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 51-75 of 105 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-037406 10-in. 5/31/1939 The last trip on the old ship Gray Gordon ; Cliff Grass ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-037407 10-in. 5/31/1939 You are my dream Gray Gordon ; Cliff Grass ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-040488 10-in. 10/10/1939 Goody goodbye Gray Gordon ; Shirley Lane ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BS-040490 10-in. 10/10/1939 Bless you Gray Gordon ; Cliff Grass ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-040491 10-in. 10/10/1939 If what you say is true Gray Gordon ; Shirley Lane ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BS-040492 10-in. 10/10/1939 I like to recognize the tune Gray Gordon ; Cliff Grass ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-040493 10-in. 10/10/1939 To you sweetheart, aloha Gray Gordon ; Cliff Grass ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-041590 10-in. 8/21/1939 Mexiconga Victoria Córdova ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BS-041591 10-in. 8/21/1939 Just for a thrill Gray Gordon ; Cliff Grass ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-041592 10-in. 8/21/1939 Old mill wheel Gray Gordon ; Cliff Grass ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-041593 10-in. 8/21/1939 Ling'ring on your doorstep Gray Gordon ; Cliff Grass ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-041594 10-in. 8/21/1939 It's all over town (We're thru) Gray Gordon ; Cliff Grass ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-041595 10-in. 8/21/1939 It's funny to everyone but me Gray Gordon ; Cliff Grass ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-046089 10-in. 1/9/1940 I love me (I'm wild about myself) Gray Gordon ; Rita Ray ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BS-046090 10-in. 1/9/1940 Ain't you ashamed Gray Gordon ; Rita Ray ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BS-046091 10-in. 1/9/1940 Gone with the wind Gray Gordon ; Cliff Grass ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-046092 10-in. 1/9/1940 Way back in 1939 Gray Gordon ; Cliff Grass ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-047738 10-in. 3/4/1940 I was watching a man paint a fence Gray Gordon ; Rita Ray ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BS-047739 10-in. 3/4/1940 No more rain Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra ; Johnny Victor Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-047740 10-in. 3/4/1940 You gorgeous dancing doll Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra ; Johnny Victor Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-047741 10-in. 3/4/1940 The kitten with the big green eyes Gray Gordon ; Rita Ray ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BS-048974 10-in. 4/30/1940 Blackout—hold me tight Meredith Blake ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BS-048975 10-in. 4/30/1940 It wouldn't be love Meredith Blake ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BS-048976 10-in. 4/30/1940 Clear out of this world Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-048977 10-in. 4/30/1940 I love to watch the moonlight Meredith Blake ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
(Results 51-75 of 105 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gordon, Gray," accessed May 14, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104827.

Gordon, Gray. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 14, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104827.

"Gordon, Gray." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 14 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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