Gordon Lightfoot Dead, Iconic Singer-Songwriter Was 84

Iconic singer and songwriter Gordon Lightfoot died Monday. He was 84 years old.

A rep for Lightfoot told CNN that the musician passed away at Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital from natural causes at 7:30 p.m.

Less than a month ago, Lightfoot canceled his scheduled concert appearances in the United States and his native Canada due to health issues.

Lightfoot was born in Ontario on Nov. 17, 1938, and showed an interest in music from an early age. After attending Westlake College of Music in Los Angeles, he moved back to Canada to work with local folk musicians, performing in small clubs with the likes of Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond and Joni Mitchell.

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Lightfoot was a prolific performer and writer, breaking out in Canada in the 1960s. He achieved international acclaim when fellow Canadians Ian & Sylvia, his personal friends, released versions of his songs “Early Morning Rain” and “For Lovin’ Me.” Those tracks were then covered by Peter, Paul & Mary, bringing Lightfoot stateside recognition.

In 1965, Marty Robbins released the Lightfoot-penned "Ribbon of Darkness," cementing the songwriter's legacy in the folk music world.

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Though Lightfoot's mainstream success dwindled somewhat following the British Invasion of the Beatles in the 1960s, he enjoyed another surge of success thanks to "If You Could Read My Mind," which he released in 1970. Lightfoot credited the commercial comeback to his new record deal at the time.

“By the time I changed over to Warner Bros., 'round about 1970, I was reinventing myself,” he told The Savannah Connect in 2010 (via The New York Times). “Let’s say, I was probably just advancing away from the folk era, and trying to find some direction whereby I might have some music that people would want to listen to.”

"If You Could Read My Mind" has been covered numerous times by everyone from Johnny Cash to Stars on 54 (comprised of dance artists Jocelyn Enriquez, Amber and Ultra Naté).

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In 1987, Lightfoot sued composer Michael Masser, alleging that he plagiarized bars and melody from "If You Could Read My Mind" for the Whitney Houston hit "The Greatest Love of All." Lightfoot had stated that he didn't want the lawsuit to dim Houston's light or negatively impact her career since she wasn't at fault. Masser issued a public apology to Lightfoot, and the case was settled out of court.

Throughout his life and career, Lightfoot remained humble. He told The Globe and Mail in 2008, “Sometimes I wonder why I’m being called an icon, because I really don’t think of myself that way. I’m a professional musician, and I work with very professional people. It’s how we get through life.”

Lightfoot is survived by his third wife, Kim Hasse, six adult children, and several grandchildren.

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