Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - SUNDOWN @ 40 - June 29-Harbourfront-Toronto

charlene · 06-30-2014, 08:28 PM

After a few songs Gordon was presented with a gold record of SUNDOWN in a frame with plaque commemorating the 40th anniversary of his SUNDOWN album of 1974. He so, so proudly held it in front of him, showing all of us this treasure and he walked to the front of the stage just beaming. He really seemed genuinely thrilled and pleased. He proceeded to plug in his guitar and spend a few moments reminiscing about when he got the news while out on tour that his SUNDOWN album and the SUNDOWN single had gone to #1 on the Billboard chart in June 1974 40 years earlier. (VIDEO) He, as Jory had told me sang Restless and If You Could Read My Mind. No one else was doing IYCRMM so he did..lol

The crowd was very vocal and gave him some huge ovations which he gracefully and gratefully accepted as he left the stage…but then he made his way along the back of the stage and stood in the shows beside the drummer while Scarlett Jane and Tara Lightfoot were performing.. He swayed, closed his eyes, smiled and was completely taken with the music and when the songs were done he applauded vigourously.. I’d love to know what he was thinking. He seemed very content. ( no video of Tara-I thought I was recording but I wasn’t-  )

Everyone onstage was superbly talented and covered their choices of Lightfoot tunes with respect and professionalism. Ron Sexsmith flew home on the redeye from L.A. the night before where he’s been recording his new album. It was also terrific to see a band of 21 year old musicians pay such respect to the songs they chose.

After all had sung their tunes the ensemble came back onstage, along with Gordon and sang Summer Side of Life…and to the thrill of everyone, even those onstage, he took a verse of his own gorgeous composition! Oh my word it was amazing. He struggled a bit but it was beyond unbelievable. He was having the time of his life up there and he let it show and we all appreciated his participation. Wow.
After a prolonged standing ovation and some bows and waves he left the stage and the show was over!

Tony, (TG) who posts here was spotted and we along with his friend made our way around to the side of the stage to check out what was going on. We spied Ron, Jacob and Jory getting a picture taken-I’ve posted it previously. We spent a little more time talking with Jory and telling him his next tune for the Hugh’s shows in January should be Watchman. I really enjoyed his version. Ron Sexsmith came out shortly after Jory left. I said hi to him and after a second look he stopped and said, ‘Oh Hi! You’re the Gordfan!”..lol.. I told him that I was also a “RonFan” and that his cover of Too Late For Prayin’ was beautiful and as usual he was very humble when expressing his thanks. He’s such a lovely, quiet, gentle man. I wished him safe travels back to LA and that I’d be looking for the new CD when it comes out.

A few minutes later Gordon made his way out, carrying his guitar and looking around. There were only 2 or 3 other people there but he walked over to me and was just beaming..I laughed and said, “you never came back to sit with me like you said you would!”..He said, he was so busy backstage with the musicians and tuning his guitar he couldn’t get back..I did see him at the side of the seating area but it was so crowded and the benches were so close together he’d never be able to get through unless he climbed over everyone.

Then he said ‘well have to do another interview, get that arranged soon.” We had our arms around each other’s waists while Lisa was snapping a pic and I said, ‘that sounds great, you can interview me this time!”. He laughed and said, “okay, I’ll interview you!” He seemed so relaxed and comfortable, there wasn’t a room full of people and a manager hustling things along and he didn’t seem in any hurry to get in the car where the driver was standing with the door open. So we kept talking.lol..

He then told me he had planned on doing Restless and I’ll Tag Along as his two tunes but found out that no one was doing If You Could Read My mind like usually happens at the Hugh’s shows, so he did it instead of ITA. I was humbled that he told me. It was very sweet indeed. He said he had "too many songs!" I told him there's no such thing as too many Lightfoot songs! good grief! I asked him if he was getting married and he said, ‘not ‘if’ but ‘where!' I hope all works out soon for him. He did say with a laugh when I asked after Kim that ‘she’s not too young for me!” I said with a big laugh, “I know she’s not but then I guess I am too old for you at 58!” He burst out laughing. Lol It was such fun to see him so free of being “Gordon Lightfoot” in a way I’d never seen or experienced except for a few times on the phone. I said we could do our phone chat in a few weeks on my 59th birthday. I reminded him that he called me on my birthday a few years ago and he asked when it was and I told him. He said, we’re out on that date but we’ll get it together!”

Lisa stepped in to get her picture taken and he said to her, you’ve got to be careful!’ because I’d told him earlier she had fallen a few days earlier and had a bit of a black eye. She pointed out that she was wearing her FALLON t-shirt (thank you Jenney!) and turned around to show him the previous autographs from him, Barry, Michael, Carter and Rick. So he whipped out his SHARPIE and signed it again..lolol

When I was taking a picture of Tony with Gordon he wanted to see if the picture came out and came over to me to look because the flash didn’t go off, saying “Charlene!” oh oh – he’s using my full name-I must be in trouble. lol He said to Lisa with a laugh, “she took a picture of our feet!” I did not! Lol. He ended up giving his approval of the photo. He signed a couple of autographs for some folks, snapped a couple of pictures and got in the car to leave. Just before that I asked him how he enjoyed Katie. He said, quite enthusiastically, "She got married last weekend!".. I said I heard that and she had married a younger man! He said sounding shocked, "She did?" I told him that her husband is about 7 or 8 years younger and that marrying a younger person wasn't just something men did..lol..He laffed and then turned to get in the car..

A quick ‘bye’ and the driver shut the door, got in and off they went with the skyline of Toronto twinkling in front of them on what had turned into a beautiful Canada Day weekend night with The Man.

06-30-2014, 08:28 PM	#17
charlene Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 16,001	Re: SUNDOWN @ 40 - June 29-Harbourfront-Toronto After a few songs Gordon was presented with a gold record of SUNDOWN in a frame with plaque commemorating the 40th anniversary of his SUNDOWN album of 1974. He so, so proudly held it in front of him, showing all of us this treasure and he walked to the front of the stage just beaming. He really seemed genuinely thrilled and pleased. He proceeded to plug in his guitar and spend a few moments reminiscing about when he got the news while out on tour that his SUNDOWN album and the SUNDOWN single had gone to #1 on the Billboard chart in June 1974 40 years earlier. (VIDEO) He, as Jory had told me sang Restless and If You Could Read My Mind. No one else was doing IYCRMM so he did..lol The crowd was very vocal and gave him some huge ovations which he gracefully and gratefully accepted as he left the stage…but then he made his way along the back of the stage and stood in the shows beside the drummer while Scarlett Jane and Tara Lightfoot were performing.. He swayed, closed his eyes, smiled and was completely taken with the music and when the songs were done he applauded vigourously.. I’d love to know what he was thinking. He seemed very content. ( no video of Tara-I thought I was recording but I wasn’t-  ) Everyone onstage was superbly talented and covered their choices of Lightfoot tunes with respect and professionalism. Ron Sexsmith flew home on the redeye from L.A. the night before where he’s been recording his new album. It was also terrific to see a band of 21 year old musicians pay such respect to the songs they chose. After all had sung their tunes the ensemble came back onstage, along with Gordon and sang Summer Side of Life…and to the thrill of everyone, even those onstage, he took a verse of his own gorgeous composition! Oh my word it was amazing. He struggled a bit but it was beyond unbelievable. He was having the time of his life up there and he let it show and we all appreciated his participation. Wow. After a prolonged standing ovation and some bows and waves he left the stage and the show was over! Tony, (TG) who posts here was spotted and we along with his friend made our way around to the side of the stage to check out what was going on. We spied Ron, Jacob and Jory getting a picture taken-I’ve posted it previously. We spent a little more time talking with Jory and telling him his next tune for the Hugh’s shows in January should be Watchman. I really enjoyed his version. Ron Sexsmith came out shortly after Jory left. I said hi to him and after a second look he stopped and said, ‘Oh Hi! You’re the Gordfan!”..lol.. I told him that I was also a “RonFan” and that his cover of Too Late For Prayin’ was beautiful and as usual he was very humble when expressing his thanks. He’s such a lovely, quiet, gentle man. I wished him safe travels back to LA and that I’d be looking for the new CD when it comes out. A few minutes later Gordon made his way out, carrying his guitar and looking around. There were only 2 or 3 other people there but he walked over to me and was just beaming..I laughed and said, “you never came back to sit with me like you said you would!”..He said, he was so busy backstage with the musicians and tuning his guitar he couldn’t get back..I did see him at the side of the seating area but it was so crowded and the benches were so close together he’d never be able to get through unless he climbed over everyone. Then he said ‘well have to do another interview, get that arranged soon.” We had our arms around each other’s waists while Lisa was snapping a pic and I said, ‘that sounds great, you can interview me this time!”. He laughed and said, “okay, I’ll interview you!” He seemed so relaxed and comfortable, there wasn’t a room full of people and a manager hustling things along and he didn’t seem in any hurry to get in the car where the driver was standing with the door open. So we kept talking.lol.. He then told me he had planned on doing Restless and I’ll Tag Along as his two tunes but found out that no one was doing If You Could Read My mind like usually happens at the Hugh’s shows, so he did it instead of ITA. I was humbled that he told me. It was very sweet indeed. He said he had "too many songs!" I told him there's no such thing as too many Lightfoot songs! good grief! I asked him if he was getting married and he said, ‘not ‘if’ but ‘where!' I hope all works out soon for him. He did say with a laugh when I asked after Kim that ‘she’s not too young for me!” I said with a big laugh, “I know she’s not but then I guess I am too old for you at 58!” He burst out laughing. Lol It was such fun to see him so free of being “Gordon Lightfoot” in a way I’d never seen or experienced except for a few times on the phone. I said we could do our phone chat in a few weeks on my 59th birthday. I reminded him that he called me on my birthday a few years ago and he asked when it was and I told him. He said, we’re out on that date but we’ll get it together!” Lisa stepped in to get her picture taken and he said to her, you’ve got to be careful!’ because I’d told him earlier she had fallen a few days earlier and had a bit of a black eye. She pointed out that she was wearing her FALLON t-shirt (thank you Jenney!) and turned around to show him the previous autographs from him, Barry, Michael, Carter and Rick. So he whipped out his SHARPIE and signed it again..lolol When I was taking a picture of Tony with Gordon he wanted to see if the picture came out and came over to me to look because the flash didn’t go off, saying “Charlene!” oh oh – he’s using my full name-I must be in trouble. lol He said to Lisa with a laugh, “she took a picture of our feet!” I did not! Lol. He ended up giving his approval of the photo. He signed a couple of autographs for some folks, snapped a couple of pictures and got in the car to leave. Just before that I asked him how he enjoyed Katie. He said, quite enthusiastically, "She got married last weekend!".. I said I heard that and she had married a younger man! He said sounding shocked, "She did?" I told him that her husband is about 7 or 8 years younger and that marrying a younger person wasn't just something men did..lol..He laffed and then turned to get in the car.. A quick ‘bye’ and the driver shut the door, got in and off they went with the skyline of Toronto twinkling in front of them on what had turned into a beautiful Canada Day weekend night with The Man.