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Doug Smith, Tom May and Donny Wright photo by Bob Howard

Tom May photo by Bob Howard

The Slipshod Bluegrass Band photo by Bob Howard

True North: Kristen Granger & Dan Wetzel photo by Bob Howard

Doug Smith, Rich Gillette, Terry Prohaska and Dylan May photo by Bob Howard

Brad Price, Gary Furlow, Matt Snook and Donny Wright photo by Bob Howard

David Jacobs Strain, Brad Price and Don Lange photo by Bob Howard

Spud Siegel, Steve Einhorn and Kate Power photo by Bob Howard

Tom May and David Jacobs Strain photo by Bob Howard

Tom May photo by Bob Howard

11/19/2023

Gordon Lightfoot Smiles on Portland / At Alberta Rose Theater / Friday November 17, 2023 / Review

By BOB HOWARD // The watchman Lives on in an Oregon tribute to Gordon Lightfoot.

Gordon Lightfoot’s relationship with Portland was close. Fifty years ago, Tom May played a few songs for him in Omaha, Nebraska. That began a long friendship with Gordon. Gordon suggested that Tom come to Canada and try his luck there, and he offered to help make connections. Friday, November 17 25 artists saluted Gordon Lightfoot to a sold-out crowd to honor his 85th birthday at the Alberta Rose Theater. The show was live streamed to an international audience.

Each artist performed a song that was personally meaningful to their life. For Kate Power, "57 years ago, my dad drove me to a folk coffeehouse in Bernardsville NJ called The Experiment, just up the hill from the train station, to audition with my little Martin 00-21 and play a Gordon Lightfoot song, “The Way I Feel”. It got me my first gig." For Gary Furlow, “Cotton Jenny” was a song of the south that reminded him of his hometown of New Orleans. For the cast, “The Watchman’s Gone” expressed the gratitude of everyone there for the songs of the Watchman, Gordon Lightfoot.

Tom said that Gordon’s death “was a devastating loss to me." For Tom, surrounded by love and his friends, “this show is a way that I can try to pay back some of his kindness to me.” Tom added, “very few singer songwriters have had the impact of Gordon Lightfoot. No less than Bob Dylan has cited him as one of his favorite artists. His songs have been covered by hundreds of other artists, from Elvis Presley to Barbra Streisand.

Friday night, 450 more people covered his songs, singing out loudly with the cast to honor Gordon Lightfoot.

Playlist: Sundown: A Salute to Gordon Lightfoot, Hosted by Tom May, for His 85th Birthday, November 17, 2023, Alberta Rose Theater (Note: Not every song performed is listed):

Opening Song “In A Windowpane,” released in 1969. The was recorded live, Sunday Concert, Live at Massey Hall/1969. Performed by Doug Smith, Tom May, and Donny Wright.

“The Way I Feel” from his 1966 debut United Artists album Lightfoot! Performed by Kate Power

“Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” Performed by Dave Ross, on 12 string guitar singing lead, Brad Price, on the telecaster and vocals, Dylan May, bass and vocals, and Chance Wooley on drums. Released in 1976 on the record Summertime Dream.

“It’s Worth Believing” Performed by Terry Prohaska on autoharp, Rich Gillette on 12 string guitar, Doug Smith on 6 string guitar, and Dylan May on electric bass. Released in 1972 on Old Dan’s Records.

“Second Cup of Coffee” Performed by Wayne Hoffman, vocals and guitar, Brad Price, telecaster, and Donny Wright on electric bass. Released in 1972 on Don Quixote.

“Steel Rail Blues” Performed by Steve Einhorn on guitar and vocals, Spud Siegel on Mandolin and Kate Power, vocals. Released in 1966 on Gordon’s first record, Lightfoot!

“Summer Side of Life” Performed by Dylan May on electric bass and vocals, Tom May on 12 string guitar and vocals, Miguel Hernández on electric guitar, and Chance Wooley on drums. Released in 1971 on Summer Side of Love

“If You could Read My Mind” Performed by Tom May on guitar and vocals, Doug Smith on guitar and vocals, Matt Shook on dobro, Dylan May on electric bass. Released in 1970 on the album of the same name If You Could Read My Mind.

“Song for a Winter’s Night” Performed by Tom May on guitar and vocals, Doug Smith on guitar and vocals, Matt Shook on dobro, Donny Wright on electric bass. Released in 1975 on the album Gord’s Gold

“Carefree Highway” Performed by True North, Kristen Grainger, vocals and Dan Wetzel, guitar. Released in 1974 on Sundown.

“Cotton Jenny” Performed by Gary Furlow on 12 string guitar, Brad Price on guitar, Matt Shook on dobro, and Donny Wright on electric Bass. Released in 1971 on Summer Side of Love.

“Did She Mention My Name?” Performed by the Slipshod Bluegrass Band, Steve Blanchard on guitar and vocals, Claire Levine on guitar and vocals, Matt Shook on Dobro, and Laurence Ullman on upright bass. Released in1968 on the album of the same name Did She Mention My Name.

“Long Way Back Home” Performed by Meredith Greene on guitar and vocals and Brad Price on guitar. Released in 1968 on the record Back Here on Earth.

“Sundown” Performed by Donny Wright on guitar and vocals, Brad Price on telecaster, Dylan May on electric bass, and Max Tucker on drums Released in 1974 on the record Sundown.

Finale “The Watchman’s Gone” Released in 1974 on the record Sundown. Performed by the whole cast.

Cast:
Tom May - 12 and 6 string guitars and vocals
Donny Wright - Electric bass / guitar / vocals
Brad Price - Electric guitar / vocals
Max Tucker - Drums
Kate Power - Guitar / vocals
Steve Einhorn - Guitar / vocals
Spud Siegel - Mandolin
Doug Smith - Guitar / vocals
Terry Prohaska - Autoharp /vocals
Rich Gillette - 12 string guitar / vocals
Dylan May - Electric bass / vocals
Matt Snook - Dobro / vocals
Steve Blanchard - Guitar / vocals
Claire Levine - Guitar / vocals
Dave Ross - 12 string guitar / vocals
Miguel Hernandez - Electric guitar
Chance Wooley - Drums
Wayne Hoffman - Guitar / vocal
Lawrence Ullman - Upright bass
Kristen Grainger - Ukulele / vocal
Dan Wetzel - Guitar / vocal
Gary Furlow - Guitar /vocal
Don Lange - Guitar /vocal
David Jacobs Strain - slide guitar / vocal
Meridian Greene - Guitar /vocal

Special Thanks:
Scott Docherty, original poster design; orders www.redhare.com
Shelley Garrett and Artichoke Music, rehearsal space, production assistance, and volunteers; www.artichokemusic.org
Gary Furlow, Donny Wright, Dylan May, and Terry Prohaska, for rehearsal coordination, stage assistance, music transcriptions, and much more...
All proceeds benefited Columbia Riverkeeper

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