Trivia

Was the Godfather of Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich

His uncredited role in the prison drama "Unchained" is that of a saxophone player in the prison jazz band. The film was shot at the correctional facility in Chino, California, where he was serving time for possession of heroin.

Jazz saxophonist. Died of kidney failure in Philadelphia at age 67.

Not long after 'Round Midnight (1986), Coca-Cola approached Dexter Gordon about appearing in some television commercials. They changed their mind however, as they felt his skin color was "too white" and not dark enough.

Suffering from cancer of the larynx at the time of his death.

Children: Robin, Deirdre, Mikael Solfors, Benjamin, and Woody Louis Armstrong Shaw.

Son of Gwendoline Gordon, and Frank Gordon.

Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1988.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 341-343. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999.

Taught the saxophone; among his students was Hadley Caliman.

Friends with Melba Liston, Charles Mingus, Illiois Jacquet, and Billy Higgins.

Has seven grandchildren.

Grandson of Edward L. Baker.