Juno award recipient, Gemini nominee and two-time Western Canadian Album of the Year recipient, Jack Semple picked up his brother's guitar after his Dad took him to a Gordon Lightfoot concert at the age of 10.  Jack's love of guitar, and of Gordon have led his way 55 years later to his tribute to Gordon Lightfoot's magical catalog of music.  Come enjoy and evening of classics including "Sundown," "If You Could Read My Mind," "Canadian Railroad Trilogy," "Edmund Fitzgerald" and many more.  Performing with Jack is his sidekick for 35 years, Dave Chabot, a multi-instrumentalist virtuoso and vocalist in his own right, and Jack's 'safety-net' when Jack goes off into the wilds of his renowned guitarmanship and beautiful vocal stylings.  Ian Cameron rounds out this sublime ensemble on pedal steel guitar. Ian has made a study of traditional country and roots music and plays like he was in  Bob Wills and his Texas playboys!

Jack Semple shares memories of Gordon Lightfoot at The Casino Regina May 24

Juno award recipient, Gemini nominee and two-time Western Canadian Album of the Year recipient, Jack Semple will perform the music of Gordon Lightfoot at The Casino Regina, where Gordon performed until his passing.

The legendary Canadian artist passed away on May 1, 2023.   Lightfoot died in a Toronto hospital at age 84.

Semple said he spent much of his life listening to and looking up to Lightfoot, and later got a chance to connect with him personally.

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

 “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 – 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 said.

 “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 said. “Like Bob Dylan said, when he hears a Gordon Lightfoot song, he doesn’t want it to end, and that’s how I feel."

Come enjoy an evening of classics including "Sundown," "If You Could Read My Mind," " "Canadian Railroad Trilogy," "Edmund Fitzgerald" and many more.  Performing with Jack is his sidekick for 35 years, Dave Chabot, a multi-instrumentalist virtuoso and vocalist in his own right, and Jack's 'safety-net' when JJackhe plays for you!