When I awoke from that dark slumber a few weeks later, the hospital was already being prepped for Hallowe'en. Even the post operative discomfort had passed. My memory and my thinking felt pretty much normal as my mind recalled a day in the distant past when a muse would say, "don't spin your wheels". The problem right now was mechanical failure. After the visitations of family and friends had been accomplished and put into perspective, I started asking myself how I might go about picking up the slack in my current condition with a bloodshot eye on the future when bingo, I was back in the past, back to the music of course. It's the only real refuge I'd ever had anyway. I remembered months before, having recorded on multi-track, a considerable number of fresh songs, with guitar and vocal only, at two solo sessions in the recording studio. Perhaps my radar was telling me to get ready for a rainy day, I don't know. I remembered that quite a few of those performances had sounded reasonably valid at the time and wondered if they would hold up under scrutiny now, almost a year later. Thoughts about orchestration began entering my mind. We could pick out the best of the practice tracks and use them as basic tracks. In the final analysis, the job was what mattered. It was good being preoccupied in a very constructive way with a project in the works; one which would carry itself forward, right up through the artwork and editorial, until it's ultimate completion. A feeling of confidence was in the air. Meanwhile, the simple practice tracks had served us well, and for the first time ever, I had an opportunity to proceed with an album while lying on my back."
Gordon Lightfoot has five Grammy nominations and 17 Juno Awards in his native Canada. In 1970, in recognition of his contributions in furthering Canadian culture, he received the prestigious Order of Canada citation; in November 1997 he was presented the Governor General's Award-the highest official Canadian honor, which is conferred on very few, for their international efforts in spreading Canadian culture. Gordon was also honored as a charter member of Canada's Walk of Fame and most recently was elevated to the "companion" of the Order of Canada (highest level) in December. Lightfoot also was just inducted into The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Artists who have recorded Lightfoot's songs include Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Sarah McLachlan, Barbra Streisand, Peter Paul & Mary, Harry Belafonte, Jane's Addiction, Richie Havens, Glen Campbell, Anne Murray, Nana Mouskouri and George Hamilton IV.
Hey Gordon - My band's NEW video from last week's Battle of the Bands in Richmond, Virginia, is posted on YouTube and we need everyone's vote to win! As you may know, I wrote this song 'Never Said Goodbye' during my last tour in Iraq and it sings of a soldier's daily life in the combat zone and his thoughts of someone special back home. PLEASE take a few minutes and check it out. I need your '5 STAR' rating and your cool comments. Your input will help us win this year's competition. Your input matters! Just click the link or cut and paste this URL in your browser window: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ3Ioc_oI9A I hope our paths cross again soon. Thanks for participating and please pass this on to your friends, cool? - Jim
Please check out our video on YouTube from Battle of the Bands and leave a cool comment. It's one of our NEW songs and your page views and comments on Rockitz' YouTube page count toward our Battle of the Bands VICTORY!!! How about giving us a boost to the checker flag? Go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBAmkityqfY Can you help me pass the word? Enjoy the jam... and thanks :-) - Jim
I hope your life is better; kinda busy here in Korea....missin your music so I thought I'd say: 'Hope the Good Lord takes you near and makes all your dreams come true'. Please keep inspiring us ALL!! GOD BLESS!! AND HAVE A BEER FOR ME; GATORGIJOE IS HAVING ONE FOR YOU BRO!!! LIVE TO RIDE, RIDE TO LIVE!!!
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
well, it has been a long and winding road, and an even longer time coming, but my debut CD, I Remember, is FINALLY HERE!!! YAY!!!!!
to celebrate, American HeartBeat Records(tm) has arranged a FREE DOWNLOAD of Now Is The Time in exchange for a valid email address. Now Is The Time is a brand new, upbeat song I wrote: we are living in turbulent times. suddenly it is okay to be greedy and heartless? no way! a song of hope for our future, a new vision of America and the world.
we have a bunch of exciting things planned to kick this whole thing off, and we need to get a better picture of who our friends are, so the FREE DOWNLOAD form will ask you a few questions, like, what is your country and nearest major city. it all takes maybe 15 seconds.
Gordon - it's great to see you're still out performing. I saw you in a couple shows years ago. It was a memorable experience. We admire your style and your songs. Our best to you from Seattle.
"Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God. Now if it is lying on your back, you are lost; but if it is resting on Christ, you are free, and you will be saved. Now choose what you want. " ~ Martin Luther
Please Go To The DKW Musicworks Page, If You Wish To Hear A Sample Mp3 Of A New Instrumental Tribute To Gordon: www.myspace.com/dkwmusicworks. Hope You Enjoy!!
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