(Hamilton, Ontario) – A fabulous evening of entertainment with Robert Gordon – singer, actor and musician – at This Ain’t Hollywood on January 24, 2016.
Robert decided at the age of nine he was going to be a ‘rock singer/musician’, inspired, after hearing Elvis Presley’s recording of Heartbreak Hotel. His influences included Gene Vincent, Jack Scott, Billy Lee Riley, Eddie Cochran and other notable rock ‘n roll music artists of the period.
Robert made his recording debut at age 17 in 1964 with a group called the Confidentials. The Confidentials, with Robert (known as Bob at the time) as the singer, recorded the songs Summertime, Money, and There is Something on Your Mind, among others on acetate phonograph discs.
As the 60’s British Invasion was taking a stronghold on North America, Robert turned his attention to the likes’ of Otis Redding and James Brown, as well as other R&B and Blues acts performing in his home town of Bethesda, Maryland. By the early 70’s, Robert had moved to New York City and a few years later joined a punk rock band there known as the Tuff Darts. During 1976, the Tuff Darts recorded All for the Love of Rock and Roll, Head over Heels, and Slash for a compilation album called Live at CBGB’s, which included a number of other local New York City bands.
That same year, Robert appeared in a punk/New Wave style film entitled Unmade Beds, by underground filmmaker Amos Poe. Blondie lead singer Deborah Harry also appeared in the film. Later, record producer Richard Gottehrer discovered Robert during a rehearsal one afternoon with the Tuff Darts and soon afterward the two were talking about making a rock and roll record. What ensued was an affiliation with Link Wray with a couple of great albums, records with Elvis’ Jordanaires, Bruce Springsteen writing him a song and playing on the album, Chris Spedding taking over lead guitar, a record deal with RCA and writer Bruce Eder (AllMusicGuide) hailed Gordon’s next album Bad Boy, released in 1980, as one of the best mature rockabilly albums ever recorded.
The next and last album for RCA was 1981’s Are You Gonna Be The One. It is Gordon’s best selling album to date, with more than 200,000 copies sold with Danny Gatton on lead guitar. This record, with the Marshall Crenshaw penned single Someday Someway went to No. 76 on the Billboard charts in 1981. Robert, had basically covered the genre’s of rock, R&B, Blues, country, punk rock, and now Rockabilly!
In 2005, after years of not working together, Gordon and guitar player Chris Spedding reconnected and toured Europe. Highlights from the shows in Denmark, Sweden and Finland were released on The Reunion Tour, on their own Climate Control label. I spent time with him at The Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend in 2014.
Last night was a terrific ‘sold out’ concert at This Ain’t Hollywood in Hamilton which is a venue that is near and dear to Robert’s heart having played there many times. Robert was having as much fun on stage as we were having in the audience. He did not disappoint with his song selections as all were totally engaged singing along and boppin’ to the music.
His latest release, June 24, 2014, entitled I’m Coming Home is available.
Opening the show was Hamilton’s own Hell Bent Rockers who truly lived up to their name!!! A terrific group of authentic rockabilly musicians who definitely set the stage for what turned out to be an awesome night of entertainment! They heated up the ‘sold out’ audience with their own ‘penned’ songs, which totally impressed me, as well as some great covers of vintage rockabilly! I look forward to seeing this Hamilton homegrown band again soon. You may all want to do the same!!! They’ll be back at ‘This Ain’t Hollywood’ on Sat. Feb.20th….check them out! You’ll love them!
Connect with Robert Gordon online: (Website)
Connect with the Hell Bent Rockers online: (Website) (Facebook) (Twitter)
All photos by William Nagy.
© 2016. Please DO NOT copy or use without permission.
Robert Gordon:
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