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Gordon ⁤Lightfoot‘s ‘Wreck ⁤of the Edmund Fitzgerald’ unexpectedly sailed to the top of⁤ the charts in 1976, becoming an enduring⁤ musical memorial to the lost ship and its 29 crew members. The song’s success was remarkable, not ⁣just for its length and somber subject matter, but because ⁣it defied typical ⁤radio​ programming and resonated deeply with a public grappling with the tragedy. What began as a journalistic endeavor to understand the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald transformed into a cultural touchstone, forever linking Lightfoot’s name to the Great ⁤Lakes disaster.

The ballad’s journey​ to becoming ‌an unlikely hit began in november 1975, when the⁣ freighter Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a Lake⁣ Superior storm. Lightfoot, already ‌an established ​folk artist, was captivated by news reports ​and felt compelled⁣ to write about the event. He ‌meticulously researched the sinking, drawing from news articles, Coast Guard reports, and interviews. “I didn’t set out to write a hit record,” Lightfoot once said.⁣ “I set out to tell a story.”

Initially⁢ released in late 1976, the nearly six-and-a-half-minute song​ was⁤ considered too long for ‍many radio stations. However, listeners began requesting it, driven by a shared sense of grief and a desire to‍ understand the tragedy. ⁤The ​song climbed‍ the charts, eventually reaching​ No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in february 1976, becoming⁤ Lightfoot’s only Top 10 hit in the United States.

The​ song’s impact extended beyond the airwaves. It became a staple at memorial services for the Fitzgerald, particularly at Mariners’ Church in Detroit, where annual Great Lakes Memorial⁤ Services ⁤where held. ⁤Lightfoot ‍himself became a frequent,quiet visitor to the church,even ‍altering a lyric ⁣from “a​ musty old hall in Detroit” to “a rustic old hall” after a visit. One year, ‍he ‍unexpectedly joined the choir in performing the song, singing from ‌the same spot where⁤ rev.⁣ Ingalls had knelt to pray after the shipwreck.

“There was a murmur, then you could hear a‍ pin drop,” Ingalls recalled of Lightfoot’s performance. “Peopel were basically holding their breath while he sang.”

lightfoot’s death on May ‌1, ⁣2023, prompted the Mariners’ Church to ring its bells 30‍ times ⁣- 29 for​ the crew ⁣and one for the singer himself. He had previously told the son of Rev. Ingalls, “Your dad meant a lot to me. ‌he​ was a ⁤very kind, thoughtful man,” adding, “He treated every day as a gift, which we all should do.”