>> HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO.

THIS WAS A BIG WEEK, ONE OF MY HEROES, FAMED CALYPSO SINGER, AND CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST HARRY BELAFONTE LEFT US.

WE ALSO LOST THEATER LEGENDS BARBARA BRUNN AND GORDON LIGHT LIGHTFOOT.

I HAVE TO ADMIT I WAS NEVER MUCH OF A GORDON LIGHTFOOT FAN BACK IN THE 1970S.

I HAD MUCH MORE OF A RADICAL PUNK ROCK AESTHETIC, DESPERATELY LASHING OUT AGAINST THE MAN AND MACHINE JUST BEFORE I TURNED INTO THEM.

SO THE IMPACT WHEN LEARNING OF HIS DEATH CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE.

BUT THEN I WENT BACK AND LISTENED TO HIS MUSIC AND I REALIZED HOW DEEPLY HIS SONGS ARE WOVEN INTO MY FABRIC.

FIRST, HE'S A CANADIAN SO HE'S KIND OF AN HONORARY MINNESOTAN, AND HIS SONGS THE ONE ABOUT THE WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD IT WAS NOTHING SHORT OF AN EPIC EULOGY.

HE HONORED THE LAKE, GITCHE GUMEE, NOT AS A VILLAIN BUT AS A MYTHIC CONDUIT FOR THE STORM THAT IS THE STUFF OF LEGEND.

HE HONORED THE CREW OF 27 AND WITH THAT REMINDED US THAT WE TOO ARE THE STUFF OF LEGENDS.

WE ARE NOT JUST LIVING IN THE MYSTERY, BUT WE ARE PART OF THE MYSTERY, PART OF SOMETHING GREATER THAN OURSELVES.

AND WE LAUGH, CRY, HATE, DESIRE, AS MUCH AS ANY KING OR - QUEEN OR HERO THAT HAS EVER LIVED.

IN HIS MUSIC, IS PARADOX.

"IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND" IS ABOUT A BREAKUP AS TOLD THROUGH ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LOVE SONGS EVER WRITTEN.

IN THE EARLY MORNING RAIN WE EXPERIENCE THE HARD EDGE OF LONELINESS.

IN "SUNDOWN" HE SAID SOMETIMES I THINK IT'S A SHAME WHEN I GET FEELING BETTER WHEN I'M FEELING NO PAIN.

THAT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE LUTHERAN GUILT.

SOMETIMES, HE SAYS, I THINK IT'S A SIN WHEN I FEEL LIKE I'M WINNING WHEN I'M LOSING GAIN.

OH, MAN, WHAT VIKINGS AN DOESN'T GET THAT?

HIS VOICE EVEN IN HARDSHIP, EVER REASSURING.

A TRUEADOR GUIDING US THROUGH THRESHOLDS.

SO I'LL HARRY, I'LL MISS GORDON, BUT THE EFFECT THEY HAD ON ME WILL LINGER.

TO REMEMBER THAT I AM PART OF THIS MYSTERY AND EVERYTHING WILL BE