The Gordons - Bootleg John

The Gordons (Gary Gordon and Roberta Gordon) perform "Bootleg John" with Gordon Wilfong on banjo and Curtis Jay Hiner on bass.

Meet Gary and Roberta Gordon. Influenced by the great music of their era, this husband and wife duo were baptized by bluegrass music and have made wonderful folk music ever since. Accompanied by Gary's tasteful Gallagher guitar and dobro, Roberta plays the American born Appalachian autoharp. With many recordings to their credit since 1976 , harmony singing is their signature.

The Gordons have been bringing their music to audiences throughout the United States since the 1970s, particularly in the Midwest and the Carolinas. During the 1970s, they released two records: "Southern Illinois Bluegrass", and "Covered Bridge", both of which received national radio airplay. In the late 1980s, they played a $150 per ticket show in Chicago, Illinois at the Swiss Grand Hotel. They also recorded a live concert in Cincinnati, Ohio at at the celebrated Old Time Music Hall , with special guests, dobro great Josh Graves and Kenny Baker (Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys).

In 1990, they explored a different sound with a country-rock record, "Wasn't Born to Follow", which featured fiddle great Wade Ray; in 1995, they released a gospel record, "Family Bible". Radio recognition was swift, and the single "Dust On The Bible" was praised in Europe as well as the U.S. Longtime broadcaster Dave Higgs of WPLN said: "I'll be spreading The Gospel According To The Gordons here in Nashville." 1997 brought "End Of A Long Hard Day" on Reception Records. Edward Morris of Billboard reviewed the record, and praised "the fidelity with which the group conjures up memories of a sweet rural world now long vanished".

In addition to touring the United States, European acceptance of "Family Bible" secured an invitation to tour Ireland in the mid-1990s, where they performed on RTE, Ireland's national television network, in addition to live radio programs. Richard Gladney of the Irish Bluegrass Music Club said: "Rest easy, Mr. Monroe. Your music is in good hands". The Gordons returned to Ireland three times, in addition to the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, where they took part in the first ever European World of Bluegrass Festival Series, held at venues throughout Holland, under the auspieces of the International Bluegrass Music Association. Strictly Country Records released "Live in Holland" in 1999, featuring Gary and Roberta returning to their duet roots, using only guitar, autoharp, dobro, and voice.

During this time, they also recorded songs for two projects under the name "Summervilla", recorded live in the historic anti-bellium mansion of the same name, located on the Cape Fear River in Eastern North Carolina.

In 2002, The Gordons released "Time Will Tell Our Story", featuring first-rate musicianship from the likes of Alison Brown (banjo) and fiddle from Robert Bowlin.Yet again, it was critically praised -- Bluegrass Unlimited stated that it was "one of the strongest spiritual releases of the year".

While Gary Gordon released an acoustic blues record, "Real Blue", in 2005, six years passed with little touring and visible activity from the duo. However, The Gordons never stopped writing, collecting, and recording songs, and in the last few years there has been a flurry of activity from them. Gary Gordon opened the Inside-Out Recording Studio, has been working on an electric blues record, and has recently recorded singer-songwriters Meridian Green, Nashville's Barry and Holly Tashian, Mike Compton, guitar great Robert Bowlin's new solo CD and the critically acclaimed "Abraham Lincoln In Song" for Chris Vallillo. In 2008, The Gordons released "Our Time" on their own Inside-Out Records, and it was one of the top folk records of 2008 across the world. Featuring fourteen songs, The Gordons impart fond reminders of childhood, hopefulness after loss, promise of redemption, and love of man. As The Gordons prepare their next recording project, they will now head back out on the road to perform once again.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• bluegrass
• traditional
• folk
• acoustic
• music
• banjo
• guitar
• flatpick
• flatpicking
• harmony

[ChomFa]

You've done it again! This is great stuff, guys. Many thanks from the Down Under Gordon wannabe!

[Termite58]

Very Nice, to be able to see Gordon play banjo was a nice treat.

[DAVIDDAMIENR]

I always enjoy listening to your music.

It's VERY Special.

Thank you for sharing,

DDR