Gordon Lightfoot savors the moment as he tours

Gordon Lightfoot is probably glad to be on the road again.

The popular Canadian singer-songwriter suffered a stomach aneurysm in 2002. The illness put him in a coma for six weeks and almost killed him. It took four surgeries and two years for him to recover.

The 70-year-old Lightfoot, who performs at the Holland Performing Arts Center on Oct. 1, seems to be making up for lost time. He released his 20th album in 2004. And this year he’s touring pretty much nonstop, presenting more than 70 concerts across North America.

Lightfoot first gained widespread attention in 1970, when he recorded the song “If You Could Read My Mind.” He quickly followed that song with a series of hits that included “Sundown,” “Carefree Highway” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”

Lightfoot’s sound is characterized by his warm, soothing baritone voice. His albums also highlight his nimble acoustic guitar playing.

Over the years, the singer has been nominated for five Grammy Awards, and he’s won 17 Canadian Juno Awards.

Artists such as Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Tori Amos have covered his songs.

Lightfoot was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

He last performed at the Holland Center two years ago.

Contact the writer:

444-1076, john.pitcher@owh.com