Gordon Goodwin is a Grammy winner, composer, arranger, pianist, saxophonist, actor, founder and bandleader of Big Phat Band, popular radio personality, 4 time Hollywood Bowl performer, conductor for Johnny Mathis, worked with Quincy Jones, Steven Spielberg, Christiana Aguilera, John Williams, Ray Charles. You may be tempted to ask “where does it end?” Don’t bother asking. It does not end.
His accomplishments keep piling up and he is exuberant about it all, joyful about the possibilities popping up with every step he takes. The interesting part of this is his timeline. His talent erupted early. Discipline came later. To hear him talk about how his mother insisted on piano lessons will strike a chord with all the children who did not want to practice. As luck would have it, she prevailed. When his piano teacher saw how much her young student did not want to practice, she tempted him by telling him that if he did she would let him write his own songs. The world of possibilities burst open.
How old would you guess he was when he got the job with Johnny Mathis and how did he get it?, When did he put together his band? At one point he worked for Disney, he is working on a commissioned piece for the Boston Pops and as yet-to-be-announced work for a major movie studio.
And, with all this, Gordon never puts himself in the center of his universe. His modesty does not let him for a minute lose sight of how he got where he is. Add to that a large helping of candor and gratitude and you have a man whose life is one invaluable lesson. Take a look just for the joy of seeing him talk about his life, and oh, yes, the brilliant insight about women,
Love letters? Of course, and a world of possibilities.