Rick Haynes, the long-time bass player for the late music legend Gordon Lightfoot, spent over five decades sharing the stage and recording studio with the Canadian icon. However, Haynes’ journey into music began not in folk music but classical music, something passed down from his mother, a classically trained pianist.
Gordon’s songs will live on, and we’re honoured to be part of that. – Rick Haynes
“I still have her 1919 Heintzman upright piano,” says Haynes. “She played classical music, Strauss, waltzes, and things like that, and I guess it sunk in. She caught on real quick, and knew I needed to have some training.”
Although Haynes began his musical education in classical piano, earning a Grade 8 qualification from the Royal Conservatory, he eventually gravitated toward the guitar and, ultimately, the bass.
“It really wasn’t exciting,” Haynes says of his early classical training. “I started listening to the radio, wanted to play something more contemporary, and that’s when I shifted to guitar. By the early 60s, every young guy in Canada wanted to play guitar. But there weren’t many bass players, so a couple of friends convinced me to give it a try.”
Haynes’ decision to pick up the bass guitar would mark the beginning of a career with Gordon Lightfoot that would last over five decades.
Joining Gordon Lightfoot
Despite his growing passion for music, Haynes was cautious about making it a full-time career. “I didn’t ever want to be that starving musician,” he says. “So I had day jobs and played in bands on weekends. I got married young and had a wife and a baby before I was 20, and I never wanted to make them suffer for my love of the guitar. So I was quite happy to be a weekend warrior.”
But that all changed when a rumour led him to audition for Gordon Lightfoot’s band. In the early 1970s, as Lightfoot’s career began to gain traction, Haynes heard that the folk singer might be looking for a new bass player. Discussing the possibility of joining Lightfoot’s band with his wife, recognizing the folk singer as a rising star, they both agreed it made sense.
“We were young enough that if it didn’t work out, we could change gears and go back to our former lifestyle of me working a regular job in the daytime and playing at night,” he says.
Reaching out to Lightfoot’s guitar player, Red Shea, at the time, Haynes expressed an interest in the gig. “A couple of weeks later, I got a call from Gordon himself. ‘Hi, this is Gordon Lightfoot. I heard you want to join my band. Do you want to come and audition?'”
Thus began a remarkable 55-year partnership that saw Haynes tour the world and contribute to many of Lightfoot’s albums. When asked what kept him going for so long with the same artist, Haynes says it was always about the music.
“When I first started listening to his songs and learning the songs on his albums, I was so impressed with his songwriting and the music construction,” says Haynes. “I knew that this guy’s really something, and it kept me wanting to be part of it. He was much more than a folk artist. I truly believe Gordon was world-class.”
Fifty-Five Years with Lightfoot
During his five decades with Lightfoot, Haynes witnessed countless memorable moments. Still, one that stands out is performing at the American Songwriters Hall of Fame, an honour bestowed on Lightfoot in 2012. “It was surreal,” Haynes recalls. “We had all these famous people hanging around, his contemporaries in songwriting, and performing there with Gordon was one of those moments that really sticks with you.”
But the ride wasn’t always easy. “I spent a lot of time in the hospital with Gordon over the years, but he always pulled through. He was a tough guy,” says Haynes. “When he passed in 2023, it came as a shock to all of us. We always thought he’d bounce back again.”
Continuing the Legacy
Following Lightfoot’s death, Haynes and the rest of the band, each with years of history with the singer, faced a difficult decision: what to do next. After some reflection, the band agreed that the music deserved to live on. “We thought, the songs are so great, and we’ve been playing them for so long, why not continue sharing them?” says Haynes.
The band recruited singer Andy Mauck, a long-time Lightfoot music fan, as the lead vocalist. “Andy was a fan of Gordon’s since the 70s. He learned his guitar style from him and it just felt like a natural fit,” says Haynes.
The Lightfoot Band Goes on Tour
Since forming The Lightfoot Band, the group has performed around 20 shows in Ontario and is now embarking on a tour through Atlantic Canada. The concerts don’t just focus on Lightfoot’s greatest hits but also delve into deep cuts that haven’t been performed live in a very long time. “We started doing songs like Summer Side of Life and The Circle Is Small again,” Haynes says, referring to tracks Lightfoot had long since retired. “We also brought back Canadian Railroad Trilogy, which Gordon hadn’t done for a while.”
The band also makes it a point to connect with their audience after every performance. “We don’t sell VIP packages, we just come out and meet everyone in the lobby,” says Haynes. “It’s important for us to have that connection with the people who love Gordon’s music as much as we do.”
Haynes says the audience’s response to this new chapter has been incredibly positive, with long-time fans and new generations coming out to celebrate Lightfoot’s legacy.
“We have a lot of respect for the audience, and we respect the fact that they’re coming to relive certain parts of their life through these songs,” says Haynes. “It’s also heartwarming to see younger generations discovering the music. We have fans bringing their kids and even babes in arms to the shows. ”
Coupled with an unmistakable feeling of responsibility to Lightfoot’s music, The Lightfoot Band keeps their legendary frontman’s spirit alive, one concert at a time. “Gordon’s songs will live on, and we’re honoured to be part of that,” says Haynes.
The Lightfoot Band performs at Casino Nova Scotia’s Bruce Guthro Theatre on October 2, 2024. Visit greatcanadian.com for tickets and information.