Gordon Lightfoot (1938 -) Inducted 1971

Lightfoot, now a household name from coast to coast, sang as a boy in St. Paul's United Church. His beautiful soprano voice is remembered by many to this day; in particular his rendition of "The Lord's Prayer".

Encouraged by his mother, Jessica, who recognized his talent when he was very young, he entered, at age 12, the Kiwanis Music Festival held at Massey Hall in Toronto, where he won first place in his category. That was just the beginning. With hard work, diligence and his dedication to furthering his musical efforts, Gordon Lightfoot achieved world-wide success as a singer, composer and a talented guitarist.

He is one of the early Canadian superstars to become famous in the United States. His first concert at Massey Hall in 1967 was sold out, and he has performed there every year for decades.

It might be said that, as a composer, his folk music depicts the social history of Canada. Some of his best known songs are "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" and "Black Day in July". The winner of 17 Juno awards, Lightfoot was honoured with the Order of Canada in 1971 and the Order of Ontario in 1988.