Gordon Lightfoot, Canadian folk music legend known for his poetic songs, has passed away at age of 84, at the Toronto hospital on Monday evening. He died of natural causes, according to his publicist Victoria Lord.

Sundown, from the titular album of 1974, remains his most successful hit to date.

Gordon Lightfood’s Biography:

Iconic Canadian Musician Gordon Lightfoot Passes Away at Age 84 — **Gordon Lightfoot died at Age 84**

Lightfoot was born in Orillia, Ontario and was widely recognized as Canada’s folk troubadour. His songs, including “The Canadian Railroad Trilogy” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” explored the history, geography, and culture of Canada.

The musician gained international fame in the 1970s after signing with Warner Records in the US. He had many popular hits, such as “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Sundown,” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”

Lightfoot‘s songs, blending folk, pop, and country rock in a deceptively simple manner, have been covered by a diverse range of musicians, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash, as well as the Grateful Dead, Barbra Streisand, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Buffett, and the Replacements.

Throughout his career, Lightfoot received many accolades for his contributions to Canadian music and culture, including multiple Grammy nominations and more than 15 Juno Awards.

He was inducted into many halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and was invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada.

At 63 years old in 2002, Lightfoot experienced a significant health scare when he collapsed due to severe stomach pain before performing in Orillia, Ontario.

He underwent emergency surgery for abdominal bleeding that was caused by a ruptured aorta and spent weeks in the hospital recovering from multiple operations.

Despite the ordeal, he resumed making music and performing live. During his illness, fellow Canadian country singer Ian Tyson praised Lightfoot as a valuable national asset.

Lightfoot released “Solo” in 2020, a collection of studio recordings, and had pledged to continue performing up to 70 gigs per year, stating that he loved what he did.

Pay him tribute by listening to some of his best songs: