Meet Gordon

Gordon was headed toward a career in classical music thanks to five years of intensive vocal training and a father who dreamed of seeing him on the stage at the Metropolitan Opera. But like so many artists born with a restless spark, Gordon followed the rhythm in his chest — and it led him to Tulsa’s raw, rootsy R&B scene, where legends like J.J. Cale shaped both his playing and his path.

By the early ’70s, Gordon had paid his dues: a stint in the Army, time on the road with the Don White Band, and a leap-of-faith move to Los Angeles with nothing but $80 and a guitar. Winning talent contests and making fast fans, he soon caught the attention of Buddy Holly’s band, The Crickets, and eventually found himself on the other end of a phone call from Waylon Jennings himself — inviting him to join the Waylors.

Gordon spent the next stretch of his career as Waylon’s right-hand man, singing harmonies, playing guitar and harmonica, and co-writing along the way. He continued to write his own songs, and with the support of J.J. Cale and producer Audie Ashworth, recorded a collection of original tracks that would become his debut album on A&M Records — a mix of Oklahoma-born soul, sly wit, and rich storytelling. His career later travelled full circle as he went on to sing lead vocals for The Crickets, the iconic band with a storied past that lead him to Waylon so many years earlier.

If you’ve followed Gordon since the Waylon years, you know the power of his presence — steady, soulful, and unmistakable. And if you’re just discovering him now, welcome. There’s a whole world of music to explore — shaped by gospel choirs, roadhouse stages, Nashville nights, and one man’s refusal to sing anyone else’s song but his own.