Gordon Louis Goodwin (December 30, 1954 – December 8, 2025) was an American pianist, saxophonist, composer, arranger and conductor. He was the leader ofGordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. He won threeDaytime Emmy Awards, fourGrammy Awards, and 25 Grammy nominations for his compositions and arrangements.
Gordon Goodwin was born inWichita, Kansas, on December 30, 1954.[1] He wrote his firstbig band chart, called "Hang Loose", when he was in the seventh grade. He continued his musical education atCalifornia State University, Northridge, with Joel Leach and Bill Calkins.
Following graduation from college, Goodwin was employed as a musician at theDisneyland theme park in Anaheim, California. Subsequently, Disney approached him to write a musical show featuring past and presentMouseketeers, includingBritney Spears andChristina Aguilera.[2] Since then, Goodwin rose to prominence in the American studio music scene with his big band,The Big Phat Band.[3][1] He wrote and worked with artists including Ray Charles, Christina Aguilera, Johnny Mathis, John Williams, Natalie Cole, David Foster; Sarah Vaughan, Mel Tormé, Leslie Odom, Jr., Idina Menzel, Lang Lang, and Quincy Jones.[citation needed] Goodwin was the host of a nationally syndicated jazz radio program calledPhat Tracks with Gordon Goodwin, that aired on weekends onKSDS, San Diego's 88.3 FM.
Goodwin suffered a stroke from which he did not regain consciousness and died in Los Angeles on December 8, 2025, due to complications of pancreatic cancer. He was 70 years old.[4][5][6]
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album:XXL (2003),Act Your Age (2008)
Best Instrumental Composition: "Sing, Sang, Sung" (2000), "Hunting Wabbits" (2003), "Hit the Ground Running" (2008), "Hunting Wabbits 3 (Get Off My Lawn)" (2011), "California Pictures for String Quartet" (2013), "Life in the Bubble" (2014)
Best Instrumental Arrangement: "Bach 2 Part Invention in D Minor" (2000), "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" (2006), "Yo Tannenbaum" (2007), "Yesterdays" (2008), "Salt Peanuts! (Mani Salado)" (2012)
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): "Comes Love" (2003)
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella: "Get Smart" (2014)
Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals: "Party Rockers" (2014), "Do You Hear What I Hear?" (2016)
Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals: "I Loves You Porgy" / "There's A Boat That's Leavin' Soon For New York" (2017)
Goodwin was initiated into the men's music fraternity,Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, as a National Honorary member and was made a Signature Sinfonian at the 55th National Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, 2015.[12]
