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Neil Young says the late folk-pop legend Gordon Lightfoot was in good spirits just weeks before his death at the age of 84.
The 77-year-old musician covered his pop hits “Early Morning Rain” and “If You Could Read My Mind” on his 2014 covers LP, A Letter Home.
And in a touching tribute on his website, Young said: “I just spoke to Gordon a few weeks ago and he sounded happy despite having canceled a few shows and reorganizing his tour. I was sad when I found out about his death today.”
The ‘Heart of Gold’ hitmaker added how Lightfoot’s music will live on “through the ages”.
He wrote: “Gordon was a great Canadian artist. An incomparable songwriter, his melodies and words were an inspiration to all writers who heard his music, and will continue to be for centuries to come. Gordon’s music has a unique and wonderful feel to it. Lightfoot is a Canadian legend. His song popped up on the hearse schedule all by itself today. PEACE Gordon. Dear Neil.”
The pioneering Canadian artist died Monday night in a Toronto hospital, his publicist Victoria Lord confirmed.
His death came after his deteriorating health caused him to scrap his tour three weeks earlier.
No cause of death was given.
However, the guitarist suffered from Bell’s palsy and was once put in a coma in 2002 after an artery ruptured in his stomach.
Adored by music legends like Bob Dylan, Lightfoot’s songs have also been covered by the likes of Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Cash and even punk rockers Jane’s Addiction.
Fellow Canadian Bryan Adams paid tribute to the man who pioneered the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s.
He wrote on Instagram alongside a picture with his idol: “This one is really hard to write. Once in a blue moon you come into work and you meet up with one of the people you admired growing up. I was fortunate enough to be able to “I say Gordon was my friend and it pains me to know he’s gone. The world is a smaller place without him. I know I speak for all Canadians when I say: Thanks for the songs Gordon Lightfoot. Bless your sweet songwriting heart RIP.” Dear friend.”
Dylan once said of Lightfoot, “I can’t think of a Gordon Lightfoot song that I don’t like. Every time I hear a song of his, it’s like I wish it would last forever… Lightfoot became a mentor for a long time, I think he probably is to this day.”
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