[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 60-02, April - June, 2006 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]
[ED: Adapted from a Society press release by Waldo Redekop.]

Gordon Lightfoot honoured by
Barbershop Harmony Society
at spring convention

Legendary singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot  accepted honorary membership in the Barbershop Harmony Society on Saturday, April 22, 2006, in Toronto. Lightfoot was honoured by the Society for his support of barbershop harmony and the impact he’s had on the world of music.

A native Canadian, Lightfoot received his award during the Champions Show, immediately following an Ontario regional barbershop competition.

Drayton Justus, president of the Society, bestowed the honor. “It is our great pleasure to honor Gordon Lightfoot in this way,” Justus said. “His music already has etched an indelible mark on modern culture. We like to think his early experience in barbershop harmony encouraged him in some way.”

Lightfoot was a member of the Orillia, Ontario, Chapter of the Society. His first barbershop quartet, The Collegiate Four, was formed in late 1952 prior to Lightfoot entering high school. They won first prize on the CBC television talent contest “Pick the Stars” in the fall of 1953.

His second quartet, Teen-Timers, competed in regional barbershop contests and placed second in November of 1955. The group’s performance schedule is said to have rivaled that of groups performing more contemporary music. The quartet disbanded as its members pursued university education.

Lightfoot volunteered his time to perform during a barbershop chapter’s charity auction in 2001. As part of that event, he sang with the award-winning Toronto Northern Lights chorus.

The singer/songwriter has five Grammy nominations, 17 Juno awards and the Governor General’s Award, the highest official Canadian honour, among many other honours.

He joins artists such as Dick Van Dyke, Irving Berlin, Meredith Willson, Victor Borge, the Osmond Brothers, Sherrill Milnes and Gene Puerling in an elite group who also have been honoured by the Barbershop Harmony Society.     k

[ED: The following is the text of the proclamation
bestowing Honorary Membership on Gordon Lightfoot.]

Proclamation of
Honorary Membership

• Whereas Gordon Lightfoot has devoted his life to making music; and
• Whereas, his music celebrates the human voice as a means of artistic expression and sharing stories about the human experience; and
• Whereas, in the course of a long career, he has shared this love with millions of fans worldwide; and
• Whereas, Gordon’s musical roots include close-harmony singing with the Collegiate Four and Teen-Timers quartets and the Orillia (Ontario) chapter; and
• Whereas, Gordon’s support for barbershop includes volunteering to perform at a 2001 charity auction hosted by the East York Chapter;
• Now, therefore, the Barbershop Harmony Society confers upon Gordon Lightfoot Honorary Membership.

Presented this 22nd day of April, 2006
Drayton Justus
President, Barbershop Harmony Society     k