Lightfoot

By: Nicholas Jennings

Narrated by: Nicholas Jennings

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

A 2023 ROLLING STONE RECOMMENDED BOOK
Shortlisted for the 2017 Legislative Assembly of Ontario Speaker's Book Award
Nominated for the 2018 Heritage Toronto Award - Historical Writing: Book

“The preeminent account of the late singer's life.” —Rolling Stone

The definitive, full-access story of the life and songs of Canada's legendary troubadour

Gordon Lightfoot’s name is synonymous with timeless songs about trains and shipwrecks, rivers and highways, lovers and loneliness. His music defined the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and ‘70s, topped charts and sold millions. He is unquestionably Canada’s greatest songwriter, and an international star who has performed on the world’s biggest stages.

While Lightfoot’s songs are well known, the man behind them is elusive. He’s never allowed his life to be chronicled in a book—until now.

Biographer Nick Jennings has had unprecedented access to the notoriously reticent musician. Lightfoot takes us deep inside the artist’s world, from his idyllic childhood in Orillia, the wild sixties, and his canoe trips into Canada’s North to his heady times atop the music world. Jennings explores the toll that success took on his personal life—including his troubled relationships, his battle with alcohol and his near-death experiences—and the extraordinary drive and tenacity that pulled him through it all.

Rich in voices from fellow musicians, close friends, Lightfoot’s family and the singer’s own reminiscences, the biography tells the stories behind some of his best-known love songs, including “Beautiful” and “Song for a Winter’s Night,” as well as the infidelity and divorce that resulted in classics like “Sundown” and “If You Could Read My Mind.” Kris Kristofferson has called Lightfoot’s songs “some of the most beautiful and lasting music of our time.”

Lightfoot is an unforgettable portrait of a treasured singer-songwriter, an artist whose work has been covered by everyone from Joni Mitchell, Barbra Streisand and Nico to Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley and Gord Downie. Revealing and insightful, Lightfoot is both an inspiring story of redemption and an exhilarating read.

Finally!

This book has been out for a few years now, and it should be heralded as a treasure! Gord has always been known as highly private and guarded about his life and this book gives wonderful insights into this legends life. The book is so freaking enjoyable, it makes you wish you were born in Orillia!

Comprehensive without conjecture

This retelling of Lightfoot's life, ending relatively close to the time of his passing, seems to cover the major events and relationships of his life. The book doesn't conjecture much about the subject's or his circle of companions' inner thoughts and motivations; through this book, the reader is left to imagine these by way of historical events, interactions, songs.

A Legend in His Own Time!

Now I know why he survived the aortic aneurysm and my dad didn't. Great Bio!

great for Gordon fans

Fans of Gordon should really enjoy this book covering his remarkable career. It made me want to play his songs again and check out his latest work that i was unaware of.

If you like Gordon Lightfoot.Read this

It fills in the backstory behind the songs and helps you understand what a man of substance Gordon Lightfoot is.