Lightfoot

By: Nicholas Jennings

Narrated by: Nicholas Jennings

Shortlisted for the 2017 Legislative Assembly of Ontario Speaker's Book Award

Nominated for the 2018 Heritage Toronto Award - Historical Writing: Book

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 '60s, 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 audiobook.

©2017 Nicholas Jennings (P)2017 Penguin Random House Canada

Critic reviews

“Perhaps the greatest gift of...Lightfoot is that [it leads] you right back to [his] music. Feels like you never left, only better.” (Maclean’s)

“Jennings as always is a master storyteller... His deft manipulation of narrative, told in clear language, draws the reader in immediately...Jennings’s true gift might be his ability to slowly reveal Lightfoot to us - over the course of the book, the complexity of his character emerges, through a peeling away of the many layers the notoriously reticent singer has kept hidden. . . the best reward for Lightfoot fans who have waited for so long: Lightfoot is your chance to finally know him deeply.” (National Post)

“This is the definitive book on Gordon Lightfoot's life and lengthy career.” (FYI Music News)

“an informative, highly readable book...Lightfoot fans should rejoice.” (The Globe and Mail)

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.

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!

Insightful!

I needed this book but didn’t know it. I’m a “Light Head” from way back starting about 1970 when I was 16. My Dad loved folk music and that love was carried on to me. Whenever I was feeling down about a thing I listened to Gord. He sorted me then and still does. His life is interesting with a few twists and aha moments. Some stories and anecdotes are repeated, but in appropriate places. Gord literally saved my life at least once. Great job with this book! And thank you!

Interesting Life Story of a Musical Professional

Very well told story. I am familiar with a few of the songs Mr. Lightfoot wrote because most of them are still playing somewhere. If You Could Read My Mind I have heard many times at many places. He writes classics that do not age. Very interesting background. A serious professional from an early age. Very admirable legacy. Now I will explore his other music I have read about in the book.

Lightfoot!

History of a great in the world of music. A living legend, and my favorite artist!

Interesting slice of musical history

I've been a Gordon Lightfoot fan since "If You Could Read My Mind." This biography provides interesting insights into the real-life inspirations for many of his best-known songs. In places it gets tedious, listing every venue and every public appearance he made in a given year. I learned more about his problems with women and alcohol than I really wanted to know, but I was glad to hear that he got sober and quit sleeping around. All in all this is an interesting slice of musical history that will especially interest listeners of a certain age, who remember the decades covered in this biography. The author did a fine job with the narration.

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.

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.

Wow!

Fantastic insight to one of my all time favorites! My older sibs raised me on Gordon and this book helped me to really get to know the man through his music