John Stockfish Dead: Original Gordon Lightfoot Bassist, Passes Away at 69

John Stockfish, a musician who was the original bassist for Canadian folk icon Gordon Lightfoot, is dead at the age of 69.

According to the Windsor Star, Stockfish died in his hometown of Windsor on Aug. 20. A post on Lightfoot's official site said he died from natural causes.

Stockfish's daughter Jennifer told the publication he had been living in North Carolina in recent years but returned to his birthplace roughly three years ago.

"I guess it brought his life full circle and it seemed the logical place to come back to a few years ago," she said.

The musician, who had training from the Royal Conservatory of Music growing up, toured through North America and Europe as a member of Tommy Danton and the Echoes before joining forces with Lightfoot in 1965. Although he played and toured with Lightfoot through to 1969, he's perhaps best known for the bass line heard on Lightfoot's 1974 classic "Sundown" as well as songs like "Black Day in July" and "Song For a Winter's Night." The Guess Who also cited Stockfish in their own homage to the singer-songwriter in the song "Lightfoot."

Aside from his work with Lightfoot, Stockfish also worked with the late Jim Croce, Tommy Hunter and Dan Hill while collaborating with Mel Torme and Cab Calloway, among many others. In later years he became involved in Nashville's music publishing industry.

The funeral for Stockfish will take place today (Aug. 31) in Mississauga, Ontario. Stockfish is survived by two daughters, two sons and four grandchildren.