Sorry to say that Canadian folk singer and composer Ian Tyson has died at the age of 89. In my estimation, he'd be immortal as a songwriter had he composed only "Four String Winds," one of the most poignant lost love ballads ever written. But Tyson wrote a score of songs that will outlive him for decades at least - "Someday Soon," "Navajo Rug," "Summer Wages," "The Old Double Diamond," "Alberta's Child," and many more.

Tyson started as a singer of mostly traditional ballads until he heard Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind", at which point according to Ian he thought,"If he can do it, I sure can too" - then went back to his NYC apartment and wrote "Four Strong Winds" in 45 minutes.

Some of my folk-oriented friends are posting favorite Ian Tyson songs on Facebook, and I think old Ian would be glad that he had written a song that's been covered over 300 times and that will be sung for generations to come. RIP to a masterful and insightful writer and a marvelous performer.