Gord's Biography

[3pennies]

Ordinary Man mentioned in his post about the Joliet show that Gord mentioned his "first ex wife" and how he "still loved her."

When I met Gord after the Morristown NJ show in June he mentioned something similar to the group of 10 or so who were waiting. Everyone was standing in a circle, and folks were handing him albums, cd's etc to autograph and asking questions. He made a comment along the lines of "my first wife was my best wife" or "I should have never left my first wife"

It was one of those moments where I was trying to listen, fiddling with my cell phone and the CD he just autographed and suddenly "huh, what did he just say!!??"

Then I believe I heard somewhere that he was separated/divorced from his second wife - I believe her name is Elizabeth.

I guess I should get to my question. Is Gord entering his 70's as a single man? And, is there a definitive bio available?

His relationships with women were always a crucial muse in the wonderful albums he created. I listen and think - who was the "darling" in Spanish Moss. I would find it interesting if the man was heading off into his later years single.

Anyone know if he is single? and about a definitive bio?

I would love someday to sit in front of a fire on a winter's night and read a 400 page well written complete bio from childhood to later life of this creative gentleman. An autobiography would be even better, right from the heart of the man.

[Same Old Loverman]

I couldn't agree more! I'm a new member (great site by the way!) and this topic is one of the things I get excited about. But I know Char brought up the subject with Gordon before in her phone interview and he seems to feel like he's said everything he wants to in his music. I also get the impression that Gordon is kinda shy about revealing too much about himself, and he might be reluctant to mention names and such. But look at all the other great musicians that have put down their thoughts on life....Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Eric Clapton, etc. There have been biographies written about him (two come to mind) but nothing close to definitive.

I can understand why he doesn't want to write songs anymore. After a lifetime of being under contract the pressure of producing one classic album after another, must have been tremendous, and that's gotta be hard on your health and relationships. But I think putting your thoughts on life down on paper would be kind of therapeutic and fun...then again maybe it would be hard, I don't know. Still, I'd love to read his perspective on growing up and getting started in the music business, his first wife, what it was like performing at places like the Riverboat in the 60's, his thoughts on all those classic albums he wrote and recorded for United Artists and then Warner Bros, his adventures on the river when he used to take those annual canoe trips, life on the road, and even his thoughts on drinking would be fascinating and even help to serve others who are going through similar experiences. To me, Gordon Lightfoot is the ultimate singer/songwriter, and a 400 page plus book by him would be invaluable.

One of the cool things about Gordon is he seems genuinely surprised at how much the fans really love and respect him and his music, in the same vein, I wonder if he realizes how much we'd enjoy reading about his life from his perspective...just imagine what a tale his thoughts would tell....

[charlene]

I believe it was in early 2004 that Lightfoot and the current Mrs. separated.

In our March 2007 chat he left the door open to a memoir:

CHAR: I asked you this one time before, and I know you talked about it at Massey either this last concert series or in 2005, about writing a book about the life of Gordon Lightfoot.

G.L.: Oh yeah…well I’ve decided against doing that. I had to make a decision on that last year and I decided not to do it.

CHAR: No?

G.L.: No.

CHAR: Wow, that’s going to be a disappointment to a lot of people.

G.L.: That’s all right.

CHAR: We will just live your life through your music I guess.

G.L.: My old manager Albert Grossman used to say “it won’t make the coffee taste any different in the morning.” (laughing) Whether there’s a book or not…...it doesn’t matter.

CHAR: No it doesn’t matter….that’s very true. It’s just that in this day and age where you’ve got kids that are writing their life story because they’ve made a movie or had a hit song…and THEY have a life story? They’re only 19! (laughing) It would be nice though. It wouldn’t have to have all the nitty gritty but just as a one focus sort of idea.

G.L.: Ya know…. it would be a nice thing to do….maybe later when I’m doing a memoir or something after I’ve stopped touring.

and

CHAR: You’re a big deal. Do you accept that at this time of your life and career that your music and everything it’s meant to so many people around the world IS a big deal?

G.L.: (very quietly) Yep.

[Jesse Joe]

couldn't agree more! I'm a new member (great site by the way!)

Welcome aboard Same Old Loverman !

[Same Old Loverman]

Thanks Jesse Joe! I've been coming to this web site for about 2 years now, but just decided to join a few weeks ago. I have really learned a lot about Gordon through this forum and of course I enjoy reading the comments by people like you. Thanks again for the welcome, I appreciate it!

[Jesse Joe]

Well your very welcome, Same Old Loverman, please do post more often... Your among Lightheads here !

BTW !!! Cool Screen Name.

[GJA]

I wonder if there is anything his fans could do to encourage him to write his memoir?

[Kelly Davis]

I asked Gordon 2 or 3 years ago about writing his story - his reply was "you get to a point where it just doesn't matter anymore."

I think the best thing we, his fans can do is just keep asking him to do it.

[davidgledhill]

If he is not into writing, a peer of his in the music industry or maybe just a very literate friend - whom he has known for a long time should sit down with him in front of some well aimed and discrete movie cameras in a well lit room and get him to talk on film for a couple of hours about his life and all his aspects - the soundtrack should be no problem
but then again its his life and not some lab rats - and each one of us has our own idea of what is personal and private and what others need to know