By Thomas Semioli
A session legend, producer, composer and first-call bassist / sideman- it would be easier to list artists whom Emory Lee Gordy Jr. hasn’t’ anchored on stage and on record!
Emory’s musical skills were evident as a child in his native Atlanta, Georgia. By the time he was in high school he was a multi-instrumentalist working in ensembles spanning Dixieland Jazz to Top 40 to garage rock. A music student at Georgia State, Gordy’s career in the studio began in 1964, collaborating with Tommy Roe, Lou Christie, Rufus Thomas, and Joe South, among others. He moved to Los Angeles in 1970, working sessions as a bassist, producer, and engineer for such artists as Debbie Reynolds, Liberace, and Neil Diamond.
In ’72 Gordy anchored Elvis’ TCB Band. In the mid-70s he co-founded Emmylou Harris Hot Band while continuing his studio work with Billy Joel, Tom Petty, and Rosanne Cash, John Denver, and Rodney Crowell to cite a very select few.
In ’83 Gordy gave up the road full time and turned to production, helming such sides as Steve Earle’s Exit 0 and Guitar Town, along with releases by Vince Gill, and his wife Patty Loveless. Nowadays Gordy lives in semi-retirement and occasionally works a session or one-off performances in Nashville or his home in Atlanta. Gordy and Loveless are members of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
Emory Gordy Jr. Sound & Vision…
Elvis Presley: “Burning Love” https://youtu.be/zf2VYAtqRe0
Elvis Presley: “Separate Ways” https://youtu.be/zeUSTbdaiZk
Gram Parsons: “Return of the Grievous Angel” https://youtu.be/h_Iz0iVvhEc
Emmy Lou Harris Hot Band Old Grey Whistle Test 1977: https://youtu.be/lpNMrugveLE
Rodney Crowell “Ain’t No Money” https://youtu.be/tfwGTMJW5XY
Rosanne Cash “Ain’t No Money” https://youtu.be/AgqxbnogP3E
Neil Diamond “Longfellow Serenade” https://youtu.be/4XRGMaI46zw
Linda Ronstadt “Dark End of the Street” https://youtu.be/PKBvG8XJrSU
Tom Petty “Strangered in the Night” https://youtu.be/gC9FDx3HISw
Patty Loveless “A Little Bit In Love” https://youtu.be/T-5MN8JuEhc
Courtesy of Ampeg Com
The consummate studio cat, Bob Glaub’s body of work embraces blues, folk, pop, country, jazz, and rock and permutations thereof.
His astounding list of record credits span Patti Smith, Rod Stewart, Nicolette Larson, Gladys Knight, Warren Zevon, Jackson Browne, Stevie Nicks, Jon Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Natalie Merchant, Donna Summer, Bob Seger, Eddie Money, John Fogerty, CSN &Y, Neil Diamond, Linda Ronstadt, Randy Newman, Lucinda Williams, and Carole King to cite a very very select few.
Producers and artists depend on Glaub because he delivers exactly what is needed as a supportive player – a warm tone, melodic interplay, and pocket grooves. Lakland created a Bob Glaub signature bass which is modeled after his 1964 Fender Precision.
Bob Glaub Sound & Vision…
Tony Senatore’s rendition of Bob’s brilliant passage Jackson Browne’s “The Pretender” https://youtu.be/2nbIKdJenzE
Rita Coolidge “I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love” https://youtu.be/yCaq9BOe5Yc
Warren Zevon “Excitable Boy” https://youtu.be/fZokPAuhD6k
Stevie Nicks “Gold & Braid” https://youtu.be/rtSFGsG7yiE
Bob Dylan “Seeing the Real You At Last” https://youtu.be/-Dy0UgPt_tM
Rod Stewart “Lost In You” https://youtu.be/aEFZ2hHn40w
Neil Diamond “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” https://youtu.be/g4Ig2Rwls3U
Eddie Money “Let’s Be Lovers Again” https://youtu.be/WKX3Lc5uXys
Patti Smith “Going Under” https://youtu.be/xXi40UG-AAE
Linda Ronstadt “Girls Talk” https://youtu.be/AIlMetJm14E