Condolences and tributes streamed in Tuesday following the death of Canadian icon Gordon Lightfoot.
Lightfoot鈥檚 family confirmed that the musician died of natural causes at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto on Monday evening. He was 84.
Speaking to media prior to a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Lightfoot 鈥渙ne of Canada's greatest songwriters.鈥
鈥淚 remember spending a little time with him a few years ago when he was playing for Canada's (150th anniversary) on Parliament Hill, and was touched by his thoughtful grace and generosity,鈥 Trudeau said. 鈥淚t was really sad news to wake up to this morning.鈥
The singer-songwriter, who rose to prominence in the 1970s, was known for injecting distinctly Canadian stories and sounds into his music, such as in his enduring ballad, 鈥淲reck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,鈥 which tells the true 鈥 if dramatized 鈥 story of a ship sinking in Lake Superior.
Numerous musicians shared their memories of Lightfoot Tuesday, applauding him for his mark on the music world.
Lightfoot 鈥渨alked among the greatest,鈥 singer-songwriter Jann Arden 鈥淗is songs (are) woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. We all know the words, even if we don鈥檛 think we do. What a legacy you leave behind.鈥
Rock singer Tom Cochrane, who has twice honoured the 鈥淚f You Could Read My Mind鈥 and "Sundown" singer-songwriter for his musical contributions 鈥 including when he inducted Lightfoot into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003 鈥攑osted on social media his thanks to Lightfoot 鈥渇or helping to define us.鈥
Bryan Adams that he was 鈥渓ucky enough to say Gordon was my friend,鈥 and that 鈥渢he world is a lesser place without him.鈥
Randy Bachman, one of the founding members of the band The Guess Who, took to Instagram to share the story of attending a Lightfoot concert when he was younger, saying he was 鈥渕esmerized the entire time."
鈥淚t was poetry, folklore, legend and music,鈥 he wrote. 鈥淚 knew him a long time and he was a wonderful person.鈥
The feelings stirred by Lightfoot鈥檚 passing stretched beyond the world of Canadian music with other artists noting their admiration and condolences.
鈥淲hat a genius,鈥 actor Ben Stiller tweeted. 鈥淗is music is such a big part of my life.鈥
Actor Kiefer Sutherland said that 鈥淐anada lost part of itself鈥 and that he had 鈥渓ost a hero.鈥
鈥淕ordon Lightfoot has died,鈥 author 鈥淗e was a great songwriter and a wonderful performer. Sundown, you better take care/If I catch you creepin' 'round my back stairs.鈥
鈥淪undown,鈥 was one of Lightfoot鈥檚 most well-known and successful songs, reaching No. 1 on the U.S. charts in 1974.
Politicians also chimed in on the death of the Canadian singer-songwriter. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh 鈥渉is songs brought Canada鈥檚 stories to people all over the world,鈥 while Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre calling him 鈥淐anada鈥檚 bard.鈥
Lightfoot鈥檚 impact on music was undeniable to many. Bob Dylan, who inducted Lightfoot into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1986, once said of his work that he couldn鈥檛 think of a Lightfoot song he didn鈥檛 like.
"Every time I hear a song of his, it鈥檚 like I wish it would last forever,鈥 Dylan wrote in the liner notes for 1985鈥檚 Biograph box set.
Radio personality and former MuchMusic VJ George Stroumboulopoulos shared a video on Twitter of a previous interview he had held with Lightfoot.
When asked if he reflected on his life, Lightfoot said, 鈥淒o I ever.鈥
He added that it 鈥渇eels good鈥 to reflect back on some of the things he regrets and feel repentance.
鈥淚t鈥檚 felt better at some times as it has at other times. But right now it feels pretty good. It鈥檚 been better, but right now it鈥檚 pretty good,鈥 he continued.
鈥淚 like to be kind, I like to be nice to people. I like to be polite.鈥
鈥淗e sat on top of the mountain,鈥 Stromboulopoulos wrote in the tweet. 鈥淗e shared what he saw. For so many around the world, they knew our stories because of him.鈥
With files from the Canadian Press
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