Jim Gordon

Obituaries and remembrances
of steel guitarists, their friends and families

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Jim Pitman
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Joined: 29 Aug 1998 12:01 am
Location: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA

Jim Gordon

Post by Jim Pitman »

Jezum there goes another. Jim Gordon died in prison today. You likely have no idea how instrumental he on the 70’s. He’s the guy that sat down at the piano and played the “Layla” coda all improved at the end of the session, not to mention so many drum tracks that were ground breaking for rock.
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Craig Stock
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Post by Craig Stock »

Yes very sad, amazing drummer, 'the human metranome', he played n everything, my buddy just made a compilation of 200 great songs he played on, and he was just scratching the surface. Sad story with his mom, hopefully he is now at peace!
Regards, Craig

I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.

Today is tomorrow's Good ol' days
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Dave Hopping
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Post by Dave Hopping »

A technicality in California law prevented Gordon from proffering the very solid evidence of mental disease/defect that would have placed him in treatment he so obviously and desperately needed. Instead, he was caged up for 40 years.
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Jim Sliff
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Post by Jim Sliff »

Dave Hopping wrote:A technicality in California law prevented Gordon from proffering the very solid evidence of mental disease/defect that would have placed him in treatment he so obviously and desperately needed. Instead, he was caged up for 40 years.
Amen to that. He was known to have serious mental instability long before the tragedy that wrongly "caged" him.

What an incredibly skilled musician with unreal breadth - Mostly known for Derek and the Dominos (but few seem to know "the drummer" came up with the unforgettable Layla piano coda), but how many musicians could have played with(among a hundred others) Clapton, The Byrds, Delany and Bonnie, Souther Hillman Furay, Steely Dan, The Righteous Brothers, the Beach Boys....and Frank Zappa?

Remember him for his music - not his illness.
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional
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Earl Hensley
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Location: Las Vegas Nv.USA

Jim Gordon

Post by Earl Hensley »

Met Jim when we did a tour with the Everly Brothers and Jim backed them. Great drummer.
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Fender Tele', Native American Flute, Rogue 6 string lap steel
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Joe Goldmark
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Location: San Francisco, CA 94131

Post by Joe Goldmark »

Local writer, Joel Selvin, is coming out with a book about Jim. He's told me some amazing stories already. He was never crazy when he was playing, but the voices came when he wasn't.
Ron Funk
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Post by Ron Funk »

so sad........
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Chris Templeton
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Post by Chris Templeton »

Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
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Craig Stock
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Post by Craig Stock »

Jim was the human Metronome!
Regards, Craig

I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.

Today is tomorrow's Good ol' days
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