Robert Ira Gordon

Robert Gordon, iconic rockabilly singer, died on October 18, 2022 at the age of 75 years old, after battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He is survived by his wife Marylee Gordon, his son Jesse Gordon and daughter-in-law Glennon Gordon, his granddaughters Lily and Nola Gordon, and his sisters, Melissa Gordon Uram and Jackie Gordon Spalding. He was predeceased by his son Anthony John Gordon and brother Dr. Michael Gordon.

Robert was the son of Samuel Gordon and Arline Gordon of Chevy Chase, Maryland. He grew up in the Chevy Case-Bethesda area and knew at an early age he wanted to be a singer. His inspirations were Elvis, Dion, and Gene Vincent. He began singing professionally at the age of fifteen in a band called the Confidentials, and later in the Newports. Bruce Davis, long-time friend and founder of the Confidentials, said as soon as he heard Robert sing he knew he had a goldmine, “Robert elevated us, his voice is what got us many gigs we would not otherwise have had”.

Robert moved to New York City in the early 1970s and founded several bands, among them the highly popular Tuff Darts, a Punk band that often played at CBGBs and Max’s Kansas City, along with Blondie and the Ramones. But he returned to his roots, and love of pure 1950s rock ‘n roll, when he enlisted legend Link Wray as lead guitarist, and dedicated his music to rockabilly. Robert put rockabilly back on the map, but it took on a visceral immediacy and energy with his powerful voice and blistering guitar solos, courtesy of Link Wray, Danny Gatton and Chris Spedding. He played the iconic Lone Star Cafe in NYC countless times and always had lines around the block, as well as City Limits, the Bottom Line, the Ritz, and Bowery Electric, to name a few. His friend, Bruce Springsteen, wrote “Fire” for him, which he recorded on Fresh Fish Special, and he had other hits such as “Rock Billy Boogie” and “Some Day Some Way” by Marshall Crenshaw. His rendition of “The Way I Walk” heard on the jukebox in the opening scene of Natural Born Killers, sets the whole tone of the movie. He also acted in Kathryn Bigelow’s first film, The Loveless, with Willem Defoe, and in the underground film, Unmade Beds, with Debra Harry.

Robert took his firebrand rockabilly music all over the world. He performed in Japan, Moscow, Finland, Sweden, Britain, the United States, Canada, and Norway, to sold out crowds. Sadly, his July 2022 tour which was supposed to reunite him with Chris Spedding, Anton Fig and Tony Garnier, had to be cancelled due to his failing health. Robert was looking forward to showcasing the new material coming out this November, on his new CD “Hellified”.

Robert will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and worldwide fans. His friend and part owner of Bowery Electric, Jesse Malin, said “I got to hear Robert sing at least 100 times over the years from the Lone Star Cafe to the Gramercy Theater and he never sang a bad note. With that huge voice he didn’t really even need a microphone. He always had style, class, swagger, and the best players around him. He did it ‘all for the love of Rock and Roll’. Hopefully, Robert will live on in his music. Rock On Forever, Robert!

Written by Melissa GordonUram