Inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
Made Companion of the Order of Canada (highest honor)
Member of the Order of Ontario
Doreen: “Mr. Lightfoot, who and what inspires you to write your songs?”
Gordon: “People that I’ve met in the past and present, like during my travels, my school
teachers and my personal experiences.”
Doreen: “Who actually encouraged you to pursue a singing career?”
Gordon: “It was one of my school teachers who liked my singing, encouraged me to write my
own songs, instead of singing other people’s songs.”
Doreen: “At what age when you first had your public performance?”
Gordon (laughing): “I sang in the church choir when I was ten and later in high school. I
was twelve when I became a wedding singer, mostly singing in the Barrie and Aurora areas.”
Doreen: “A wedding singer?”
Gordon: “Yes. People liked my singing so they paid me to sing at their weddings. One wedding
followed after another. I was handed a packet with a $5 bill inside, it was done very professionally.
As I sang in many more weddings, I received packets with many more $5 bills inside. It just grew.
So I became the official wedding singer.” (Laughing).
Doreen: “So when you were in high school, what kind of songs did you sing?”
Gordon: “Topical songs, very much inspired by the Hoola Hoop Craz at that time. When I
wrote my first song, I was seventeen. People liked it. I got so inspired that I wrote more songs
to make an album.”
Doreen: “Which music company did you go to see for a recording contract?”
Gordon: “I approached BMI and presented my songs to them. I was nineteen and in a romantic
mode.”
Doreen: “You were so young.”
Gordon: “Yes. There were so many things happened to me between the age of 17 and 24, it
was one thing after another, some positive, some negative.”
Doreen: “Who gave you the first recording contract?”
Gordon: “United Artist. It was a management offer. That was the carrot on a stick to inspire
me to write a lot more.”
Doreen: “You also wrote songs for other recording artists and there were others who did cover of
your songs.”
Gordon: “Yes. In 1965, my compositions “For Lovin Me” and “Early Morning Rain” became hits for Peter, Paul &
Mary”. Ian and Sylvia Tyson did a cover version of the two songs. I wrote “Ribbon of Darkness”, Marty Robbins topped the
country charts with that. There were others like Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan."
Doreen: “You have many big hits. “If You Could Read My Mind” is my favorite song. It’s hauntingly beautiful and sad.
It stirs my soul.”
Gordon: “That’s from “Sit Down Young Stranger”.
Doreen: “Are your songs dedicated to anyone in particular?”
Gordon: “I dedicate my songs to many people, women in my life, my children and especially my family who means a
lot to me.”
Doreen: “Were you given a lot of freedom and input in how you want your songs to be put
together in the albums?”
Gordon: “With United Artist, I was given more say. They didn’t interfere or dictate to me.
They left me alone to write my songs and what I wanted for my albums. For Warner Brothers, I was
told by Mr. Austin who said, “I would like 10 great songs.”
Doreen: “That must be tremendous pressure.”
Gordon: “Well, I’m happy to have their support. I am very fortunate to have very good producers, good contracts and
most of all, very fortunate to have American producers.”
Doreen: “Do you enjoy recording or do live performances?”
Gordon: “I prefer to do it live. I like that very much, with the audience listening and
responding to my songs, it’s immediate. It’s a different kind of experience with recording,
being in a recording studio, it’s a more complicated process and a hassle. That’s why I like
live performance.”
Doreen: “Who are your favorite musicians that you like listening to and also to
perform with?”
Gordon: “Oh, there are many, it’s quite a list. I like Neil Young and Deep Purple. I enjoy
going to concerts, I’ve attended shows by Cosby & Nash, Willie Nelson, Ron Rexsmith, Randy & Burton
(Guess Who). Every time they come to town, I love to attend.”
Doreen: “When the media reported that you had a burst artery, I was very worried and
concerned. Were you concerned that you might not perform live again. What actually happened? Was it
a life changing experience?”
Gordon: “It was in 2002. I was on tour, performing in my hometown of Orillia, Ontario when
I suffered an abdominal hemorrhage. The artery burst in my mid section. It happened at 4 p.m.
and had to be rushed to the hospital. At 2 a.m. I was in surgery. My tours were cancelled. It
was serious and I was out cold, in a coma for 5 weeks. As soon as I woke up from my coma, the
first thing I wanted to do was to return to my music, to perform live again. It was tough, 28 months
between shows. I like performing as much as possible. Because of what happened to me, it made me want to spend more time with my family who live in Toronto.
Also to keep my business and family life very, very, simple. It was an interesting experience
in a way. It made me want to take care of my unfinished business. I feel very fortunate to be
alive and it feels great to be back performing.”
Doreen: “What was your unfinished business?”
Gordon: “A few months before my illness, I had recorded several news songs. As soon as I
got back on my feet, I continued working on “Harmony” -- 4 CDs containing 88 songs, 18 were
originally unreleased. It was a big project and the process was like riding a roller coaster
because my personal life was interwoven into my songs. It gave me a chance to review my entire
life. Having my life story condescended within those 2 or 3 days, it was pretty emotional.
Overall, the whole process helped to heal and inspire me.”
Doreen: “You must have had a lot of support from your family, friends and people in the
music business.”
Gordon: “I got lots of help and support -- from my manager, my secretary, my
bassist, Rick Haynes and engineer Bob Doidge, my wife, my sister, my children.”
Doreen: “How many children do you have? How old are they?”
Gordon: “I have 6 children age 12 to 42.”
Doreen: “Are you going to write another biography?”
Gordon: “I had several books published but I have no free time to write a new one.”
Doreen: “What are your hobbies?”
Gordon: “I like working out at the gym. I’ve been doing it since 1982. It keeps me alive
and I believe the exercising helps with my recovery. As soon as I got back on my feet, I
returned to the gym. I like working out 3 to 4 times a week. Everyone should work out, to make
it a part of your work day and stay devoted to it.”
Doreen: “When I met you, you said you were on your way to your office. Do you go to the
office every day?”
Gordon: “I would go to my office 2 or 3 times a week. My manager and secretary are there
to help attend to my business.”
Doreen: “Are you going to attend the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival in
September?”
Gordon: “I have been invited to attend. I like to see Norman Jewison again. I have great
respect for that man, he has done so much for the Canadian movie industry. It’s a great film
festival and I have enjoyed it over the years.”
Doreen: “Great! I will see you there. Thank you so much for granting me this interview,
it’s been a great pleasure. It’s a great honor to meeting and speaking with you.”
Gordon: “I enjoy doing this interview too. Just to let you know, normally I wouldn’t call
from my home and talk to anybody. I would call from my office but for you, you are the
exception.”
Doreen: “Thank you again.”
Best Selling Songs: (this list is compiled by Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Alberta Bound
Bitter Green
Canadian Railroad Trilogy
Carefree Highway
Cotton Jenny
Did She Mention My Name
Does Your Mother Know
Don Quixote
Early Morning Rain
Ghosts of Cape Horn
If You Could Read My Mind
I’m Not Supposed To Care
In My Fashion
Steel Rail Blues
Song for A Winter’s Night
Sundown
The First Time Ever I saw Your Face
The Pony Man
Tribute and Covers: Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Anne Murray, Glen Campbell, Olivia Newton-John,
Barbra Streisand, Johnny Cash
