Emory Lee Gordy, Jr., born December 25, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, is an American musician and music producer. He was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1992. His wife, Patty Loveless joined him in the GMHOF in 2005.

Early life

By age four he was proficient on a piano keyboard; at six he had begun to tackle the trumpet and would soon learn the banjo, euphonium, guitar, and ukulele. In high school Gordy divided his time and talents between string bands, dixieland bands, and a top 40 garage band, honing his musical skills and learning to arrange music. After graduation he continued his musical studies at Georgia State University, performing French horn in the concert band.

Career

Early years

Started his career as a studio musician in Atlanta during 1964. He was asked to fill in on the instrument during a performance by Tommy Roe at a local concert. A week later he got the proverbial phone call; on the other end of the line was Joe South, an Atlanta-based record producer who had covered Roe on guitar alongside Gordy the week before. Soon Gordy was working alongside Roe, Razzy Bailey, Mac Davis, and Freddy Weller, as well as touring with Lou Christie, Rufus Thomas, and the Impressions. With Dennis Yost, he was a co-writer on the Classics IV hit "Traces".