![]() In 2005, the Hip was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the Juno Awards Show in Winnipeg, cementing the band’s place in this country’s music history.Īlthough they never reached the same level of fame in the U.S. With more than a dozen Tragically Hip studio albums, and several other solo projects, including five studio albums, Downie was considered one of the Canada’s most revered singer-songwriters. ![]() Downie, guitarist Rob Baker, bassist Gord Sinclair, drummer Johnny Fay and guitarist Paul Langlois released their first self-titled EP three years later in 1987.įor more than 30 years, the singer-songwriter wrote countless hits such as, “Bobcaygeon,” “Ahead By a Century,” “Courage,” and “New Orleans is Sinking.” Known for his energetic live performances and poetic lyrics, Downie has been a fixture on the Canadian music scene since “the Hip,” as his band is lovingly called by their fans, formed while they were in high school in 1984 in Kingston, Ont. I often reflect on how it doesn't matter what your musical tastes are, if you're in Kingston, you're a big fan of Gord and the Tragically Hip. "But you can't help but think about all the memories, all of the amazing things that he and the rest of the band have done for this community. In the evening, well-wishers carrying guitars gathered outside city hall to commemorate Downie in song.īryan Paterson, the city’s mayor, called Downie’s death ”a sad day for Kingston.” Kingston city hall was lit up in red and white in Downie’s memory, and local buses displayed their own heartfelt tributes: "Gord, We'll Miss You." His distinct voice could be heard throughout the streets as shops and restaurants played a steady rotation of Tragically Hip songs in his honour. In Downie’s hometown of Kingston, Ont., hundreds gathered in a downtown square to lay flowers, light candles and sign a long sheet of paper expressing condolences. I thought I was going to make it through this, but I’m not. “We all knew it was coming but we hoped it wasn’t. “We are less as a country without Gord Downie in it,” a tearful Trudeau told reporters on Parliament Hill. He also took a moment to express his gratitude towards his friend to reporters gathered in Ottawa. “Gord knew this day was coming – his response was to spend this precious time as he always had – making music, making memories and expressing deep gratitude to his family and friends for a life well lived, often sealing it with a kiss… on the lips,” the statement said.Īs news of Downie’s death spread Wednesday morning, condolences flooded in across social media from musicians, fans, and politicians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said in a statement that “Gord did not rest from working for the issues he cared about, and his commitment and passion will continue to motivate Canadians for years to come.” The Canadian musician was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer, in December 2015. ![]() In a statement posted online, the band confirmed that Downie died “with his beloved children and family close by” on Tuesday night. After living with a form of terminal brain cancer for more than a year, Gord Downie, the legendary front man of the Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip, has died at the age of 53.
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