Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - Was LIGHTFOOT a BUSKER on Yonge St.in the 60's?

lighthead2toe · 08-21-2014, 02:19 PM

Can't say for sure whether or not Gord busked in Toronto prior to my arrival but when I landed there in the mid sixties there was no shortage of buskers on Toronto streets. And some of the material you would hear was real good stuff.

Gord was playing Steele's Tavern, The Riverboat, places in Yorkville Village, mainly the folk circuit at that time and was well on his way to Massey Hall.

It sure was an incentive to get me started as a busker though and I do it regularly and love it every time.

For the very reasonable fee of $41.10 a busker permit can be purchased from the City of Toronto. They are renewed every March.

Many famous name entertainers busked at one time or another and they come from all walks of life and musical genre.

Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Tom Jones just to name a few. And then there would be famous violinist Joshua Bell from the classical end of things.

Even Ben Franklin busked.

It's a great to way to rehearse new material, relieve stress, entertain an audience and even come home with a few bucks in your pocket. How could you top that eh?

08-21-2014, 02:19 PM	#2
lighthead2toe Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada Posts: 920	Re: Was LIGHTFOOT a BUSKER on Yonge St.in the 60's? Can't say for sure whether or not Gord busked in Toronto prior to my arrival but when I landed there in the mid sixties there was no shortage of buskers on Toronto streets. And some of the material you would hear was real good stuff. Gord was playing Steele's Tavern, The Riverboat, places in Yorkville Village, mainly the folk circuit at that time and was well on his way to Massey Hall. It sure was an incentive to get me started as a busker though and I do it regularly and love it every time. For the very reasonable fee of $41.10 a busker permit can be purchased from the City of Toronto. They are renewed every March. Many famous name entertainers busked at one time or another and they come from all walks of life and musical genre. Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Tom Jones just to name a few. And then there would be famous violinist Joshua Bell from the classical end of things. Even Ben Franklin busked. It's a great to way to rehearse new material, relieve stress, entertain an audience and even come home with a few bucks in your pocket. How could you top that eh?