Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990

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Dexter Gordon (b. Feb. 27, 1923, in Los Angeles; d. Apr. 25, 1990, in Philadelphia) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and actor.

From the description of Dexter Gordon collection, circa 1940-1996 (bulk 1960-1988). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71056532

Biographical Note

  • 1923, Feb. 27: Born in Watts, Los Angeles, Calif.
  • 1936: Studied music with Lloyd Reese Played in rehearsal band with Charles Mingus and Buddy Collette
  • 1940: Quit high school and joined Lionel Hampton’s touring band
  • 1942: Made recordings with Lionel Hampton’s band
  • 1944: Moved to New York City Appeared with Billy Eckstine’s big band
  • 1945 - 1946 : Recorded album Long Tall Dexter
  • 1947: Recorded album The Chase with Wardell Gray
  • circa 1950 - circa 1959 : Struggled with drug addiction
  • 1955: Featured in the film Unchained Recorded album Dexter Blows Hot and Cool
  • 1960: Actor, musician, composer, for Jack Gelber’s play, The Connection, Los Angeles, Calif. Recorded album The Resurgence of Dexter Gordon
  • 1961: Began series of recordings for Blue Note records, including albums Doin' Allright and Dexter Calling
  • 1962: Recorded album Go! Toured Europe Moved to Copenhagen
  • 1963: Recorded Our Man in Paris
  • 1967: Recorded Body and Soul
  • 1968: Featured in the film Jag älskar, du älskar
  • 1970: Appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival
  • 1971: Recorded Just Jazz segment for PBS television
  • 1972: Appeared at the Tangier Jazz Festival
  • 1974: Recorded album The Apartment
  • 1975: Toured Japan
  • 1976: Moved to New York Recorded album Homecoming
  • 1978: Honored at the White House Jazz Festival
  • 1979: Published Jazz Saxophone Solos. Hollywood, Calif.: Almo Publications (transcriptions from original recordings)
  • 1980: Named “Best Tenor Saxophonist” and “Jazz Musician of the Year” by Down Beat magazine Recorded album Gotham City
  • 1986: Starred in the film 'Round Midnight
  • 1990, Apr. 25: Died, Philadelphia, Penn.

From the guide to the Dexter Gordon Collection, circa 1940-1996, (bulk 1960-1988), (Music Division Library of Congress)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990. Seven come eleven [Multimédia multisupport] / Dexter Gordon, saxo. tenor, saxo. soprano. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
creatorOf Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990. Blues for gates [Multimédia multisupport] / Dexter Gordon, saxo. tenor, saxo. soprano. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Nicolas Slonimsky Collection, 1873-1997, (bulk 1920-1990) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn Duke Ellington recordings collection Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, Harvard College Library
creatorOf Satrio, Ponco. Graduate recital [sound recording] : University of Central Oklahoma/School of Music, Recital Hall, Tuesday, March 27, 2007, 7:30 PM / Ponco Satrio, guitar. University of Central Oklahoma, Chambers Library
creatorOf Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990. They say that falling in love is wonderful [Multimédia multisupport] / Dexter Gordon, saxo. tenor, saxo. soprano. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
creatorOf Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990. Seven come eleven [Multimédia multisupport] / Dexter Gordon, saxo. tenor, saxo. soprano. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Rudee, M. Lea. San Diego jazz photographs, 1981-1991. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990. Dexter Gordon collection, circa 1940-1996 (bulk 1960-1988). Library of Congress
creatorOf Dexter Gordon Collection, circa 1940-1996, (bulk 1960-1988) Library of Congress. Music Division
creatorOf Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990. Lullaby of birdland [Multimédia multisupport] / Dexter Gordon, saxo. tenor, saxo. soprano. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
referencedIn Warner Bros. production slides [graphic], 1979-1991 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990. Blues for gates [Multimédia multisupport] / Dexter Gordon, saxo. tenor, saxo. soprano. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
creatorOf Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990. Lullaby of birdland [Multimédia multisupport] / Dexter Gordon, saxo. tenor, saxo. soprano. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
creatorOf Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990. Cute [Multimédia multisupport] / Dexter Gordon, saxo. tenor, saxo. soprano. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
creatorOf Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990. I should care [Multimédia multisupport] / Dexter Gordon, saxo. tenor, saxo. soprano. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
creatorOf Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990. Lead sheets : unpublished copyright deposits, 1946-1965 / Dexter Gordon. Library of Congress
creatorOf Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990. They say that falling in love is wonderful [Multimédia multisupport] / Dexter Gordon, saxo. tenor, saxo. soprano. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
creatorOf Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990. I should care [Multimédia multisupport] / Dexter Gordon, saxo. tenor, saxo. soprano. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
creatorOf Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990. Cute [Multimédia multisupport] / Dexter Gordon, saxo. tenor, saxo. soprano. Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Blue Note (Firm) corporateBody
associatedWith Burnett, Charles person
correspondedWith Carter, Jimmy, 1924- person
associatedWith David Rayfiel person
associatedWith Dodge, Joseph Jeffers person
associatedWith Dodge, Joseph Jeffers person
correspondedWith Gillespie, Dizzy, 1917-1993 person
associatedWith Gordon, Maxine. person
associatedWith Hickman, Gail person
correspondedWith Lion, Alfred person
correspondedWith Lion, Alfred person
associatedWith Oliver Sacks person
correspondedWith Parker, Charlie, 1920-1955 person
correspondedWith Reagan, Ronald person
associatedWith Reynolds, Jonathan person
associatedWith Rudee, M. Lea. person
associatedWith Satrio, Ponco. person
associatedWith Slonimsky, Nicolas, 1894-1995 person
associatedWith Steven Zaillian person
correspondedWith Tavernier, Bertrand person
associatedWith Warner Bros corporateBody
correspondedWith Wolff, Francis person
correspondedWith Wolff, Francis person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Subject
Jazz
Jazz
Jazz musicians
Jazz musicians
Jazz musicians
Jazz musicians
Music
Music
Music
Saxophonists
Saxophonists
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1923-02-27

Death 1990-04-25

Americans

Information

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