Vin Gordon
Encyclopedia
Vin Gordon (born 4 August 1949) is a Jamaica
n trombone
player.
, Jamaica
as one of eight children. He went to Kingston's catholic Alpha Boys School
where he learned to play trombone and string bass. One of his tutors was Lennie Hibbert
. After graduating from Alpha in the mid 1960s, he played in the Salvation Army Band
in Montego Bay
, and was then brought by Alphonso to Studio One, where he backed The Wailers on their "monumental rude-boy tune "Jailhouse"" (Katz).
At Studio One Gordon met Lee Perry and played with many reggae
artists
during the rock steady
years. He played on records
by Bibi Seaton, The Heptones
, Bob Andy
and Keith Hudson
.
One solo
album
was produced
by Lee Perry in 1973 (Musical Bones
), which was originally released on DIP
in the UK
on blank labels in 300 copies only. There are rumours that the horn
solos for this album have not been played by Gordon, but by Rico Rodriguez
in a London
recording studio
.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
player.
Biography
Gordon grew up in Jones Town, KingstonKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
as one of eight children. He went to Kingston's catholic Alpha Boys School
Alpha Boys School
Alpha Cottage School is a school on South Camp Road in Kingston, Jamaica, run by Roman Catholic nuns...
where he learned to play trombone and string bass. One of his tutors was Lennie Hibbert
Lennie Hibbert
Lennie Hibbert OD was a Jamaican musician who was bandmaster at the Alpha Cottage School, and also a vibraphone virtuoso, recording two albums for Studio One.-Biography:...
. After graduating from Alpha in the mid 1960s, he played in the Salvation Army Band
Salvation Army Band
A Salvation Army brass band is a brass band affiliated with a Corps, Division or Territory of the Salvation Army. In society, a Salvation Army band playing in public places during Christian events in the calendar such as Christmas has become a part of seasonal customs particularly in the...
in Montego Bay
Montego Bay
Montego Bay is the capital of St. James Parish and the second largest city in Jamaica by area and the fourth by population .It is a tourist destination with duty free shopping, cruise line terminal and the beaches...
, and was then brought by Alphonso to Studio One, where he backed The Wailers on their "monumental rude-boy tune "Jailhouse"" (Katz).
At Studio One Gordon met Lee Perry and played with many reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
during the rock steady
Rock Steady
Rock Steady is the fifth album by American rock band No Doubt. It was released on December 11, 2001 on Interscope Records. The band began writing the album with initial recording sessions in Los Angeles and San Francisco, then traveled to London and Jamaica to work with various performers,...
years. He played on records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
by Bibi Seaton, The Heptones
The Heptones
The Heptones are a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal trio most active in the 1960s and early 1970s. They were one of the more significant trios of that era, and played a major role in the gradual transition between ska and rocksteady with their three-part harmonies.-History:Leroy Sibbles, Earl...
, Bob Andy
Bob Andy
Bob Andy is a Jamaican reggae vocalist and songwriter. He is widely regarded as one of reggae's most influential songwriters.-Career:...
and Keith Hudson
Keith Hudson
Keith Hudson aka the "Dark Prince of Reggae" , was a Jamaican reggae artist and record producer.He is known for his influence on the Dub movement.- Biography :...
.
One solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
was produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Lee Perry in 1973 (Musical Bones
Musical Bones
Musical Bones is an album by Vin Gordon and The Upsetters, produced by Lee Perry and released in 1975.-Track listing:#"Coco-Macca"#"Fly Away"#"The Message"#"Licky-Licky"#"Labrish"#"Quinge-Up"#"Raw-Chaw"#"5 Cardiff Crescent"#"Four of a Kind"...
), which was originally released on DIP
DIP
Dip may refer to:* The Dip, in the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit, a substance which kills animated characters* Dip , an evil demonic dog that drinks people's blood* Dip , a partner dance move...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on blank labels in 300 copies only. There are rumours that the horn
Horn section
In music, a horn section can refer to several groups of musicians. It can refer to the musicians in a symphony orchestra who play the horn . In a British-style brass band it refers to the tenor horn players. In popular music, it can also refer to a small group of wind instrumentalists who augment a...
solos for this album have not been played by Gordon, but by Rico Rodriguez
Rico Rodriguez
Rico Rodriguez MBE , also known as Reco or El Reco, is a ska and reggae trombonist. He has recorded with many producers, including Karl Pitterson, Prince Buster, and Lloyd 'Matador' Daley...
in a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
.