Robert Gordon, 75, passed away recently and was a key figure in the rockabilly revival of the 1970s.
On Tuesday, Gordons passed away, as confirmed by his label, Cleopatra Records (October 18). Gordon’s death was mysterious, but he had been dealing with a diagnosis of myeloid leukaemia in recent years.
Cleopatra said on their Facebook page, “We liked working with Robert and will miss his powerful baritone vocal and his focused dedication to his music.”
Why did Robert Gordon Pass Away, Exactly?
Gordon’s death was confirmed to Variety by his record label on October 19.
“On behalf of everyone here at Cleopatra Records, please accept our sincerest condolences. It was a pleasure working with Robert, and we’ll miss his powerful baritone vocal and dedicated pursuit of his music, said the label’s vice president in a statement released by Matt Green.
While the cause of death was not disclosed, Variety reports that his family had started a GoFundMe page to help pay for his treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia.
As of right now, it is unknown if the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia played any role in his passing.
As word of the celebrity’s death spread, many mourners turned to social media to express their condolences.
User Comment: “We punks of the ’80s and ’90s who saw Robert Gordon perform in NYC (he opened for Link Wray and, yes, Professor Longhair) will never forget the influence his style and dedication to rockabilly and roots music had on us. Likewise adored him in Chris Spedding’s company. He radiated sophistication and poise.”
Someone else chimed in “Robert Gordon, the pioneering king of rockabilly, has passed away. His work with guitarist Link Wray and bassist Chris Spedding was explosive on record and in concert, and they were crucial in keeping the flame alive for that genre of music. For some reason, talking bikes with Robert was always the coolest thing ever. Prayers for his loved ones.”
As a third put it: “Just learned about Robert Gordon’s passing today. What terrible news. That I knew Robert and had the opportunity to see him repeatedly over the years was a great fortune. At the tender age of 19, he would always take me backstage and make me feel like one of the gang. It was great to visit home last year.”
Read More- Erin Moran Cause of Death: How Happy Days Actress Died?
Early Life
Rob Gordon, who was born on August 7, 1965 in New Zealand, is a well-known musician. As far as horoscopes are concerned, Rob Gordon is a Leo.
William Robert Gordon (born August 7, 1965) played rugby union for New Zealand. He would be best suited to the position of loose forward, where he would be able to play either the blind side flanker or the No. 8 position. During his time as a provincial representative, Gordon served both Otago and Waikato.
With the All Blacks, New Zealand’s national team, he played in three matches but no tests during their 1990 tour of France. Furthermore, in 1991, he played in unofficial tests for a New Zealand XV against Russia, an Australian XV, and Romania.
In a national championship match, he scored five tries, which is a record for a forward anywhere in the world or in New Zealand. This exceptional and unmatched record has stood the test of time. While working for Toshiba in Tokyo, Japan from 1997 to 1999, he played 17 test matches for Japan. This included three matches at the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
Music career
Influences and Early Career
Gordon was born in Bethesda, Maryland to Arlene Gordon, an administrative law judge, and Samuel Gordon. Gordon’s dad’s name is Samuel, so that makes him Gordon. There were Jews in his family. At the tender age of nine, he decided to become a rock and roll musician after being inspired by Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel,” which was playing on the radio at the time.
Gordon was heavily influenced by the music of Gene Vincent, Jack Scott, Billy Lee Riley, Eddie Cochran, and many others from the golden age of rock and roll. He recorded his first album in 1964 at the tender age of 17 with a group called the Confidentials. The Confidentials recorded several songs on acetate phonograph recordings, including “Summertime,” “Money,” and “There Is Something on Your Mind,” among others. Robert, or Bob as he was known back then, was the band’s lead vocalist.
If you asked Robert how he felt about the 1960s, he’d say, “I didn’t.” Although he did not care much for the British Invasion, he did feel a deep connection to great R&B performers like James Brown and Otis Redding, whom he saw perform at the historic Howard Theatre in Washington, DC. During the turbulent late 1960s, when there were riots and antiwar demonstrations in the nation’s capital, Robert served in the National Guard and was stationed there. The thought, “I didn’t want to be sent to Vietnam,” crossed his mind.
Punk Rock
Gordon relocated to New York City in 1970, and just a few years later, he joined the Tuff Darts, a local punk rock band. Live at CBGB’s is a 1976 compilation album that featured three songs by the Tuff Darts: “All for the Love of Rock and Roll,” “Head over Heels,” and “Slash.” Multiple other New York City bands contributed to this CD.
The following year, Robert appeared in Unmade Beds, an underground film directed by Amos Poe that paid homage to Jean-Luc Godard by employing a punk/New Wave aesthetic.
Blondie’s lead singer Deborah Harry and Duncan Hannah, an artist, both made appearances.
Rockabilly
Robert Gordon and Link Wray’s 1977 album, FRESH FISH SPECIAL, is also a success. Bruce Springsteen wrote a song about it. The album pays respectful tribute to the lives of Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, and Jack Scott. RCA Victor’s 1979 album Rock Billy Boogie marked the first time Robert Gordon’s lead guitarist wasn’t Bill Wray. By 1980, Gordon had released an album titled Bad Boy, which AllMusic called “one of the best mature rockabilly albums ever produced”.
Reunion
Gordon and Chris Spedding, the band’s guitarist, reunited in 2005 and set out on a tour of Europe. Since then, they’ve begun working together again after years apart. The Reunion Tour, released on their own Climate Control label, included recordings of their concerts in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.
The French record company Last Call released a DVD titled Rockin’ The Paradiso, which documents an Amsterdam performance. They also worked with the Jordanaires to release an album of Elvis songs titled It’s Now Or Never to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the singer’s untimely death. The Rykodisc label released this album. In 2007, Robert Gordon and his band went on a brief European tour with support from Marco DiMaggio and his ensemble.
Moscow, Russia, was the location of one of Robert’s tour stops. The tour manager for Robert said that the concert was one of the highlights of the tour. Gordon’s touring ensemble in 2009 and 2010 was dubbed “The Gang They Couldn’t Hang,” and it featured heavy hitters like Chris Spedding, Slim Jim Phantom, and Glen Matlock.
Gordon and TGTCH played in front of 20,000 people at the Azkena Rock Festival in Spain, alongside Kiss and Bob Dylan, and were considered one of the highlights of the festival’s “Gang” lineup. The Australian continent is the site of both of these celebrations.
The 24-year-old Gordon finally released his long-awaited album, “I’m Coming Home,” for digital download and physical purchase on June 24, 2014. He toured both the United States and Europe, including a stop at the 17th annual Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender at The Car Show on April 19, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Read More – Coolio Cause of Death: What Are His Thief and Tommy Boy Records?
Career in Acting
Gordon co-starred with Willem Dafoe in Kathryn Bigelow’s first feature film, 1982’s The Loveless. A motorcycling drama set in the ’50s, the film took its cues from Marlon Brando’s The Wild One. Bigelow received an Academy Award for her work as the film’s director. In this film, Dafoe made his debut as a leading man.
Reviews were mixed for the film itself, but universally positive for the score. Although The Loveless did not do well at the box office upon its initial release, it has since become a cult classic in some circles. In addition to his radio and newspaper work, Gordon has also appeared on television several times, most notably in a skit that aired on the popular sketch comedy show SCTV in 1981.
Despite being “inadvertently” booked on the show as the astronaut Gordon Cooper, he performed in the skit with his band, which included Danny Gatton. Rick Moranis played David Brinkley, and Dave Thomas played Walter Cronkite, in a space shuttle launch spoof. They’re both from the Bob and Doug cartoon.
Net Worth
Robert Gordon’s estimated net worth is as follows, as reported by reputable online sources such as Wikipedia, Google, Forbes, IMDb, and others: His past income, assets, and more can be seen in the table below.
Below you’ll find up-to-date information on Robert Gordon’s estimated net worth, monthly and yearly salary, primary source of income, cars, and lifestyle.
Robert Gordon, who earned $3,000,000 and $5,000 respectively, has a Networth of $6,000,000. Robert Gordon relied heavily on sales of his Yeezy shoes. While he may have inflated his business over the years, the money he made as a professional was real enough to make him one of the top earners in the entertainment industry. His primary means of subsistence comes from his career as a musician, singer, and songwriter.
His fortune is estimated to be between $5 and $10 million. Along with his massive online following, actor.
Discography
Albums Recorded in a Recording Studio
Robert Gordon and Link Wray, 1977. (Private Stock PS-2030)
Fresh Fish Special (starring Link Wray, 1978). (Private Stock PS-7008) – AUS #96
The Rock Billy Boogie of 1979 (RCA Victor AFL1-3294)
The 1980 Film, Bad Boy (RCA Victor AFL1-3523)
The year 1981’s “Are You Gonna Be The One” (RCA Victor AFL1-3773)
For the Sake of Rock and Roll (1994) (Viceroy VIC-8014)
The Year 1997 – Robert Gordon (Llist Records LLR-00792)
A Contented 2004 (Jungle Records TCB-2222CD)
If you don’t do it now, you’ll never do it (co-starring Chris Spedding, 2007). (Rykodisc RLP-1915-1)
It’s 2014, and I’m Finally Moving Back In (Lanark Records LNR-088)
Rockabilly ’til 2020! (Cleopatra Records CLO1760)
Discs featuring performances from a live venue
Concert Recorded March 22, 1979 at The Paradise in Boston, Massachusetts (RCA DJL1-3411; radio promo only)
“The Humbler” (with Danny Gatton) [live] in 1996. (NRG Records NCD-6842)
Released in 1996 on RCA/BMG 70170-88018-28 is a live performance by Robert Gordon from March 30, 1979, at the King Biscuit Flower Hour in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
2005’s Wild Wild Women, Live (featuring Link Wray; captured live at Berlin’s The Musikladen in 1978) (Warwick/Jungle; limited to 500 copies; remastered digitally)
Read More- Eliza Fletcher Death: Where Her Body Found After Death?
Compilations
Too Young to Live, Too Fast to Die (1982) (RCA Victor AFL1-4380)
New Movies Available Abroad
Live At Lone Star, 1989, Robert Gordon (New Rose NR-173, France)
Robert Gordon Is a Hot Item in 1989 (Bear Family BCD-15446, Germany)
Year: 1989; Title: “Black Slacks” (Bear Family BCD-15489, Germany)
New York City, 1991: Greetings (New Rose NR-279, France)
The Missing Album Plus… 1998 (Bear Family BCD-16251, Germany)
Album Released in 2006 by Robert Gordon and Chris Spedding Entitled “Rockin’ The Paradiso” (Last Call Records 3113142, France)
Real Daddy-O Ragin’ To Go in 2007! (Climate Change Records – 005, Denmark)
Comments are closed.