Claude Gordon | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Claude Eugene Gordon |
| Born | (1916-04-05)April 5, 1916 Helena,Montana,U.S. |
| Origin | Helena; Los Angeles |
| Died | May 16, 1996(1996-05-16) (aged 80) Big Bear Lake,California,U.S. |
| Genres | Big band,jazz,classical,Session music |
| Occupation(s) | Musician,band director, teacher |
| Instrument(s) | Cornet, trumpet, accordion |
| Years active | 1936-1996 |
Claude Eugene Gordon (April 5, 1916 - May 16, 1996), nicknamed the "King of Brass",[1] was an Americantrumpet player, band director, educator, lecturer and writer.
Claude Gordon was born on April 5, 1916, in Helena, Montana. His father, James Austin Gordon, was a clarinet player and orchestra director, and his mother, Nellie "Elge", was a pianist. His siblings formed a family orchestra, led by their father, that performed as the staff orchestra for a local radio station. Gordon was given his firstcornet at the age of five, and three years later, in fifth grade, was featured as a soloist with the Helena High School Band. In his early teens, he began playing professionally and taught cornet andaccordion.
In 1936, Gordon married Genevieve "Jenny" Pentecost. He raised two sons with her, Gary and Steven.[2] Misfortune befell the family in 1988 when Jenny and Gary both died and Steven was diagnosed with cancer which led to his death in 1990. In September 1990, Gordon married Patricia "Patty" Jean Swanson, his longtime caretaker.
Gordon died from cancer on May 16, 1996. He is interred atForest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).
Claude Gordon studied withHerbert L. Clarke from 1936 until Clarke died in 1945. During the era of live radio and television, Gordon worked as a studio trumpet player. In 1939, he was cast as the Roma accordion player in theUniversal Studios musical filmAn Old Spanish Custom, later renamedIn Rhumba Land. He formed his own big band in 1959. Their albums includeJazz For Jean-Agers andSounds Of The Big Band Era.[3]
Gordon performed with studio orchestras on shows includingAmos and Andy andI Love Lucy.
The Claude Gordon Orchestra was awarded Best Big Band of 1959.[4]
Gordon worked with theBenge andSelmer companies designing trumpets; both companies produced a Claude Gordon model. He also designed trumpet and cornetmouthpieces originally made by Benge.
As a teacher, Gordon considered his studentsathletes who needed physical exercise to stay in shape, and prescribed daily breathing exercises to develop their wind power. He was widely respected by his many students[5] for his knowledge and friendliness.
Claude Gordon published six major books throughCarl Fischer Music onbrass instrument playing.[6] His most comprehensivemethod book isSystematic Approach To Daily Practice, published in 1965.[7] The book is formatted as a 52-week course with step-by-step instructions on how to practice Gordon's original routines alongside parts ofClarke'sTechnical Studies andCharacteristic Studies,Lip Flexibility on the Trumpet by Walter M. Smith,Saint-Jacome's Grand Method for Trumpet or Cornet,Advanced Lip Flexibilities by Charles Colin, and theArban method.
Gordon also publishedDaily Trumpet Routines in 1971,Physical Approach to Elementary Brass Playing in 1977,Tongue Level Exercises in 1981,Thirty Velocity Studies also in 1981. All of the previously mentioned books with the exception ofDaily Trumpet Routines have editions for bass-clef brass instruments.
Gordon wrote his final book,Brass Playing is No Harder than Deep Breathing, for publication in 1987. It consolidates much of his teaching regarding tone generation in brass instruments asprose with minimal use ofmusical notation. Gordon also worked with Carl Fischer as anannotator for multiple editions of the Arban method,editor forClarke's Technical Studies for Bass Clef Instruments, andrevising editor forSaint-Jacome's Grand Method for Trumpet or Cornet.
The Claude Gordon Personal Papers and Music Instrument Collection—including music, correspondence with Herbert L. Clarke and other notable trumpeters, educational materials, performance contracts, publicity materials and memorabilia—is housed at theSousa Archives and Center for American Music at theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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