Kelly Gordon was an American singer, songwriter and record producer.
Work
After recording some unsuccessful solo singles for Mercury Records, Gordon was employed by Capitol Records as a staff producer. One of his first productions was Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe", where he took her demo of the song and overdubbed a string arrangement by Jimmie Haskel. The song was an immediate hit, with nine Grammy Awards nominations in 1968 and three wins. Rolling Stone put that title 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, Ode to Billie Joe, The Delta Sweete, and Local Gentry and co-produced Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell . 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, and garnered numerous cover versions, including one by Frank Sinatra. Some of his compositions at that time went to well known performers like The Temptations, Nichelle Nichols, Aretha Franklin or James Brown. 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", 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 Billy Joe" for which Gordon took part as the producer:
Award:
* Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist Or Instrumentalist: Bobbie Gentry
Kelly Gordon: A: Let Me Tell Ya Jack - 2:18 - Kelly Gordon, Arranged by: Shorty Rogers, Vocal produced by: Herschel Gilbert, Four Star Television Music, vinyl for broadcast only B: Tears, Tears - 2:10 - by Ray Johnson, sung by Kelly Gordon in Four Star TV "Burke's Law", Arranged by: Shorty Rogers - BNP Music Pub., vinyl for broadcast only Kelly Gordon: A: A Phonograph Record - 1:58 - Kelly Gordon, Arranged by: Dave Gates, Vocal produced by: Jack Tracy, Four StarTelevision Music, vinyl for broadcast only B: I'll Never Be Free - 2:46 - Benny Benjamin, George David Weiss, Arranged by: Gerald Wilson, Vocal produced by: Jack Tracy, Laurel Music Corp., vinyl for broadcast only Kelly Gordon: A: You're A Star Now - 2:15 - Joy Byers, Arranged by: Tommy Oliver, Vocal produced by: Jack Tracy, Hill & Range Songs, 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, vinyl for broadcast only Kelly Gordon: 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: A: He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother - 4:49 - Bob Russell, Bobby Scott, Arranged by: Tommy Oliver, 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
