I just read that Jim Gordon, session drummer extraordinaire, passed away last Monday. One of the most interesting, bizarre, and sad stories in the history of rock 'n roll. He played with everyone, including Derek and the Dominoes, the Everly Brothers, the Beach Boys, Joe Cocker, Dave Mason, Traffic, Frank Zappa, and George Harrison, just to name a few. He was at one time credited with composing the piano coda to Layla. Later, it was discovered it was really written by Rita Coolidge who was in an abusive relationship with Gordon at the time, due to Gordon's then undiagnosed schizophrenia. Gordon became sicker and was misdiagnosed as alcoholic. He heard voices telling him to kill his mother, and wound hitting her with a hammer and then stabbing her to death. Only then was he properly diagnosed. He was sentenced to 16 years to life and spent the rest of his life in prison psychiatric facilities, passing away here in the Bay Area at the psychiatric prison in Vacaville.
May the Four Winds Blow You Safely Home.
Bill, tgo
