Today is the 50th anniversary of The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald which sank in the waters of Lake Superior on November 10th, 1975. So in honor of the 29 crew members who perished, today’s Forgotten 45 at 3:45 is the classic song from Gordon Lightfoot.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was built in 1958, the longest freighter on the Great Lakes. When the ship departed on November 9th, the weather was calm, but the National Weather Service had issued Gale Warnings for winds gusting from 40 to 6o mph. Experts say it the tragedy was likely caused by many factors, most of all the 30 to 35 foot waves during the storm. The Fitzgerald was only 17 miles from Whitefish Bay when it was lost.
Gordon Lightfoot released his song in the Summer of 1976, he considered it his finest work. The song was a #1 hit in his native Canada and reached #2 in the United States. Remembering those who were lost 50 years ago, check out a live performance by Gordon Lightfoot singing “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”. The Forgotten 45 is sponsored by Honey Creek Furniture in Manchester, Eastern Iowa’s fastest growing La-Z-Boy store. You’ll find them at honeycreekfurniture.com.
