The Legend of Gordon Lightfoot
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
When Gordon Lightfoot was only four-year-old, he sang in front of an audience at his family’s church in Orillia. The song? “I’m a Little Teapot”. And from those humble beginnings, he went on to stardom.
This is the kind of information you can learn about Canada’s beloved singer/songwriter, the late Gordon Lightfoot, if you take in Leisa Way’s latest show, Early Morning Rain. In keeping with her ever-growing collection of shows, Leisa Way and her Wayward Wind Band tell stories about the stars, discuss the songs and the musical styles, and give us tidbits and anecdotes about the person’s life. Most importantly, they sing – solos, duets, and full chorus – but they are not impersonators giving the audience a tribute show. They sing the songs in their own voices and in their own styles, but ensuring that the message comes through in the way that the songwriter wanted to share it.
Way is the expert when it comes to collecting facts and stories about the stars, and weaves the information around the songs. She has had plenty of experience. Way has 12 such shows featuring different singers or different genres in her repertoire, which she performs across Canada.
Way tells us that Lightfoot had a song which got some attention when he was just 18. It was all about the hula hoop fad, and that story gets a chuckle from the audience.
Of course, Lightfoot had many hits in Canada, and he worked hard to get noticed in the US, travelling to Detroit to perform. The 1967 riots inspired him to write “Black Day in Detroit”. Way’s band took on a heavier rock ‘n’ roll sound for that song, a shift from Lighfoot’s usual folk or country sound. It was interesting to learn that while that song was played on the radio all across Canada, it was banned by many radio stations in the US.
Watching this wonderful performance, you realize that Gordon Lightfoot was a master storyteller with his songs. It is also amazing to learn that many great artists covered his songs – Bob Dylan who become a close friend; Ian and Sylvia; Peter, Paul and Mary; even Elvis!
Another interesting tidbit Way shares: Lightfoot wrote “That’s What You Get for Loving Me” after his first marriage broke up. Later he stopped singing it, saying he now realized that his ex-wife would find it offensive.
All of Lightfoot’s favourites are covered in the show – some that were new to me, others are very familiar. Lightfoot scored four number one hits, among six top 10 hits, on the Adult Contemporary chart: “If You Could Read My Mind” (for one week in 1971), “Sundown” (two weeks, 1974), “Carefree Highway” (one week, 1974) and “Rainy Day People” (one week, 1975).
One story Way tells sends a chill through the audience: Lightfoot’s song “Sundown” was inspired by his stormy relationship with Cathy Smith, his girlfriend at the time. Yes, the same Cathy Smith who was found guilty of giving a fatal drug overdose to John Belushi.
Act One closes with an exceptionally brilliant performance of “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”. Each singer on stage takes part in this moving story.
Way herself sings many of Lightfoot’s hits, telling us that as a child she heard him on vinyl in their home. Her father was a huge Gordon Lightfoot fan. All the members of her Wayward Wind Band take part in singing as well as playing. Longtime band member Bruce Ley who arranges the music is on keyboard, but also picks up guitars as needed. Drummer Don Reid easily changes the beat from rock to folk and back again as needed. Three new members round out the band. Junior Riggin plays bass and sings, while Brant Garratt and Jack Gaughan play guitar and sing. All the band members are exceptional musicians, with special mention going to Gaughan, the youngest at just 23, whose fingers fly over his guitar.
Among the many anecdotes told during the show, this one is popular in Orillia. Someone once told Lighfoot that he had been lucky with his career. He responded, “Yeah, the harder I work, the luckier I get.” That sentiment was also expressed by another great resident of Orillia, author Stephen Leacock, who said, “I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”
Don’t miss this wonderful reminder of the late, great Gordon Lightfoot, presented so well by Leisa Way and the Wayward Wind Band. It’s a wonderful evening of music and memories.
Early Morning Rain continues at the Globus Theatre, Lakeview Arts Barn near Bobcaygeon, until October 19. Tickets are available by calling the Box Office at 705-738-2037 or 1-800-304-7897 or visit https://www.lakeviewartsbarn.com/globus-current-season
Photo: Leisa Way and the Wayward Wind Band: Junior Riggan, Jack Gaughan, Don Reid, Leisa Way. Brant Garratt, Bruce Ley
Early Morning Rain – The Legend of Gordon Lightfoot
Created and directed by Leisa Way
Musical arrangements by Bruce Ley
Performed by Leisa Way, Junior Riggan, Jack Gaughan, Brant Garratt, Don Reid, Bruce Ley
Globus Theatre, Lakeview Arts Barn, Bobcaygeon
October 15 to 19, 2024
Reviewed by Mary Alderson