Kelly Gordon (November 19, 1932 – August 1, 1981) was an American singer, songwriter and record producer.

Work

After recording some unsuccessful solo singles for

Mercury Records Mercury Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It had significant success as an independent operation in the 1940s and 1950s. Smash Records and Fontana Records were sub labels of Mercury. In the United States, it is ...

, Gordon was employed by

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...

as a staff producer. One of his first productions was

Bobbie Gentry Bobbie Gentry (born Roberta Lee Streeter; July 27, 1942) is a retired American singer-songwriter, who was one of the first female artists in America to compose and produce her own material. Gentry rose to international fame in 1967 with her Sou ...

's "

Ode to Billie Joe "Ode to Billie Joe" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bobbie Gentry released by Capitol Records in July 1967, and later used as the title-track of her debut album. Five weeks after its release, the song topped '' Billboard's'' Pop sin ...

", where he took her demo of the song and overdubbed a string arrangement by

Jimmie Haskell Jimmie Haskell (born Sheridan Pearlman, November 7, 1926 – February 4, 2016) was an American composer and arranger for motion pictures and a wide variety of popular artists, including Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Steely Da ...

. The song was an immediate hit, with nine

Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

nominations in 1968 and three wins. ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' eventually put it at position 419 of its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" listing. Gordon and Gentry became close friends and collaborators on her music. With considerable input from Gentry, Gordon produced the albums ''

'' (1967), ''

The Delta Sweete ''The Delta Sweete'' is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Bobbie Gentry. It was released on February 5, 1968, by Capitol Records. The album was produced by Kelly Gordon. Background One week after "Ode to Billie Joe" conclude ...

'' (1968), and '' Local Gentry'' (1968) and co-produced '' Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell'' (1968) with Campbell's then-producer,

Al De Lory Alfred V. De Lory (January 31, 1930 – February 5, 2012) was an American record producer, arranger, conductor and session musician. He was the producer and arranger of a series of worldwide hits by Glen Campbell in the 1960s, including John H ...

. His success with Gentry led to Gordon being given the chance to record his own album for Capitol. "Defunked" was released in 1969. It included the song " That's Life", which he co-wrote with

Dean Kay Dean Kay (born June 21, 1940) is a US American entertainer, recording artist, songwriter and music publishing executive. Career Kay was born in Oakland, California. He attended San Jose State University from 1958 to 1962. While a student, he beg ...

; that garnered numerous cover versions, including one by

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

. Some of his compositions from that time went to well-known performers such as

The Temptations The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top ...

Nichelle Nichols Nichelle Nichols (, born Grace Dell Nichols; December 28, 1932 – July 30, 2022) was an American actress, singer, and dancer best known for her portrayal of Nyota Uhura in ''Star Trek'' and its film sequels. Nichols' portrayal of Uhura was gr ...

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...

, and

James Brown James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the honor ...

. Bobbie Gentry made an uncredited appearance on "Defunked", duetting on the song "Love Took My Heart and Mashed That Sucker Flat". The album also included the first recording of Bobby Scott and Bobby Russell's "

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" is a ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. Originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, the song became a worldwide hit for the Hollies later that year and also a hit for Neil Diamond in 1970. It ...

", a worldwide hit for the Hollies in 1969. Gordon's bravura performance of the song was released as single the same year but failed to chart.

Personal life

Gordon was already married with children when he met Gentry but left his family to live with the singer. The relationship ended after a few years. When Gordon fell ill with lung cancer, Gentry invited him to stay in a guest house on the grounds of her home and cared for him until he died in 1981.

Awards

Grammy Awards 1968 for "Ode to Billie Joe" for which Gordon took part as the producer: * Award: ** Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(S) Or Instrumentalist(S): Bobbie Gentry ** Female Contemporary Vocal Solo: Bobbie Gentry ** Female Vocal Performance: Bobbie Gentry * Nomination: ** Album Of The Year ** Best Engineered Recording ** Contemporary Album ** Contemporary Single ** Record Of The Year ** Song Of The Year

Discography

Albums

Kelly Gordon: "DEFUNKED" (subtitle: big blues party), Capitiol Records, vinyl LP (1969)
Side 1: * Tenny Boppin' Child - 3:55 - Kelly Gordon,

Lee Majors Lee Majors (born Harvey Lee Yeary; April 23, 1939) is an American actor. Majors portrayed the characters of Heath Barkley in the American television Western series ''The Big Valley'' (1965–1969), Colonel Steve Austin in the American television ...

(ASCAP) * Games People Play - 3:35 -

Joe South Joe South (born Joseph Alfred Souter; February 28, 1940 – September 5, 2012) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Best known for his songwriting, South won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1970 for " Ga ...

(BMI) * Independently Poor - 2:42 - Kelly Gordon, Mike McKinley (BMI) * He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - 4:50 - Bob Russell, Bobby Scott (ASCAP) Side 2: * Some Old Funky Blues Thang - 3:28 - Kelly Gordon (ASCAP) * Ain't That The Truth Ruth - 1:54 - Kelly Gordon (ASCAP) * Picadilly Willie - 3:20 - Kelly Gordon,

Shorty Rogers Milton "Shorty" Rogers (born Milton Rajonsky; April 14, 1924 – November 7, 1994) was an American jazz musician, one of the principal creators of West Coast jazz. He played trumpet and flugelhorn and was in demand for his skills as an arran ...

(ASCAP) * Love Took My Heart And Mashed That Sucker Flat - 2:11 - Kelly Gordon (BMI) * If That Don't Get It, It Ain't There (Instrumental) - 2:35 - Kelly Gordon, Shorty Rogers (ASCAP) * That's Life - 3:07 - Kelly Gordon,

(BMI) Kelly Gordon on CD (resembles "DEFUNKED" LP track list, date unknown) # Tenny Boppin' Child # Games People Play # Independently Poor # He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother # Some Old Funky Blues Thang # Ain't That The Truth Ruth # Picadilly Willie # Love Took My Heart And Mashed That Sucker Flat # If That Don't Get It, It Ain't There (Instrumental) # That's Life

Singles and EPs

Kelly Gordon: (''Mercury Record Corporation. 1963'') A: Let Me Tell Ya Jack - 2:18 - Kelly Gordon, Arranged by: Shorty Rogers, Vocal produced by: Herschel Gilbert, Four Star Television Music (BMI), vinyl for broadcast only B: Tears, Tears - 2:10 - by

Ray Johnson Raymond Edward "Ray" Johnson (October 16, 1927 – January 13, 1995) was an American artist. Known primarily as a collagist and correspondence artist, he was a seminal figure in the history of Neo-Dada and early Pop art and was described as

, sung by Kelly Gordon in Four Star TV " Burke's Law" (1963), Arranged by: Shorty Rogers - BNP Music Pub. (ASCAP), vinyl for broadcast only Kelly Gordon: (''Mercury, 1963'') A: A Phonograph Record - 1:58 - Kelly Gordon, Arranged by: Dave Gates, Vocal produced by:

Jack Tracy Jack Tracy (July 27, 1926 in Minneapolis, Minnesota – December 21, 2010 in Nooksack, Washington) was an American jazz producer and journalist. Early years Tracy enlisted in the Navy in World War II and served as a medic treating and ca ...

, Four Star Television Music (BMI), vinyl for broadcast only B:

I'll Never Be Free "I'll Never Be Free" is a song written by Bennie Benjamin and George Weiss and performed by Kay Starr and Tennessee Ernie Ford. It reached #2 on the U.S. country chart and #3 on the U.S. pop chart in 1950. Other charting versions *Louis Jorda ...

- 2:46 -

Benny Benjamin William "Benny" Benjamin (July 25, 1925 – April 20, 1969), nicknamed Papa Zita, was an American musician, most notable as the primary drummer for the Motown Records studio band The Funk Brothers. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall o ...

George David Weiss George David Weiss (April 9, 1921 – August 23, 2010) was an American songwriter and arranger, who was a president of the Songwriters Guild of America. He is an inductee in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Biography Weiss was born in a Jewish fa ...

, Arranged by:

Gerald Wilson Gerald Stanley Wilson (September 4, 1918 – September 8, 2014) was an American jazz trumpeter, big band bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. Born in Mississippi, he was based in Los Angeles from the early 1940s. In addition to being a ...

, Vocal produced by: Jack Tracy, Laurel Music Corp. (ASCAP), vinyl for broadcast only Kelly Gordon: (''Mercury, 1964, two versions, first one without the second track'') A: You're A Star Now - 2:15 -

Joy Byers Joyce Alene Byers Johnston, (May 17, 1934 – May 10, 2017) was an American songwriter best known for her work with Elvis Presley. She wrote Timi Yuro's 1962 hit "What's A Matter Baby". She was married to the music producer Bob Johnston. In lat ...

, Arranged by: Tommy Oliver, Vocal produced by: Jack Tracy, Hill & Range Songs (BMI), vinyl for broadcast only B: Take A Letter Miss Jones - 2:15 - Gene Ecceles, Don McGinnis, Arranged by: Tommy Oliver, Vocal produced by: Jack Tracy, Four Star Television Music (BMI), vinyl for broadcast only Kelly Gordon: (''Capitol Records, 1969 US; French edition had sides swapped'') A: Independently Poor - 2:42 - Kelly Gordon, Mike McKinley, Arranged by: Shorty Rogers, Produced by: Kelly Gordon - Capitol, Chappell B: Some Old Funky Blues Thang - 3:28 - Kelly Gordon, Arranged by: Shorty Rogers, Produced by: Kelly Gordon - Capitol, ASCAP Kelly Gordon: (''Capitol Records, 1969-1970. US and Europe'') A: He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother - 4:49 - Bob Russell, Bobby Scott, Arranged by:

Tommy Oliver Dr. Tommy Oliver is a fictional character and the overarching main protagonist of the American live-action television franchise ''Power Rangers''. He is best known as being the original Green Ranger and the first evil Ranger who fought and near ...

, Produced by: Kelly Gordon - Capitol, B.I.E.M. B: That's Life - 3:07 - Kelly Gordon, Demon Key, Arranged by: Shorty Rogers, Produced by: Kelly Gordon - Capitol, Chappell

References

External links

Discogs database: Kelly Gordon
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gordon, Kelly 1932 births 1981 deaths American record producers American singer-songwriters Capitol Records artists Deaths from lung cancer 20th-century American singers