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Benny Gordon (singer)
American singer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Benny Gordon (1932 – December 24, 2008) was an American soul and R&B singer who recorded from the early 1960s up to the 1970s. Some of his early efforts were as a member of Christian Harmonizers. Their recordings were credited to The Christian Harmonizers (Featuring B. Gordon). Later recordings were as Bennie Gordon and the Soul Brothers.[1] In 1968, they had a single out on the RCA label, "What Is Soul" which was backed with "I Can't Turn You Loose".[2][3]
Benny Gordon & the Soul Brothers were to appear at Trude Heller's regularly and in 1967 appeared there with Reparata & the Delrons[4] Benny and the Soul Brothers even performed for the opening day of Trude Hellers Take V club that opened on December 18, 1970.[5]
As a solo singer he released singles "True Love Is All I Need" on the Capitol label, "Gonna Give Her All The Love I Got" on Wand label and "Sugar Mama" (You Know You're My Baby) on the Estill label.[6]
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Gordon was born and raised Estill, South Carolina.[7] Along with his brother, Sammy Gordon, he was a member of the Christian Harmonizers, a gospel group. In the early 1960s they moved to Brooklyn. They later formed The Soul Brothers band.[8] The line-up was, Benny Gordon lead vocals, Ronnie Grieco saxophone, Perry Smith drums. Other members were Austin, Aaron aka Shockey, Max and Tommy.[9]
They became the house band at Trude Heller's club on Sixth Avenue in Greenwich Village. [10]
By August 1967, the Paul Robinson produced "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" was released. Reviewed in the August 5 issue of Record World, and a four star pick, the reviewer noted the beat and lyric that would appeal to r&B fans.[11][12] A pick on Radio WWIN, it was also getting a good reception around the country.[13] It was also hitting on Radio WJLB in Detroit.[14] Its progress was noted in the August 19 issue of Record World. The magazine noted it's heating up in Detroit and gaining ground in Baltimore. It was also a pick on Baltimore's WWIN.[15]
In May 1968, Benny Gordon and the Soul Brothers released the album Tighten Up that featured the tracks "Tighten Up", "Hold On, I'm Comin'" and "Hang on Sloopy". It was reviewed in the June 8 issue of Billboard, and the June 25 issue of Record World.[16][17] Also that year, his version of "Gonna Give You All the Love I Got" backed with Turn on Your Love Light" was released on Wand 1188. It was a four star pick in the August 17 issue of Record World with the reviewer saying it "Will be right for many boogalooers".[18] It was reported in the 14 September issue of Record World that "Turn on Your Love Light" was breaking in New York City and Philadelphia.[19] With "Gonna Give You All the Love I Got" getting attention, his band the Soul Brothers had released their own single, "Horsing Around" on Newmiss Records, a label distributed by Scepter Records.[20]
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Personal life
Gordon is related to Sammy Gordon who fronted the group Sammy Gordon & the Hip Huggers who recorded "Upstairs On Boston Road",[21] and an early version of Bobby Womack's "Breezin'" that George Benson would later have a hit with.[22] Some sources credit them as cousins[23] while others credit them as brothers.[24]
Death
He died on December 24, 2008, from an inoperable stomach tumor at the age of 77.[25]
Benny Gordon and the Soul Brothers discography
Singles
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Benny Gordon discography
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Other
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Further reading
References
External links
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