Ron Sexsmith on bringing Gordon Lightfoot’s music to Calgary’s National Music Centre

Juno-winning singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith will bring Gordon Lightfoot's songs to life in two shows at the National Music Centre in Calgary.

The music of Gordon Lightfoot provided a template for singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith early in his career—an example of songs that stand the test of time.

“When I discovered Gordon, I realized I wanted to try to make music that I could grow old gracefully doing,” Sexsmith told CTV News.

Sexsmith will play many of Lightfoot’s hits—and some deep cuts, too—in Sexsmith Sings Lightfoot at the National Music Centre on April 8 and 9.

Sexsmith said he made a point of seeing Lightfoot perform at his annual Massey Hall show in Toronto every year, and eventually Lightfoot returned the favour.

“He was always very nice, and he came to see me at my very first show at Massey Hall, which was a huge honour, and I didn’t know he was coming until that morning when he called,” Sexsmith said.

Sexsmith’s preparation for the Calgary shows will likely be minimal, as he has much of the Lightfoot repertoire committed to memory.

“It’s one of my superpowers. It’s sort of an autistic thing I have where I can remember lyrics like nobody’s business.

“I could do a whole night of Dylan if I wanted to, or Leonard (Cohen).”