Gray Gordon

Gray Gordon, born Jerome Rohkar (May 4, 1904, Freeport, Illinois – July 18, 1976, New York City) was an American saxophonist and big band leader active in the 1930s and 1940s.

Gordon first led a band called the Pretzel Five when he was still in high school. He moved to Chicago in the mid-1920s, where he played with the Seattle Harmony Kings and Elmo Mack's Purple Derby Orchestra. He led a band which played the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago. In 1936 he relocated to New York City, where he founded his first professional band, taking the stage name Gray Gordon during a touring engagement at the Hotel Chase in St. Louis.

Gordon called his band the Tic Toc Rhythm, based on the distinct clock-like rhythmic figure played on temple blocks by his percussionist Frank Adams. This was often accompanied by a trombone figuration prior to the beginning of songs, which helped identify the band to listeners during radio performances. For several years from 1939, he held a six-month engagement at the Hotel Edison in New York, whose performances were broadcast nightly on radio, and toured the other half of the year. His group started as a smaller ensemble – three brass instruments, three saxophones, and three rhythm instruments – but in 1940 he expanded it to twelve musicians or more, plus vocalists. He recorded several times for Bluebird and Victor during the period 1940–41; he also recorded four sound films in 1941 playing swing jazz. One of his signature songs, "I Am an American", was a popular tune at war bond rallies during World War II. He married dancer Noel Carter in 1941; they divorced in 1949.

Gordon dissolved his band in 1945 and later worked in artist and repertory in the music business, including for Les Paul, Mary Ford, and King Guion. He also worked in public relations for hotels in Miami. He was living in New York City in 1976 when he died of cancer at St. Luke's Hospital. He is buried at Oakland Cemetery in his home town of Freeport.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 4, 1904 (Freeport), Died July 18, 1976 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1938 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: director, songwriter, vocalist, composer, arranger

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 76-100 of 105 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-050590 10-in. 5/16/1940 Can't get Indiana off my mind Meredith Blake ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BS-050591 10-in. 5/16/1940 I can't resist you Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-050592 10-in. 5/16/1940 My enchantress of the night Gray Gordon Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BS-050593 10-in. 5/16/1940 Adios, Panama Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Victor BS-051547 10-in. 6/21/1940 Never took a lesson in my life Meredith Blake ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BS-051548 10-in. 6/21/1940 Gentlemen of the jury Meredith Blake ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BS-051549 10-in. 6/21/1940 Looking for yesterday Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-051550 10-in. 6/21/1940 I am an American Meredith Blake ; Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet and vocal ensemble director  
Victor BS-054620 10-in. 7/23/1940 I could make you care Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-054621 10-in. 7/23/1940 Molly Malone Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-054622 10-in. 7/23/1940 Ferry-boat serenade Meredith Blake ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and vocal ensemble director  
Victor BS-054623 10-in. 7/23/1940 Pretty little peasant Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-056109 10-in. 9/13/1940 Dancing on a dime Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-056110 10-in. 9/13/1940 I hear music Meredith Blake ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BS-056111 10-in. 9/13/1940 Cuttin' the class Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with shouts composer, director  
Victor BS-056112 10-in. 9/13/1940 Autumn on the campus Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble director  
Victor BS-056471 10-in. 10/9/1940 Dream Valley Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-057001 10-in. 10/17/1940 The lady with red hair Chet Bruce ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-057002 10-in. 10/17/1940 Oh! They're making me all over in the army Gordon Goons ; Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble director  
Victor BS-057003 10-in. 10/17/1940 The Yankee Doodle polka Meredith Blake ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal ensemble director  
Victor BS-057004 10-in. 10/17/1940 The Kerry dance Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble arranger, director  
Victor BS-057005 10-in. 10/17/1940 I'll take you home again, Kathleen Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble director  
Victor BS-058256 10-in. 12/12/1940 Keep an eye on your heart Chet Bruce ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-058257 10-in. 12/12/1940 San Antonio Rose Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-058258 10-in. 12/12/1940 Scarf dance Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
(Results 76-100 of 105 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gordon, Gray," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104827.

Gordon, Gray. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104827.

"Gordon, Gray." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104827

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