Emory Gordy was born in 1944 in Atlanta Georgia. By the age of four, he was able to get a tune out of a piano and at the age of six, he could play banjo, guitar and ukulele. During Emory's school years he would make a point of dividing his free time and weekends between strings bands, Dixieland bands and also a top 40 Garage Band. When Emory finished school, he went to university and played the French horn in the university band. However, by this time, even though Emory had the knack of turning his hand to most things musical, it was the bass guitar that pulled his heart strings. He started his career as a studio musician in Los Angeles in 1964 and was asked to play bass guitar during a performance by Tommy Roe at a local knees-up. A week later he was invited to do studio work by record producer Joe South. Eventually the ever talented Emory was working with Tommy Roe, Rozzy Baley, Mac Davis, as well as touring with Lou Christy, Rufus Thomas and The Impressions. During this period Emory co-wrote the Classics hit Traces along with Bud Buie and James Cobb.
In 1971 Emory became bass player for Neil Diamond in his band and started touring with him. March 1972 was to be Emory's first time to work with Elvis and the rest of the TCB Band. The opportunity arose when Elvis needed a bass player to stand in for Jerry Scheff on some recording sessions. Ronnie Tutt had recommended Emory as a bass player. Together they recorded Always On My Mind, Separate Ways, For The Good Times and Burning Love.
August 1972 was the kick off to a ten day concert stint at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. There Emory performed with Neil Diamond and the rest of his band. The show on the 24th August was recorded live and released on an album Hot August Night Live. Emory joined James Burton, Glen D Hardin and Ronnie Tutt for the release of Gram Parsons Grievous Angel album and became an original member of Emmylou Harris's Hot Band in the 70's, along with James Burton and Glen D Hardin.
1973 saw the second meeting between Emory and Elvis. Following the Aloha Concert, Jerry Scheff left the band for a while and a bass guitarist was needed to replace him. Ronnie Tutt was asked by Elvis to recommend a bass player and as Elvis was already familiar with his work and background and had no qualms giving him the position. Emory remained with The TCB Band for the rest of 1973. He then decided to leave the band and concentrate more on and develop further his already active recording studio. Emory was replaced by Duke Bardwell.
By 1977, Emory had left The Hot Band and worked with Rodney Crowell and Roseanne Cash as bass player in their newly formed band The Cherry Bombs. He took a break in 1979 from the band and teamed up with John Denver touring Australia and Europe as well as composing the bass tracks for two of John's albums. He moved to Nashville in the 80's and expanded his talents to that of songwriter, studio musician and producer. He co-produced, along with Tony Brown, the breakthrough album Guitar Town for Steve Earle and joined Chris Hillman in the making of his album Morningsky, not forgetting his producing soundtracks for the films The Tin Cup, Switchboard and Kings Of New York.
During 1985, Emory met Patty Loveless. He soon had Patty under his wing by becoming producer of her records and shows. In 1989, Patty and Emory married. In 1992 Patty had to semi retire from singing due to vocal chord injury and rest. On the return to her singing, Emory produced and worked with her on her album Only What I Feel, putting Patty's career back on the road after such a long break. It is said that this is the best album of her career.
Emory is a highly respected name in the music industry and has won endless awards for his contributions to the music industry, which include being inducted into the Georgia Music Hall Of Fame in 1997 and in 1998 was named producer of the year. He has made well over two hundred albums with various artists including Neil Diamond, David Cassidy, Roseanne Cash, Alabama, Billy Joel, Hoyt Axton, Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons to name but a few.
Stop, look and listen baby that's our philosophy .... First thing in the morning, last thing at night ... look, stare everywhere and see everything inside .... Stop, look and listen!
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