Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - CHUM radio in Toronto-oldies concert with Lightfoot

charlene · 05-27-2007, 10:57 AM

I spoke with Terry, Barry and Lightfoot afterwards and the sense I got from them onstage was correct--the monitors were too low and they couldn't hear themselves. They asked for them to be turned up before they launched into the 3rd tune, started it, stopped and sang Rainy Day People instead.

They did Don Quixote, IYCRMM, began Waiting For You and did Rainy Day People instead. Terry and Rick were the only band members there.

Lightfoot told me it would have been so much better if the sound had been better. The whole afternoon was loud rock and roll music until Lightfoot. When the last band left the stage it took about 20 minutes to set up the Lightfoot stuff. A couple of minutes prior to taking the stage Lightfoot entered the roped off side area with Rick and Terry and all the radio folks and people who could see him gave him quite an ovation. He had big smiles and waved and as he came up the stairs the audience rose for an ovation. He stepped to centre stage and bowed a bit and lanched right into Don Quixote. His voice was a bit hoarse in parts for all 4 songs and it seemed a few times he had difficulty with his hand.

All day as the emcee announced different performers I noticed that the mention of Lightfoot always brought applause.

It was a cool day, cloudy and a bit of a breeze but about 30 minutes prior to Lightfoot the sun broke through. It was quite a feeling to be sitting there a block from Yonge St., at Toronto City Hall with the Canadian flag flying not far from the stage celebrating a radio station that was such a huge part of not only my young life but of all who were in attendance. Today is the actual anniversary date that CHUM first hit the airwaves - May 27, 1957. I wasn't even two, my new sister had just arrived on May 8 but a few years later I had a transistor radio that held magic inside it. CHUM charts were anxiously looked forward to and a glorious voice singing poetry captured my heart forever.

Mike Heffernan told me of listening with his brother to another station for a while but then tuning into CHUM and before the show Barry Harvey recounted how he had his little transistor radio that he'd listen to sitting outside the house as a kid. As a kid he lived in the town where I have now lived for 21 years.

When Lightfoot, Rick and Terry left the stage they headed right across the square to the front doors of City Hall, no stopping, and right up to do a CITY TV interview to be aired this Tuesday on "A" channel and STAR tv I believe.

I waited around with my daughter, spoke a bit more with Barry and Terry, said HI to Rick and saw Elizabeth Lightfoot and daughter Meredith as well. Lightfoot came down and seemed in quite a hurry.

I said "Hi Gordon and he stopped and smiled and said "Hi CHar!" - we had a brief hug and he said it would have been so much better if the monitors and sound were right. He sid Hi to my daughter and after I mentioned how great it would be to do another phone chat later in the year he replied 'alrighty' as he swiftly headed out a side door of city hall.

Rick and his wife were walking through the open square to head to the hotel across the street as were Meredith and Elizabeth Lightfoot..I believe there was an after-concert CHUM party being held. Things were being packed up around the stage and we headed home.

Barry did say the shows down east were great, the folks really appreciated seeing him again and they were all pleased with the whole Maritimes tour. We said goodbye and 'see ya at Mariposa in July"..

I got some great stage shots and Lisa snapped one of me and The Man inside city hall in front of a huge model of the city of Toronto.

I'll get some up here when I get back to Whitby tonight.

[ May 27, 2007, 11:04: Message edited by: charlene ]

05-27-2007, 10:57 AM	#12
charlene Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 16,001	I spoke with Terry, Barry and Lightfoot afterwards and the sense I got from them onstage was correct--the monitors were too low and they couldn't hear themselves. They asked for them to be turned up before they launched into the 3rd tune, started it, stopped and sang Rainy Day People instead. They did Don Quixote, IYCRMM, began Waiting For You and did Rainy Day People instead. Terry and Rick were the only band members there. Lightfoot told me it would have been so much better if the sound had been better. The whole afternoon was loud rock and roll music until Lightfoot. When the last band left the stage it took about 20 minutes to set up the Lightfoot stuff. A couple of minutes prior to taking the stage Lightfoot entered the roped off side area with Rick and Terry and all the radio folks and people who could see him gave him quite an ovation. He had big smiles and waved and as he came up the stairs the audience rose for an ovation. He stepped to centre stage and bowed a bit and lanched right into Don Quixote. His voice was a bit hoarse in parts for all 4 songs and it seemed a few times he had difficulty with his hand. All day as the emcee announced different performers I noticed that the mention of Lightfoot always brought applause. It was a cool day, cloudy and a bit of a breeze but about 30 minutes prior to Lightfoot the sun broke through. It was quite a feeling to be sitting there a block from Yonge St., at Toronto City Hall with the Canadian flag flying not far from the stage celebrating a radio station that was such a huge part of not only my young life but of all who were in attendance. Today is the actual anniversary date that CHUM first hit the airwaves - May 27, 1957. I wasn't even two, my new sister had just arrived on May 8 but a few years later I had a transistor radio that held magic inside it. CHUM charts were anxiously looked forward to and a glorious voice singing poetry captured my heart forever. Mike Heffernan told me of listening with his brother to another station for a while but then tuning into CHUM and before the show Barry Harvey recounted how he had his little transistor radio that he'd listen to sitting outside the house as a kid. As a kid he lived in the town where I have now lived for 21 years. When Lightfoot, Rick and Terry left the stage they headed right across the square to the front doors of City Hall, no stopping, and right up to do a CITY TV interview to be aired this Tuesday on "A" channel and STAR tv I believe. I waited around with my daughter, spoke a bit more with Barry and Terry, said HI to Rick and saw Elizabeth Lightfoot and daughter Meredith as well. Lightfoot came down and seemed in quite a hurry. I said "Hi Gordon and he stopped and smiled and said "Hi CHar!" - we had a brief hug and he said it would have been so much better if the monitors and sound were right. He sid Hi to my daughter and after I mentioned how great it would be to do another phone chat later in the year he replied 'alrighty' as he swiftly headed out a side door of city hall. Rick and his wife were walking through the open square to head to the hotel across the street as were Meredith and Elizabeth Lightfoot..I believe there was an after-concert CHUM party being held. Things were being packed up around the stage and we headed home. Barry did say the shows down east were great, the folks really appreciated seeing him again and they were all pleased with the whole Maritimes tour. We said goodbye and 'see ya at Mariposa in July".. I got some great stage shots and Lisa snapped one of me and The Man inside city hall in front of a huge model of the city of Toronto. I'll get some up here when I get back to Whitby tonight. [ May 27, 2007, 11:04: Message edited by: charlene ]