Gord Downie, The Tragically Hip frontman who captured audiences with his stage presence and unique voice, has passed away at the age of 53.
The Toronto Star 2016
“Last night Gord quietly passed away with his beloved children and family close by,” according to a statement posted on thehip.com.
The Canadian singer-songwriter was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor, which he discovered after having a seizure in December 2015. This form of cancer originates in the brain and spreads quickly, as it is formed by many different kinds of cells within the brain.
Canadians were informed of Downie’s incurable brain cancer in May 2016, along with the announcement of what seemed to be the band’s farewell tour, which coincided with the release of their 14th Studio Album, Man Machine Poem.
The 15-show tour began in Victoria, British Columbia and ended in Kingston, Ontario, where Downie and four friends originally formed The Tragically Hip in 1983. The final show, held on August 20, 2016, became a Canadian event which was broadcast by the CBC.
“Gord said he had many lives… No one worked harder on every part of their life than Gord. No one,” according to the statement on thehip.com.
Aside from being a musician, Downie was a dedicated advocate serving as a board member for the charity of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, and was passionate about raising awareness of indigenous issues in Canada.
Following the end of the farewell tour, Downie released Secret Path, a multimedia project that tells the story of a 12-year-old boy named Chanie Wenjack, who passed away from hunger while running away from Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School in Kenora, Ontario in 1966. Downie started the Chanie Wenjack Fund as a call to action for Canadians “to start a new relationship with Indigenous Peoples,” according to the Chanie Wenjack Fund website.
In 2012, The Tragically Hip performed at the Fort Albany First Nation near the Attawapiskat community, which has been known for facing poor living conditions and poverty.
Downie’s dedication to Indigenous issues led to him being honoured in an Assembly of First Nations Ceremony in December 2016, during which he was given the spirit name “He who walks with the stars.”
CTV News 2016
Last month, the music label Arts & Crafts announced that Downie recorded a final solo album during four two-day sessions from January 2016 to February 2017. The 23-track album entitled Introduce Yourself is set to be released on October 27 of this year.
“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…,” says the statement on thehip.com.
The Downie family shares their gratitude for Gord Downie’s fans and the support they have received within the statement they released on the band’s website.
“Thank you for all the respect, admiration and love you have given Gord throughout the years – those tender offerings touched his heart and he takes them with him now as he walks among the stars.”
To read the full statement, please view the image below or click here.
thehip.com
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