Toronto (Canada), May 1 (EFE).- Canadian musician Gordon Lightfoot, one of the country’s “folk” legends, died this Monday at the age of 84 in a Toronto hospital, according to his publicist.

In April, Lightfoot canceled a concert he had planned for this year due to health concerns, although he did not provide details about the situation.

Artists such as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Barbra Streisand, Eric Clapton, Olivia Newton-John or Jerry Lee Lewis have performed over 500 songs he has written.

In Canada, Lightfoot is considered one of the artists who best embodied the essence of the country in his songs, from its climate to its landscapes, through its inhabitants.

Following news of his death, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that Canada “has lost one of the greatest singer-songwriters.”

“Gordon Lightfoot captured the spirit of our country in his music, helping to shape the Canadian soundscape. May his music continue to inspire generations to come and may his legacy live on forever,” Trudeau added.

Lightfoot released his first album, “Lightfoot!”, in 1966 after working in the US and UK and establishing a reputation as a songwriter.

The album, which earned him recognition in Canada and the United States, contains some of his most popular songs, including “For Lovin’ Me” and “Early Morning Rain”, which were covered by Presley and Dylan.

Dylan, who has been a friend of the Canadian artist for almost 60 years, had this further to say about Lightfoot: “Every time I hear a song from him, I wish it would stick around forever.”

Following the release of his first album, Lightfoot toured Canada, the United States, and Australia releasing new albums with widely varying themes, including “Don Quixote” (1972), his eighth album, citing the character of its author. Cervantes.

In the 1980s, after years of alcohol abuse and after being convicted of drunk driving, Lightfoot changed his lifestyle and revitalized his career with the album “Salute” (1983).

His last album, his twenty-first, will be “Beginnings”, in 2021.