Gordon Lightfoot hears his death on radio

[dutchman]

Gordon Lightfoot has confirmed that he is not dead after hearing on the radio about his untimely demise.

According to CBC, the Canadian folk singer was on his way to a dentist appointment when he heard that he had passed away.

"I'm fine, everything is good. I don't know where it comes from. It seems like a bit of a hoax or something," the 71-year-old said. "I was quite surprised to hear [it] myself."

The crooner added that reports of his final days do have one added benefit. "I haven't had so much airplay of my music now for weeks," he said.

While initial rumours of his passing were sparked on Thursday afternoon, the news had spread through Twitter and blog sites in the proceeding days.

Lightfoot has been hit with a myriad of health problems over the past few years. He suffered a ruptured artery in his stomach in 2002.

Meanwhile, the star is to embark on a 12-city whistle stop tour of Eastern Canada and Ontario to in March.

"This is just an unfortunate prank," said promoter Bernie Fiedler.