Gord downie, who made himself part of canadas national identity with songs about hockey and small towns as lead singer and songwriter of iconic rock band the tragically hip, has died at age 53 after a battle with brain cancer. Tragically hip lead singer gord downie performs with band members at the saveonfoods memorial center to kick off the bands man machine poem tour in july 2016, in victoria, b. Oct 18, 2017 the death of the tragically hip frontman gord downie has prompted an outpouring of condolences and celebration of his musical legacy from fellow artists, politicians, and luminaries in canada and. Canadians invited to sign book of condolences for downie family. Condolences, memories of gord downie pour in online after. With this gord downie wiki, well celebrate the life of this canadian songwriter, as well as his career and gord downies cause of death. Downie, 53, died of brain cancer on tuesday night and the sad news has elicited. Secret path is a graphic novel by musician gord downie and illustrator jeff lemire that tells the story of chanie charlie wenjack, a twelveyearold boy who died in flight from the cecilia jeffrey indian residential school fifty years ago. Gord downie, lead singer of the tragically hip, has died.
Like most americans unfocused on our northern neighbour, i didnt learn about the story of gord. Gord downie, a canadian rock legend, sings goodbye the. Kingston, ontario ap gord downie, who made himself part of canadas national identity with songs about hockey and small towns as lead singer and songwriter of iconic rock band the. Condolences pour in for gord downie, tragically hip frontman the death of the tragically hip frontman gord downie has prompted an outpouring of condolences and celebration of his musical legacy. Gord downie, who made himself part of canadas national identity with songs about hockey and small towns as lead singer and songwriter of. He was the lead singer and lyricist for the canadian rock band the tragically hip, which he fronted from their formation in 1984 until his death in 2017. Chanie, misnamed charlie by his teachers, was a young boy who died on october 22, 1966, walking the railroad tracks, trying to escape from the cecilia. Here are a few of the initial tweets about gord downies death. Condolences to the family and friends of canadian music icon gord downie, whose music and. Rip, gord downie posted by julianne lafleur on oct 24th, 2017 in music resources 2 comments on october 17, 2017, gord downie, lead singer of the tragically hip, lost his battle with brain cancer.
Downie, lead singer of the tragically hip, died tuesday at the age of. Their first studio album, up to here, arrived in 1989. Oct 18, 2017 kingston, ontario ap gord downie, who made himself part of canadas national identity with songs about hockey and small towns as lead singer and songwriter of iconic rock band the tragically. Canadians invited to sign book of condolences for downie.
The line up to sign the book of condolences in market square continued to grow as time neared for a vigil planned for wednesday evening with many. October 18, 2017 ottawa, on assembly of first nations national chief perry bellegarde today honoured the memory of gord downie as an artist and advocate who made a great personal effort to advance reconciliation and raise awareness of first nations issues in canada. The gord downie and chanie wenjack fund is a registered charity. Sign and view the guest book, leave condolences or send flowers.
After learning he had terminal brain cancer, he went on a final tour with his band, the tragically hip, and recorded a last solo album. Oct 18, 2017 the line up to sign the book of condolences in market square continued to grow as time neared for a vigil planned for wednesday evening with many in line remembering the man and his music, but. Hockey world remembers tragically hip frontman gord downie. Downie is widely regarded as one of the most influential and popular artists in canadian music history. The passing of gord downie is touching the hearts of celebrities in canada and people all around the world.
Oct 18, 2017 gord downie memorial in kingston, ont. Condolences pour in for gord downie, tragically hip frontman. Tragically hip lead singer gord downie performs with band members paul langlois, gord sinclair, johnny fay and rob baker at the saveonfoods memorial centre to kick off the bands latest man. Oct 18, 2017 tragically hip lead singer gord downie performs with band members at the saveonfoods memorial center to kick off the bands man machine poem tour in july 2016, in victoria, b. The result is a testament to the power of art to transcend words. For almost five decades, gord downie uncovered and told the stories of canada. Apr 03, 2018 the interview snippets from the people surrounding the band were excellent. Downie, the poetic lead singer of the tragically hip whose determined fight with brain cancer inspired a nation, has died.
Oct 18, 2017 canadians from all walks of life are reacting online to the death of canadian music icon and tragically hip frontman gord downie, who passed away last night at the age of 53. Gord downie, frontman of the canadian rock band tragically hip, has died, his. The death of the tragically hip frontman gord downie has prompted an outpouring of condolences and celebration of his musical legacy from fellow. Lahey two days ago, had this to say about gord downies passing. Swarmed by tragically hip fans its like a pillar of the community has been taken away from us.
Oct 18, 2017 gord downie, lead singer of the tragically hip, has died at age 53. At the assembly of first nations in gatineau, quebec, on december 6, 2016, national chief perry bellegarde honoured downie with an eagle feather, a symbol of the creator above, for his support of the indigenous peoples of canada. Trudeau joins canadians in mourning their rock poet, gord. Proceeds from the sale of secret path will be donated to the gord downie secret path fund for truth and reconciliation via the national centre for truth and reconciliation at the university of manitoba. Since he was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor in 2016, weve known that our time with gord was going to be cut short, and unfortunately that time ended last night as gord passed away. Few artists have recast canadiana in their image like gord downie.
Oct 18, 2017 the tragically hips gord downie, performs during the first stop of the man machine poem tour at the saveonfoods memorial centre in victoria, b. When his death at age 53 was announced wednesday, condolences poured in. Losing downie was like losing our best friend, our brother, a member of our family. Gord downie, who made himself part of canadas national identity with songs about hockey and small towns as lead singer and songwriter of iconic rock band the tragically hip, has died at age 53 after. The interview snippets from the people surrounding the band were excellent. Secret path is a ten song album by gord downie with a graphic novel by jeff lemire that tells the story of chanie wenjack, a twelve yearold boy who died fifty years ago on october 22, 1966, in flight from the cecilia jeffrey indian residential school near kenora, ontario, trying to walk over 400 miles home to the family he was taken from. On wednesday morning, the country was thrown into a state of grief and mourning after news broke that the tragically hips enigmatic frontman gord downie had passed away. Gord downie, lead singer of the tragically hip, has died at age 53. Oct 18, 2017 condolences pour in for gord downie, tragically hip frontman. Gord downie, lead singer of the tragically hip, has died at.
Guest book for gord downie of mudgee, new south wales. Secret path is a ten song digital download album by gord downie with a graphic novel by illustrator jeff lemire that tells the story of chanie charlie wenjack, a twelveyearold boy who died in flight from the cecilia jeffrey indian residential school fifty years ago. Toronto ap gord downie, who made himself part of canadas national identity with songs about hockey and small towns as lead. Kingston, ontario ap gord downie, who made himself part of canadas national identity with songs about hockey and small towns as lead singer and. Following gord downies passing on tuesday october 17, canadians are still grieving the loss of their beloved tragically hip frontman. Trudeau joins canadians in mourning their rock poet, gord downie.
Many canadians are in mourning for tragically hip frontman gord downie today, but the outpouring of grief was particularly evident wednesday in his adopted home of toronto following news of his death. Oct 18, 2017 the passing of gord downie is touching the hearts of celebrities in canada and people all around the world. Share your condolences, send flowers, find funeral home information. Afn national chief perry bellegarde honours memory of gord. Kingston mourns gord downie, a hometown hero and national legend. Oct 18, 2017 gord downie, who made himself part of canadas national identity with songs about hockey and small towns as lead singer and songwriter of iconic rock band the tragically hip, has died at age 53. A few steps away, hundreds of people lined up throughout the day to sign a book of condolences. Canadians from all walks of life are reacting online to the death of canadian music icon and tragically hip frontman gord downie, who passed away last night at the age of 53. Oct 18, 2017 here are a few of the initial tweets about gord downies death. The tragically hips gord downie, performs during the first stop of the man machine poem tour at the saveonfoods memorial centre in victoria, b. I would recommend this to anyone that is curious about the band andor gord downie. Celebrities, prime minster react to the death of tragically hip frontman gord downie. He was the frontman of one of canadas most iconic bands, a rock star, artist, and poet whose evocative lyrics.
Gord downies death spurs tribute from canadian musicians, queens park politicians and more. Sophie and i offer our deepest condolences to gords family, friends, bandmates and crew members, and his many, many fans. Heartbroken torontonians pay tribute to gord downie cbc news. Condolences pour in for gord downie, tragically hip. Heartfelt celebrity tributes pour in for gord downie. Oct 18, 2017 gord downie, frontman of the canadian rock band tragically hip, has died, his family said in a statement wednesday. Oct 18, 2017 born, gordon edgar downie on february 6, 1964. Downie had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in may 2016 and spent his final months with this family, working on his album and book secret path. Heartbroken torontonians pay tribute to gord downie. Gord downie speaks during a ceremony honoring him at the afn special chiefs assembly in gatineau, quebec, canada, on dec. Gord downies death spurs tribute from canadian musicians. A collection of memorable song lyrics written by gord downie and his bandmates.