Emory Gordy Jr.
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Emory Lee Gordy Jr. (born December 25, 1944) is an American musician, songwriter and music producer. A former member of Emmylou Harris' backing band The Hot Band, he is best known for his association with country singer
Patty Loveless Patty Loveless (born Patricia Lee Ramey, January 4, 1957) is an American country music singer. She began performing in her teenaged years before signing her first recording contract with MCA Records' Nashville division in 1985. While her first ...
, to whom he has been married since 1989. Gordy has produced and played bass guitar on nearly all of her albums, in addition to producing albums by Steve Earle,
George Jones George Glenn Jones (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American country musician, singer, and songwriter. He achieved international fame for his long list of hit records, including his best-known song " He Stopped Loving Her Today", ...
, and
Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...
.


Early life

Gordy started his musical education by age four at the piano. At six he had begun to tackle the trumpet and would soon learn the banjo, euphonium, guitar, and ukulele. In high school Gordy divided his time and talents between string bands, Dixieland bands, and a top 40 garage band, honing his musical skills and learning to arrange music. After graduation, he continued his musical studies at Middle Georgia State University and later Georgia State University, performing French horn in the concert band.Country Music, October 1993, p. 10; November/December 1993, pp. 55-58.


Career


Early years

Gordy began his career as a studio musician in Atlanta in 1964 when he was asked to fill in during a performance by
Tommy Roe Thomas David "Tommy" Roe (born May 9, 1942) is a retired American rock and pop singer-songwriter. Best-remembered for his hits "Sheila" (1962) and " Dizzy" (1969), Roe was "widely perceived as one of the archetypal bubblegum artists of the late ...
at a local concert. A week later he got the proverbial phone call; on the other end of the line was
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 ...
, an Atlanta-based record producer who had covered Roe on guitar alongside Gordy the week before. Soon Gordy was working alongside Roe, Mac Davis,
The Tams ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
and
Freddy Weller Wilton Frederick "Freddy" Weller (born September 9, 1947) is an American country music artist. He recorded for Columbia Records between 1969 and 1980. He had his highest charted single in 1969 with his debut release, "Games People Play". Mus ...
, as well as touring with
Lou Christie Luigi Alfredo Giovanni Sacco (born February 19, 1943), known professionally as Lou Christie, is an American pop and soft rock singer-songwriter known for several hits in the 1960s, including his 1966 US chart-topper "Lightnin' Strikes" and 1969 ...
, and
Billy Joe Royal Billy Joe Royal (April 3, 1942 – October 6, 2015) was an American country soul singer. His most successful record was " Down in the Boondocks" in 1965. Life and career Born in Valdosta, Georgia, to Clarence and Mary Sue Smith Royal, and rai ...
. With
Buddy Buie Perry Carlton "Buddy" Buie (January 23, 1941 – July 18, 2015) was an American songwriter, producer and publisher. He is most commonly associated with Roy Orbison, the Classics IV and the Atlanta Rhythm Section. Career Buie was born in Marian ...
and J.R. Cobb, he is a co-writer on the
Classics IV The Classics IV is an American band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, in 1965. The band, founded by Dennis Yost, is known mainly for the hits "Spooky," " Stormy," and "Traces," released 1967 to 1969, which have become cover standards ...
hit "''Traces''", listed as number 32 in BMI's Top 100 Songs of the Century.EP Unlimited, February 2001, Patty's Friends: Emory Gordy Jr.
/ref> He also arranged Roy Orbison's "''Walk On''" and The Winston's "''
Color Him Father "Color Him Father" is a song written by Richard Lewis Spencer and recorded by American rhythm and blues group The Winstons. It was released in 1969 as their debut single for Metromedia. The song was a number seven hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 ...
''".


Musician/touring

Gordy moved to Los Angeles in early 1970 and continued working as a studio musician. Along with the studio work, he supplemented with engineering and production work for Debbie Reynolds and
Liberace Władziu Valentino Liberace (May 16, 1919 – February 4, 1987) was an American pianist, singer, and actor. A child prodigy born in Wisconsin to parents of Italian and Polish origin, he enjoyed a career spanning four decades of concerts, recordi ...
. In 1971, he had the opportunity to tour as a bass player with Neil Diamond and played multiple instruments (including guitar, mandolin, percussion, and vibes) in the recording sessions that led up to Diamond's million-selling '' Hot August Night''.Guitar Player, March 1988, pp. 68-74. In 1972, Gordy worked with
Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...
, playing bass on '' Separate Ways'' and ''
Burning Love "Burning Love" is a 1972 song by Elvis Presley written by Dennis Linde, originally released by Arthur Alexander earlier in 1972. Elvis Presley had a major hit with the song, becoming his biggest hit single in the United States since "Suspicious M ...
''. He toured with Presley in 1973, playing bass for Elvis Presley's
TCB Band The TCB Band is a group of professional musicians who formed the core rhythm section of Elvis Presley’s band from August 1969 until his death in 1977. (Depending on the context, the nickname may also extend to Elvis’ background vocalists du ...
. Later, along with fellow Presley band members
James Burton James Edward Burton (born August 21, 1939, in Dubberly, Louisiana) is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 (his induction speech was given by longtime fan Keith Richards), Burton has also been recognized ...
, Glen D. Hardin and
Ronnie Tutt Ronald Ellis Tutt (March 12, 1938 – October 16, 2021) was an American drummer who played concerts and recording sessions for Elvis Presley, the Carpenters, Roy Orbison, Neil Diamond, and Jerry Garcia. Early life Born in Dallas, Texas, United ...
, he accompanied
Gram Parsons Ingram Cecil Connor III (November 5, 1946 – September 19, 1973) who was known professionally as Gram Parsons, was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist who recorded as a solo artist and with the International Submarine Band, ...
and Emmylou Harris on Parson's '' Grievous Angel'' album, released the year after Parsons's untimely death in 1973. In the mid-1970s, he was an original member of Emmylou Harris's Hot Band along with
James Burton James Edward Burton (born August 21, 1939, in Dubberly, Louisiana) is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 (his induction speech was given by longtime fan Keith Richards), Burton has also been recognized ...
, Glen D. Hardin, John Ware,
Rodney Crowell Rodney Crowell (born August 7, 1950) is an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music. Crowell has had five number one singles on Hot Country Songs, all from his 1988 album '' Diamonds & Dirt''. ...
and
Hank Devito Henry M. "Hank" DeVito is an American musician and photographer known primarily for his pedal steel guitar work and songwriting. Biography After high school, DeVito attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He studied graphic arts and ...
. Remaining with Harris until 1977, Gordy continued to get calls from L.A. studios, where he played bass on projects by
The Bellamy Brothers The Bellamy Brothers are an American pop and country music duo consisting of brothers David Milton Bellamy (born September 16, 1950) and Homer Howard Bellamy (born February 2, 1946), from Dade City, Florida. The duo had considerable musical succ ...
, Billy Joel and
Tom Petty Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950October 2, 2017) was an American musician who was the lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, formed in 1976. He previously led the band Mudcrutch, was a member of the la ...
. Gordy would go on to play in Rodney Crowell and
Rosanne Cash Rosanne Cash (born May 24, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter and author. She is the eldest daughter of country musician Johnny Cash and Vivian Liberto Cash Distin, Johnny Cash's first wife. Although she is often classified as a country art ...
’s supergroup,
The Cherry Bombs The Notorious Cherry Bombs, originally called The Cherry Bombs, was an American country music supergroup founded by singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell in 1980. A former member of Emmylou Harris's Hot Band, Crowell picked several former Hot Band memb ...
, alongside other soon-to-be Nashville luminaries: guitarist Richard Bennett, keyboard player Tony Brown and
Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman of the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist ...
on guitar. By 1979 he joined John Denver’s band, touring the U.S., Australia and Europe and later composing the bass tracks for two of Denver’s albums. Gordy played on
Phil Seymour Philip Warren Seymour (May 15, 1952 - August 17, 1993) was an American drummer, singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known for the singles "I'm on Fire" (with The Dwight Twilley Band), his own solo hit "Precious to Me" and for providing backi ...
's 1981 self-titled debut solo album for
Boardwalk Records Boardwalk Records is a record label founded by Neil Bogart in 1980, after PolyGram acquired Casablanca Records from him. History The label had hit acts with Joan Jett and Harry Chapin. Other artists on the Boardwalk label included, Invisible Man ...
, including the hit single " Precious to Me". Gordy credits that involvement with
Shelter Records Shelter Records was a U.S. record label started by Leon Russell and Denny Cordell that operated from 1969 to 1981. The company established offices in both Los Angeles and Tulsa, Russell's home town, where the label sought to promote a "workshop ...
and its owner
Denny Cordell Dennis Cordell-Lavarack (1 August 1943 – 18 February 1995), known as Denny Cordell, was an English record producer. He is notable for his mid-1960s and early 1970s productions of hit singles for The Moody Blues, Leon Russell, The Move, Procol ...
as a meaningful introduction to the rock genre.


Studio producer

Pivoting from major touring in 1983, Gordy became a staff producer at
MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. Pre-history MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 w ...
Nashville, where he co-produced Steve Earle's seminal releases ''
Exit 0 ''Exit 0'' is the second studio album from American singer-songwriter Steve Earle (credited to Steve Earle & The Dukes), released in 1987. Earle was nominated for two 1988 Grammy Awards for songs on the album, Best Male Country Vocalist for "Ex ...
'' and '' Guitar Town'' with Tony Brown. Gordy also produced George Jones' ''
Walls Can Fall ''Walls Can Fall'' is an album by American country music artist George Jones. This album was released in 1992 (see 1992 in country music) on the MCA Nashville Records. It peaked at number 24 on the '' Billboard'' Country Albums chart and number ...
'' , which won the CMA Vocal Event of the Year for '' I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair'', Bill Monroe's '' Southern Flavor'', winning the first Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album and artists Nicolette Larson, Rider's In the Sky,
Brenda Lee Brenda Mae Tarpley (born December 11, 1944), known professionally as Brenda Lee, is an American singer. Performing rockabilly, pop and country music, she had 47 US chart hits during the 1960s and is ranked fourth in that decade, surpassed onl ...
and his future wife,
Patty Loveless Patty Loveless (born Patricia Lee Ramey, January 4, 1957) is an American country music singer. She began performing in her teenaged years before signing her first recording contract with MCA Records' Nashville division in 1985. While her first ...
. Leaving MCA Records for independent production, Gordy produced Alabama's, '' In Pictures and Christmas Vol. II'', Vince Gill's '' Turn Me Loose'' and '' The Things That Matter'', and Aaron Tippin's ''
You've Got To Stand For Something ''You've Got to Stand for Something'' is the debut studio album byAmerican country music artist Aaron Tippin. The title track was Tippin's first chart entry, peaking at #6 on the '' Billboard'' country charts in 1991. Also released from this albu ...
'' and '' Read Between the Lines for''
RCA Records RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also A ...
''.'' Other notable productions include Jimmie Dale Gilmore's '' Spinning Around The Sun'' for Elektra Records, Delbert McClinton's ''One Of the Fortunate Few'' for Rising Tide Records and Shawn Camp's ''1995'' for Warner Bros. Records.


Current activities

Active until the mid-2000s, today Gordy is now in semi-retirement and spends most of his time at his home northwest of Atlanta. He still writes, occasionally travels to Nashville as a studio musician for one of his friends, engineers vocals at his home studio, and is seen playing guitar at most of his wife's yearly Nashville appearances at the Grand Ole Opry He is also an avid ham radio operator and third degree black belt in Karate. Gordy was inducted into the
Georgia Music Hall of Fame The Georgia Music Hall of Fame was a hall of fame to recognize music performers and music industry professionals from or connected to the state of Georgia. It began with efforts of the state's lieutenant governor Zell Miller to attract the music ...
in 1992. His wife, Patty Loveless joined him in the GMHOF in 2005. Gordy was named the first Alumni of the Year for Middle Georgia State University in 2015.


Collaborations

* '' Cold Spring Harbor'' - Billy Joel (1971) * '' Piano Man'' - Billy Joel (1973) * '' Serenade'' - Neil Diamond (1974) * ''
Heart Like a Wheel ''Heart Like a Wheel'' is the fifth solo studio album by Linda Ronstadt, released in November 1974. It was Ronstadt's last album to be released by Capitol Records. At the time of its recording, Ronstadt had already moved to Asylum Records and r ...
'' -
Linda Ronstadt Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15, 1946) is a retired American singer who performed and recorded in diverse genres including rock, country, light opera, the Great American Songbook, and Latin. She has earned 11 Grammy Awards, three American ...
(1974) * '' Streetlife Serenade'' - Billy Joel (1974) * '' Grievous Angel'' -
Gram Parsons Ingram Cecil Connor III (November 5, 1946 – September 19, 1973) who was known professionally as Gram Parsons, was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist who recorded as a solo artist and with the International Submarine Band, ...
(1974) * '' Elite Hotel'' - Emmylou Harris (1975) * ''Just Wanna Rock 'n' Roll'' -
José Feliciano José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) () is a Puerto Rican musician, singer and composer. He recorded many international hits, including his rendition of the Doors' "Light My Fire" and his self-penned Christmas song " F ...
(1975) * ''
Karla Bonoff Karla may refer to: People * Karla (name), a feminine given name * Petras Karla (1937–1969), Soviet Olympic rower Places * Karla, Kose Parish, a village in Harju County, Estonia * Karla, Rae Parish, a village in Harju County, Estonia * K ...
'' -
Karla Bonoff Karla may refer to: People * Karla (name), a feminine given name * Petras Karla (1937–1969), Soviet Olympic rower Places * Karla, Kose Parish, a village in Harju County, Estonia * Karla, Rae Parish, a village in Harju County, Estonia * K ...
(1977) * ''Carole Bayer Sager'' -
Carole Bayer Sager Carole Bayer Sager (born Carol Bayer on March 8, 1947) is an American lyricist, singer, and songwriter. Early life and career Bayer Sager was born in Manhattan, New York City, to Anita Nathan Bayer and Eli Bayer. Her family was Jewish. She grad ...
(1977)One Of * '' I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight'' - Neil Diamond (1977) * '' Luxury Liner'' - Emmylou Harris (1977) * '' Ain't Living Long Like This'' -
Rodney Crowell Rodney Crowell (born August 7, 1950) is an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music. Crowell has had five number one singles on Hot Country Songs, all from his 1988 album '' Diamonds & Dirt''. ...
(1978) * ''
Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town ''Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town'' is the fifth studio album by American country music artist Emmylou Harris, released in 1978. The album reached number 3 on the Billboard Charts, ''Billboard'' charts, with three charting singles: "To Daddy" (wr ...
'' - Emmylou Harris (1978) * '' Blue Kentucky Girl'' - Emmylou Harris (1979) * '' John Denver'' - John Denver (1979) * '' Right or Wrong'' -
Rosanne Cash Rosanne Cash (born May 24, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter and author. She is the eldest daughter of country musician Johnny Cash and Vivian Liberto Cash Distin, Johnny Cash's first wife. Although she is often classified as a country art ...
(1979) * '' Light of the Stable'' - Emmylou Harris (1979) * ''
But What Will the Neighbors Think ''But What Will the Neighbors Think'' is the second studio album by American country music artist Rodney Crowell. It was released in 1980 (see 1980 in country music) by Warner Bros. Records. It reached #64 on the Top Country Albums chart and #1 ...
'' -
Rodney Crowell Rodney Crowell (born August 7, 1950) is an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music. Crowell has had five number one singles on Hot Country Songs, all from his 1988 album '' Diamonds & Dirt''. ...
(1980) * ''
Roses in the Snow ''Roses in the Snow'' is the seventh album by country music artist Emmylou Harris, released in 1980. While Harris' previous release, 1979's '' Blue Kentucky Girl'', featured traditional, straight-ahead country (as opposed to the country-rock of ...
'' - Emmylou Harris (1980) * ''
Autograph An autograph is a person's own handwriting or signature. The word ''autograph'' comes from Ancient Greek (, ''autós'', "self" and , ''gráphō'', "write"), and can mean more specifically: Gove, Philip B. (ed.), 1981. ''Webster's Third New Inter ...
'' - John Denver (1980) * ''
Evangeline ''Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie'' is an epic poem by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, written in English and published in 1847. The poem follows an Acadian girl named Evangeline and her search for her lost love Gabriel, set during t ...
'' - Emmylou Harris (1981) * '' Shades'' -
J. J. Cale John Weldon "J. J." Cale (December 5, 1938 – July 26, 2013) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and sound engineer. Though he avoided the limelight, his influence as a musical artist has been acknowledged by figures such as Mark Knop ...
(1981) * '' Cimarron'' - Emmylou Harris (1981) * ''
Rodney Crowell Rodney Crowell (born August 7, 1950) is an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music. Crowell has had five number one singles on Hot Country Songs, all from his 1988 album '' Diamonds & Dirt''. ...
'' -
Rodney Crowell Rodney Crowell (born August 7, 1950) is an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music. Crowell has had five number one singles on Hot Country Songs, all from his 1988 album '' Diamonds & Dirt''. ...
(1981) * '' Seven Year Ache'' -
Rosanne Cash Rosanne Cash (born May 24, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter and author. She is the eldest daughter of country musician Johnny Cash and Vivian Liberto Cash Distin, Johnny Cash's first wife. Although she is often classified as a country art ...
(1981) * '' Love Will Turn You Around'' -
Kenny Rogers Kenneth Ray Rogers (August 21, 1938 – March 20, 2020) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Rogers was particularly popular with country audiences but also charted m ...
(1982) * ''
Somewhere in the Stars ''Somewhere in the Stars'' is the fourth studio album by American singer Rosanne Cash, released on June 16, 1982, by Columbia Records; her third album for the label. It produced three '' Billboard'' hits in the country top 20, including the #4 "A ...
'' -
Rosanne Cash Rosanne Cash (born May 24, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter and author. She is the eldest daughter of country musician Johnny Cash and Vivian Liberto Cash Distin, Johnny Cash's first wife. Although she is often classified as a country art ...
(1982) * ''
We've Got Tonight "We've Got Tonite" is a song written by American rock music artist Bob Seger, from his album '' Stranger in Town'' (1978). The single record charted twice for Seger, and was developed from a prior song that he had written. Further versions char ...
'' -
Kenny Rogers Kenneth Ray Rogers (August 21, 1938 – March 20, 2020) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Rogers was particularly popular with country audiences but also charted m ...
(1983) * '' Riddles in the Sand'' - Jimmy Buffett (1984) * ''
The Ballad of Sally Rose ''The Ballad of Sally Rose'' is an album by Emmylou Harris released in February 1985. It marked a significant departure for Harris for two reasons. First, all the songs were written by her and her then-husband Paul Kennerley, while her previous ...
'' - Emmylou Harris (1984) * ''
High Country Snows ''High Country Snows'' is the ninth album by American singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg, released in 1985 (see 1985 in music). This album was a seminal part of Progressive Bluegrass, or "Newgrass", and featured many bluegrass star players. Track ...
'' -
Dan Fogelberg Daniel Grayling Fogelberg (August 13, 1951 – December 16, 2007) was an American musician, songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is known for his 1970s and 1980s songs, including " Longer" (1979), " Same Old Lang Syne" (1980), and ...
(1985) * ''
Last Mango in Paris ''Last Mango in Paris'' is the fourteenth studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released in June 1985 as MCA Records, MCA 5600 and was produced by Buffett and noted country music producer Tony Brown (reco ...
'' - Jimmy Buffett (1985) * '' The Things That Matter'' -
Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman of the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist ...
(1985) * '' Rose of My Heart'' - Nicolette Larson (1986) * '' Angel Band'' - Emmylou Harris (1987) * ''Lone Star State of Mind'' - Nanci Griffith (1987) * ''Sunday Morning to Sunday Night'' - Matraca Berg (1997) * ''All I Intended to Be'' - Emmylou Harris (2008) * ''Old Yellow Moon'' - Emmylou Harris,
Rodney Crowell Rodney Crowell (born August 7, 1950) is an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music. Crowell has had five number one singles on Hot Country Songs, all from his 1988 album '' Diamonds & Dirt''. ...
(2013)


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gordy, Emory Jr. 1944 births Musicians from Atlanta American session musicians American country bass guitarists American country record producers Grammy Award winners Living people The Notorious Cherry Bombs members TCB Band members American country guitarists American male bass guitarists American multi-instrumentalists American mandolinists American rock guitarists American rock bass guitarists Guitarists from Georgia (U.S. state) 20th-century American bass guitarists Country musicians from Georgia (U.S. state) 20th-century American male musicians Lyle Lovett and His Large Band members