Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot by veteran musician comes to Vernon

A Canadian musician will bring his tribute to Gordon Lightfoot to Vernon for two shows in February.

Jack Semple, a Regina guitarist and singer, said he spent most of his life listening to, and looking up to, the legendary Lightfoot, who passed away in May at age 84.

“He was one of my first heroes as a young guitar player,” Semple said.

“I tried to learn his music. I listened to his records. I was a devotee of his music. There’s lots of great guitar-playing on his records, and not to mention the brilliant songwriting.”

Semple said the first concert he ever saw was a live performance by Lightfoot back in the late ’60s or early ’70s – he couldn’t remember the exact date.

Semple said he followed Lightfoot’s career closely over the decades, and the music resonated with Semple to the point where he decided to record a cover album. He said he was able to give a copy of the album to Lightfoot himself during a concert in 2007.

“I did a tribute album of Gordon Lightfoot pieces, all instrumental guitar versions,” he said.

“He happened to be playing at the casino in Regina while I was in the process of making it, so I talked my way backstage and got to meet him and give him a copy of my work in progress. He was very gracious and promised to listen to it.”

Lightfoot did listen to the cover album, and Semple said Lightfoot called him personally two weeks later to share his thoughts.

“He said he listened to all the pieces and said he liked nine of them, except for one of them I should try again – a song called ‘Don Quixote’ – he said it ‘sounded like a bit of a handful,’” Semple recalled.

“I hung up the phone and I was so thrilled to have just talked to Gordon Lightfoot.

“I listened to my version of ‘Don Quixote’ again and I thought to myself, ‘It was pretty good.’ The phone then rang again and it was Gordon Lightfoot and he said he just listened to ‘Don Quixote’ again and said ‘It was pretty good; I wouldn’t redo it.’ I had just got a ringing endorsement from the author, so that was a big thrill for me.”

Semple said he remembers Lightfoot by simply listening to his music.

“There are days when I have been listening to his music an entire morning and just remembering some of the masterful pieces he wrote,” Semple remarked. “Like Bob Dylan said, when he hears a Gordon Lightfoot song, he doesn’t want it to end, and that’s how I feel.”

There will be two performances of Jack Semple Plays Lightfoot in Vernon: on Friday, Feb. 2 at the 1516 Pub and Grill at 8 p.m., and on Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre at 8 p.m.

Tickets will be sold through Eventbrite and TicketSeller.

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Shay Ritchot, show promoter and manager at 1516 Pub and Grill, said Semple and his band sold out last time they played in Vernon.

“We already have about half the tickets sold at 1516. The really big show will be a the Vernon Performing Arts.”

Russell Haubrich, a fixture of Silver Star Mountain, is a big fan.

“Watching Jack Semple live is an incredible experience for anyone, especially those that appreciate out of this world natural talent. Jack has it all. I first saw him quite a few years ago in Armstrong of all places. One of his band members lives there,” Haubrich said.