Singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot dies aged 84

Tributes person been paid to the singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot who has died astatine the property of 84.

The Canadian instrumentalist became celebrated successful the 60s and 70s with hits similar Early Morning Rain and If You Could Read My Mind.

His songs were covered by artists including Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand and Johnny Cash.

Canadian premier curate Justin Trudeau described him arsenic 1 of the country's top singer-songwriters.

"Gordon Lightfoot captured our country's tone successful his euphony - and successful doing so, helium helped signifier Canada's soundscape," he said connected Twitter.

"May his euphony proceed to animate aboriginal generations, and whitethorn his bequest unrecorded connected forever."

Lightfoot was calved successful Ontario and won a endowment contention arsenic portion of a barbershop quartet portion inactive successful precocious school.

Aged 18 helium headed to the US to survey euphony composition, earlier returning to Canada.

He made his vigor debut successful 1962 with (Remember Me) I'm the One, which led to a fig of deed songs and partnerships with different musicians.

Marty Robbins' 1965 screen of Ribbon of Darkness reached fig 1 connected the US state charts, portion Peter, Paul and Mary took For Lovin' Me into the US apical 30.

Lightfoot made his archetypal quality successful the US Billboard illustration successful 1971, erstwhile If You Could Read My Mind reached fig five.

It was his highest scoring deed successful the UK, wherever it peaked astatine fig 30 successful the aforesaid year.

But it reached a caller assemblage successful the aboriginal 2000s erstwhile it was utilized connected the soundtrack to Channel 4 drama Trigger Happy TV.

Lightfoot had a immense catalogue of much than 200 songs and immoderate were covered by artists including Harry Belafonte, Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead.

Dylan erstwhile said: "I can't deliberation of immoderate Gordon Lightfoot opus I don't like. Every clip I caput a opus of his, it's similar I privation it would past forever."

Lightfoot was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame successful 1986, which said helium was liable for "dozens of classic, enduring and chart-topping" compositions.

"Few performers person truthful eloquently captured the adventure, hardship, calamity and elation of federation building," it said connected its website.

Lightfoot was nominated for 4 Grammy awards, including for the The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, astir the drowning of 29 sailors erstwhile a freight vessel sank successful Lake Superior.

He dominated Canada's Junos successful the 1970s, winning 12 awards during the decade.

And successful 2003 helium was awarded the companion of the Order of Canada - the country's highest civilian honour.

However, Lightfoot was much reserved astir his talents, telling Canada's The Globe and Mail: "Sometimes I wonderment wherefore I'm being called an icon, due to the fact that I truly don't deliberation of myself that way."

The instrumentalist remained an progressive touring creator good into his 80s, lone cancelling his planned circuit of the US and Canada past month.

He is survived by his woman Kim Hasse, six children and respective grandchildren.