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Auburn Annie · 02-15-2005, 06:52 AM

From this morning's Toronto GLOBE AND MAIL:

Lightfoot coming home to Massey Hall

Gig cancelled in 2002 after legendary musician suffered near-fatal illness

By GUY DIXON
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - Page R1

Legendary singer-songwriter legend Gordon Lightfoot is scheduled to play possibly his most sentimentally charged concert yet since recovering from a near-fatal abdominal hemorrhage in the fall of 2002.

Toronto's Massey Hall announced yesterday that Lightfoot is booked to perform four concerts from May 18 to 21, rekindling a more-or-less annual concert series that originally started at the hall with two sold-out shows in March, 1967.

For Lightfoot, it's a homecoming. The singer has played the 2,700-seat Massey Hall more than any other solo performer, and "frankly, it's something he looks forward to very much. It feels like home there," said Lightfoot's long-time manager Barry Harvey. "I've been [his manager] for 23 years, and it has been his most important engagement every year."

Lightfoot will be backed by his regular four-piece band, in what Harvey said will be an intimate performance. His last gig at Massey Hall was supposed to have been in November, 2002.

As another symbolic mark of his comeback, tickets for that cancelled performance will be honoured for the upcoming May shows, Massey Hall announced yesterday.

Lightfoot, 66, has made a number of appearances in recent months, including his induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in December, 2003, where he appeared healthy but frail, and gave a short speech at a gala tribute. He also performed in Peterborough, Ont., last August. He even appeared on Canadian Idol that month.

Although Lightfoot is watching his health carefully, Harvey said, "I would say he's back. We did two performances for the McMaster [University] hospital organization up in Hamilton [in November]. The first night was a little sketchy. But on the second night, he sounded as well as I've ever heard him singing and performing, and the band was tight.

"We're looking forward to getting back to work. It's been a long time," Harvey added.

Prior to his Toronto concerts, Lightfoot will be performing one show in the San Diego area and two in Los Angeles in late April, followed by four concerts in Las Vegas. His website also lists a series of gigs in the Eastern U.S. in August and October followed, notably, by a show in December at the Opera House in Orillia, Ont., the same venue where he took ill backstage in 2002.

02-15-2005, 06:52 AM	#17
Auburn Annie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 3,101	From this morning's Toronto GLOBE AND MAIL: Lightfoot coming home to Massey Hall Gig cancelled in 2002 after legendary musician suffered near-fatal illness By GUY DIXON Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - Page R1 Legendary singer-songwriter legend Gordon Lightfoot is scheduled to play possibly his most sentimentally charged concert yet since recovering from a near-fatal abdominal hemorrhage in the fall of 2002. Toronto's Massey Hall announced yesterday that Lightfoot is booked to perform four concerts from May 18 to 21, rekindling a more-or-less annual concert series that originally started at the hall with two sold-out shows in March, 1967. For Lightfoot, it's a homecoming. The singer has played the 2,700-seat Massey Hall more than any other solo performer, and "frankly, it's something he looks forward to very much. It feels like home there," said Lightfoot's long-time manager Barry Harvey. "I've been [his manager] for 23 years, and it has been his most important engagement every year." Lightfoot will be backed by his regular four-piece band, in what Harvey said will be an intimate performance. His last gig at Massey Hall was supposed to have been in November, 2002. As another symbolic mark of his comeback, tickets for that cancelled performance will be honoured for the upcoming May shows, Massey Hall announced yesterday. Lightfoot, 66, has made a number of appearances in recent months, including his induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in December, 2003, where he appeared healthy but frail, and gave a short speech at a gala tribute. He also performed in Peterborough, Ont., last August. He even appeared on Canadian Idol that month. Although Lightfoot is watching his health carefully, Harvey said, "I would say he's back. We did two performances for the McMaster [University] hospital organization up in Hamilton [in November]. The first night was a little sketchy. But on the second night, he sounded as well as I've ever heard him singing and performing, and the band was tight. "We're looking forward to getting back to work. It's been a long time," Harvey added. Prior to his Toronto concerts, Lightfoot will be performing one show in the San Diego area and two in Los Angeles in late April, followed by four concerts in Las Vegas. His website also lists a series of gigs in the Eastern U.S. in August and October followed, notably, by a show in December at the Opera House in Orillia, Ont., the same venue where he took ill backstage in 2002.