Died 24 December 2008 Years active 1962 - 70s | Instruments Vocals Name Benny Gordon | |
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter and bandleader | ||
Benny Gordon (1932–2008) was a soul and r&b singer who recorded from the early 1960s up to the 1970s. Some of his early efforts were as a member of Christian Harmonizers. Their recordings were credited to The Christian Harmonizers (Featuring B. Gordon). Later recordings were as Bennie Gordon And The Soul Brothers. In 1968, they had a single out on the RCA label, "What Is Soul" which was backed with "I Can't Turn You Loose".
Contents
- Biography
- Performances
- Trude Heller club
- Benny Gordon The Soul Brothers members
- Recordings
- Links
- References
Benny Gordon & the Soul Brothers were to appear at Trude Heller's regularly and in 1967 appeared there with Reparata & the Delrons Benny and the Soul Brothers even performed for the opening day of Trude Hellers Take V club that opened on December 18, 1970.
As a solo singer he released singles "True Love Is All I Need" on theCapitol label, "Gonna Give Her All The Love I Got" on Wand label and "Sugar Mama" (You Know You're My Baby) on the Estill label.
Biography
Gordon and his brother Sammy were from Estill, South Carolina. Along with his brother Sammy Gordon he was a member of the Christian Harmonizers, a gospel group. In the early 1960s they moved to Brooklyn. They later formed The Soul Brothers band. They became the house band at Trude Heller’s club on Sixth Avenue in Greenwich Village.
In 1968 Benny Gordon and the Soul Brothers released the album Tighten Up that featured the tracks "Tighten Up" and "Hang on Sloopy".
Gordon is related to Sammy Gordon who fronted the group Sammy Gordon & the Hip Huggers who recorded "Upstairs On Boston Road", and an early version of Bobby Womack's "Breezin'" that George Benson would later have a hit with. Some sources credit them as cousins while others credit them as brothers.
He died on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2008 from an inoperable stomach tumor aged 77. His funeral service was held on Monday, Dec. 29, 2008 at Hampton County District Two Auditorium.
Performances
The Christian Harmonizers were to appear at the Apollo Theater where they brought the house down.
In later years he now leading the group now known as Benny Gordon and the Soul Brothers. In October 1965, it was announced in Billboard Magazine that they were to appear at Philharmonic Hall with The Supremes. In August 1966 they were among the highlights for show for the unveiling of an act for RCA Records. Three months later on November 28, they along with Peter Duchin, son of legendary bandleader Eddy Duchin, provided the music for Truman Capote's Black and White Ball. In Deborah Davis's book Party of the Century: The Fabulous Story of Truman Capote and His Black and White Ball, Duchin's music inspired the social dancing. That plus the twisting and frugging to the beat of Gordon and the Soul Brothers, kept the guests on their toes all evening. Gordon was to comment that the party was outa sight and was surprised at how hip some of the society people were. Especially the older ones. Gordon said that Frank Sinatra even joined the band on stage.
Trude Heller club
Benny Gordon and The Soul Brothers were to appear at Trude Heller's club on many occasions. By 1965 they were regulars there. They were there with Reparata & the Delrons in 1967. As advertised in the New York Magazine, they were paying there in December 1969 There were advertisements for them in the Palm Beach Daily News on February 25, 1970. Also March 7, and the 13th. In May 1970, they were on same bill at the club with an act called Frankie Paris and the Purple Haze. On December 18, 1970, they played for the opening of Trude Heller's Take V club located at 119 N. County Road Palm Beach.
Benny Gordon & The Soul Brothers members
The group consisted of Benny Gordon lead vocals, Ronnie Grieco saxophone, Perry Smith drums. Other members were Austin, Aaron/aka Shockey, Max and Tommy. Ronnie Grieco as a song man had played on state with Bill Doggett. In the Doggett band he also accompanied a young singer then known as Chuck Hatcher, later to be known as Edwin Starr.
Recordings
It was announced in Billboard Magazine 6 May 1967 issue that the single "What Is Soul" along with singles by artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Sharon Redd was predicted to reach the R&B singles chart. In the 8 Jun 1968 issue of Billboard Magazine, it was predicted that the Tighten Up album release would do well for the new Koppelman-Rubin Hot Biscuit label. In addition to "Tighten Up" and "Hang On Sloopy", the album featured a soulful version of "Fly Me To The Moon".