July 11, 2022

LIGHTFOOT HUMBLED TO RECEIVE BELATED MARIPOSA HALL OF FAME AWARD

ORILLIA — Gordon Lightfoot has a host of awards — including more than a dozen Junos, the Order of Canada and a stamp.

He was first recognized in 1951 at the Toronto Kiwanis Festival —
a first place plaque in the under-13 category and third place in unchanged voices.

Since then he became an international singer and songwriter as one of Canada’s greatest musicians and artists.

But yesterday, 71 years after that initial accolade, when the Mariposa Folk Festival named him to its hall of fame in his hometown the honour may be one of his greatest tributes.

“I’m deeply, deeply honoured,” he said after receiving the tiny glass plaque with his named etched on it.

**Humbled, hand over heart, Gord Lightfoot looked the picture of health on stage Sunday being inducted to the Mariposa hall of fame. Photos Mark Clairmont**

For the legendary Lightfoot — who became a “hometown hero” for in no small part resurrecting the flagging festival in 2000 when it returned to Orillia following nomadic decades floundering about Ontario since a too-successful start got it kicked out of the city — his belated tribute was deeply moving for him.

With his left hand across his heart — his right hand holding his guitar — he took a deep sustained bow in acknowledging the roars of the crowd most of whom were not yet born when he rose to fame or were barely hippy teenyboppers.

“If you could read my mind …,” he managed to sing in a few bars of his hit song.

The thoughts and tales that had to have gone through his head.

Some no doubt brought on by the recent passing of long-time friend Ronnie Hawkins, whose celebration of life Lightfoot attended last week.

While not as agile as once he was, the 83-year-old was still in good form and spirits for an octogenarian performing in to his ninth decade.

And when it came his turn to sing with the dozen tribute artists honouring him, he belted out in strong clear voice one of his classics “It’s great to be Alberta bound.”

His backup band — the Good Brothers, Jimmy Cuddy and Blue Rodeo, Serena Ryder and Blackie & the Rodeo Kings — could barely keep up or contain their glee at their good fortunes singing and sharing the Mariposa stage with their folk idol.

Afterward in the green grass room he was animated and entertaining with musical friends and well-wishers while still keeping an eye and his ears on the main stage performers.

It was a tough act to follow for the evening’s later headliners Ryder and Blue Rodeo.

See his list of Lightfoot’s honours and awards here.