Gordon Lightfoot had a personal life when he was still alive that drew significant attention from his fan base. Throughout his career, Lightfoot married several women and fathered several children. At some point, he stayed single for 16 years but still managed to sire children. Unfortunately, most of his marriages ended in divorce. But who was Gordon Lightfoot's spouse, ex-wife, and children?
Gordon Lightfoot was a Canadian singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was known for monumental hits such as Sundown, If You Could Read My Mind, Early Mornin' Rain, and The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald.
He achieved international success in folk, pop, and rock music and was also known for his distinctive baritone voice and poetic songwriting style. Before retiring, Gordon received four Grammy nominations and 17 Juno Awards, the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys.
Gordon Lightfoot's profile summary
| Full name | Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. |
| Nickname | Gord Leadfoot |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 17 November 1938 |
| Died | 1 May 2023 |
| Age | 84 (as of 2023) |
| Zodiac sign | Scorpio |
| Place of birth | Orillia, Ontario, Canada |
| Current residence | St. Andrew's and St. James' Cemetery, Orillia, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in feet | 6'0" |
| Height in centimetres | 183 |
| Weight in pounds | 112 |
| Weight in kilograms | 51 |
| Hair colour | Salt and Pepper |
| Eye colour | Blue |
| Mother | Jessie Vick Trill Lightfoot |
| Father | Gordon Lightfoot Sr |
| Siblings | 1 (Beverley Lightfoot) |
| Marital status | Married |
| Partner | Brita Ingegerd Olaisson (1963-1973), Elizabeth Moon (1989-2011), Kim Hasse (2014) |
| Children | 6 (Fred, Ingrid, Gaylen, Eric, Miles, and Meredith Lightfoot) |
| School | Orillia Secondary School |
| College | The Royal Conservatory of Music, Westlake College |
| Profession | Singer, songwriter, guitarist |
| Net worth | $40 million |
Early life
The singer was born Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. on 17 November 1938 in Orillia, Ontario, Canada. He was the second child of Jessie Vick Trill Lightfoot (mother) and Gordon Lightfoot Sr. (father). His father, Gordon Sr., owned a dry cleaning business, while his mother was a homemaker.
Gordon had a sibling named Beverly Lightfoot. He grew up in the town of Orillia, Canada and attended Orillia District Collegiate and Vocational Institute. The singer displayed a keen interest in music when he was young. Thus, he learned to play piano and drums at a young age.
His passion for music led him to start writing his songs during his teenage years. Eventually, Gordon made his first singing appearance on local radio shows at the age of six.
Gordon actively participated in the school's music programme and played in the band. He later honed his musical skills by attending the Royal Conservatory of Music. He also attended Westlake College in Los Angeles in 1958 to learn music theory and composition.
Professional career
While young, Lightfoot performed at local venues in and around Orillia, honing his musical skills and captivating audiences with his soulful voice and poignant lyrics. He explored various musical genres, including barbershop quartets and jazz.
Gordon Lightfoot's talent caught the attention of record labels. His fellow Canadians, Ian and Sylvia, chose two of his songs for their record. Then, in 1962, he signed his first professional recording contract with the United Artists label. From there, he embarked on a remarkable musical journey.
He established himself as one of Canada's most celebrated singer-songwriters. Over the years, Lightfoot released numerous critically acclaimed albums and composed iconic songs such as If You Could Read My Mind, Sundown, and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Lightfoot's music has resonated with audiences worldwide throughout his career, earning him numerous awards and accolades. As a result, he received four Grammy nominations and 17 Juno Awards, the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys.
Wife and children
On 1 May 2023, Gordon Lightfoot died of natural causes at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto at age 84. Before his death, he had been in three marriages and welcomed six children.
His first marriage was in April 1963 to a Swedish woman, Brita Ingegerd Olaisson. The duo welcomed two kids, Fred Lightfoot and Ingrid Lightfoot. Unfortunately, Gordon Lightfoot's wife and family experienced a challenging period when the couple separated and eventually divorced in 1973.
The marriage ended because of Gordon's infidelity. The singer later acknowledged that his musical touring and the fact that he found fidelity difficult in a long-distance relationship contributed to the failure of his relationships.
After the divorce, Gordon stayed single for 16 years. Little is known about Gordon Lightfoot's wives and girlfriends during that period. However, he had two other children from other unnamed relationships. The children he sired were Gaylen McGee and Eric Lightfoot.
In the early 1970s, Lightfoot was in a relationship with Cathy Smith, an occasional Canadian backup singer, rock groupie, and legal secretary. The duo's volatile relationship inspired several of his songs, including Sundown and Rainy Day People. Unfortunately, they did not have any children and never married.
In 1989, Gordon Lightfoot married Elizabeth Moon. They had two children (Miles Lightfoot and Meredith Lightfoot). Unfortunately, their relationship was rocky. Gordon Lightfoot and Elizabeth Moon separated in 2002 and eventually divorced in 2011.
On 19 December 2014, Gordon Lightfoot married Kim Hasse at Rosedale United Church. Gordon Lightfoot and Kim Hasse did not have children. The couple was in a relationship for nine years when Gordon passed away in 2023.
Gordon Lightfoot's net worth
Gordon Lightfoot made money through many avenues as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He appeared in many concerts, tours, and events throughout his career. Furthermore, he made money through royalties, album sales, endorsements, and real estate.
Before he died in 2023, he lived in North York, Toronto, Canada. He had purchased a mansion in 1999 for $4 million. Today, the home is worth an estimated $15-20 million. When he died on 1 May 2023, Gordon was worth $40 million.
Gordon Lightfoot's fast facts
- Who were Gordon Lightfoot's three wives? He married Brita Ingegerd Olaisson (1963-1973), Elizabeth Moon (1989-2011), and Kim Hasse (2014-2023 when he died).
- When did Gordon Lightfoot come out? He came out in 1966 after releasing his debut album Lightfoot!, which brought him greater exposure as a singer and a songwriter.
- Did Gordon Lightfoot have any children with his first wife? His first wife, Brita Ingegerd Olaisson, was the mother of his two children, Fred and Ingrid Lightfoot.
- Did Gordon Lightfoot have any children with his second wife, Elizabeth Moon? His second wife, Elizabeth Moon, gave him two children, Meredith and Miles Lightfoot.
- How many children did Gordon Lightfoot have with Kim Hasse? The singer had no children with his third wife, Kim Hasse.
- How many albums did Gordon Lightfoot have? He had over 30 albums released between 1958 when he started singing, and 2023, when he died.
- What was Gordon Lightfoot's net worth? Before he died, the singer was worth $40 million.
Final words
The first Gordon Lightfoot's spouse was Brita Ingegerd Olaisson. He married her between 1963 and 1973, when they divorced. After that, he married Elizabeth Moon in 1989 and divorced in 2011. Finally, he married Kim Hasse in 2014. Unfortunately, the couple did not have children until he died in 2023.
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