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Kelly Gordon
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Kelly Gordon
Kelly Gordon (November 19, 1932 – August 1, 1981) was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. His input on Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe" catapulted the song to fame and led to a collaboration and lasting friendship. He also co‑wrote the hit song "That's Life" with Dean Kay.
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 Haskell. The song was an immediate hit, with nine Grammy Awards nominations in 1968 and three wins. Rolling Stone 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 Ode to Billie Joe (1967), The Delta Sweete (1968), and Local Gentry (1968) and co-produced Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell (with Glen Campbell) (1968) with Campbell's then-producer, Al De Lory.
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; that garnered numerous cover versions, including one by Frank Sinatra. Some of his compositions from that time went to well-known performers such as The Temptations, Nichelle Nichols, Aretha Franklin, and 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 a single the same year but failed to chart.
In 1963, Gordon appeared as the rock-and-roll idol-turned-victim in the Burke's Law episode "Who Killed Billy Jo?"
Gordon was already divorced before he moved into Gentry's guest house after falling ill with prostate cancer. Gentry allowed one of Gordon's sisters to stay there as well. They both cared for him until he died in 1981.
Grammy Awards 1968 for "Ode to Billie Joe" for which Gordon took part as the producer:
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Kelly Gordon
Kelly Gordon (November 19, 1932 – August 1, 1981) was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. His input on Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe" catapulted the song to fame and led to a collaboration and lasting friendship. He also co‑wrote the hit song "That's Life" with Dean Kay.
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 Haskell. The song was an immediate hit, with nine Grammy Awards nominations in 1968 and three wins. Rolling Stone 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 Ode to Billie Joe (1967), The Delta Sweete (1968), and Local Gentry (1968) and co-produced Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell (with Glen Campbell) (1968) with Campbell's then-producer, Al De Lory.
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; that garnered numerous cover versions, including one by Frank Sinatra. Some of his compositions from that time went to well-known performers such as The Temptations, Nichelle Nichols, Aretha Franklin, and 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 a single the same year but failed to chart.
In 1963, Gordon appeared as the rock-and-roll idol-turned-victim in the Burke's Law episode "Who Killed Billy Jo?"
Gordon was already divorced before he moved into Gentry's guest house after falling ill with prostate cancer. Gentry allowed one of Gordon's sisters to stay there as well. They both cared for him until he died in 1981.
Grammy Awards 1968 for "Ode to Billie Joe" for which Gordon took part as the producer: