Last Thursday - June 24 - Bill and I had an evening with Gordon Lightfoot (along with about 1,200 other people) at the Paramount Theatre in Ashland, KY. It was a great evening listening to an icon from the musical world!
If you could read our minds, you might learn about the wide variety of music we have found that we enjoy. One genre includes Folk Music in which Gordon Lightfoot is well known. If you could read Lightfoot’s mind, you would find about all of the obstacles he has overcome to continue with a career that has spanned over 45 years. He was persistent in his willingness to write, tour, and entertain his fans from the 60’s to new ones of today.
Lightfoot, 72, contracted Bell's palsy in the early '70s, a condition that partially paralyzed his face for a while; he battled alcohol abuse until the '80s. In 2002, he was in a coma for six weeks after suffering a ruptured aortic aneurysm, and in 2006, he suffered a minor stroke while performing. Yes, it appears he could have and should have taken better care of himself, but . . . . . too many in the entertainment world tended to drink and use drugs way too much. Many times it was the way they decided was the only thing to keep them going! So Sad!!!!!
A picture of the Gordon Lightfoot we remember from the past!
If you loved the voice of the man who sang songs such as “Early Mornin’ Rain,” “Wreck OF The Edmund Fitzgerald,” “If You Could Only Read My Mind” (which was his breakthrough on the charts at #5), “Sundown,” and “Did She Mention My Name,” then you might have been disappointed with his voice today. We were pleasantly surprised that his voice was much stronger and he looked healthier than he did when we saw him in concert last year in Columbus.
A more updated promotion photo of Gordon Lightfoot - he looks healthier in this photo.
When the entertainer is one with a few years behind them, we have to know that the years of singing have taken a toll on their voice. No it’s not the same as he was in the 60’s and 70’s, but he is singer/songwriter who is still trying to entertain his fans and forging onward with what he loves to do. We both enjoyed the concert in a small venue and appreciate the fact we were able to see one of the great legends from our younger days!!
June 24, 2010 - a little older and thinner, but still an entertainer!
The last three photos were actually taken by me at the concert. At 72, Lightfoot is frail, thus the reason I am sure he has only 70 dates a year in which he performs! He told the audience he breaks the touring up into sections with this latest tour having fourteen venues in which he and his band were to perform. Ashland was # 11 on this tour. HE performed for about 50 minutes; took a break; and came back and performed for another 50 minutes!!! He sang; the band played along with him!! All in all - it was a great evening with Gordon Lightfoot and his band!
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