The Gordons - Little Beggar Man

The Gordons (Gary and Roberta Gordon) are joined by Tim Beattie on harmonica and Curtis Jay Hiner on bass to open up a show with "Little Beggar Man".

Meet Gary and Roberta Gordon. Influenced by the great music of their era, this husband and wife duo were baptized by bluegrass music and have made wonderful folk music ever since. Accompanied by Gary's tasteful Gallagher guitar and dobro, Roberta plays the American born Appalachian autoharp. With many recordings to their credit since 1976 , harmony singing is their signature.

The Gordons have been bringing their music to audiences throughout the United States since the 1970s, particularly in the Midwest and the Carolinas. During the 1970s, they released two records: "Southern Illinois Bluegrass", and "Covered Bridge", both of which received national radio airplay. In the late 1980s, they played a $150 per ticket show in Chicago, Illinois at the Swiss Grand Hotel. They also recorded a live concert in Cincinatti, Ohio at at the celebrated Old Time Music Hall , with special guests, dobro great Josh Graves and Kenny Baker (Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys).

In 1990, they explored a different sound with a country-rock record, "Wasn't Born to Follow", which featured fiddle great Wade Ray; in 1995, they released a gospel record, "Family Bible". Radio recognition was swift, and the single "Dust On The Bible" was praised in Europe as well as the U.S. Longtime broadcaster Dave Higgs of WPLN said: "I'll be spreading The Gospel According To The Gordons here in Nashville." 1997 brought "End Of A Long Hard Day" on Reception Records. Edward Morris of Billboard reviewed the record, and praised "the fidelity with which the group conjures up memories of a sweet rural world now long vanished".

In addition to touring the United States, European acceptance of "Family Bible" secured an invitation to tour Ireland in the mid-1990s, where they performed on RTE, Ireland's national television network, in addition to live radio programs. Richard Gladney of the Irish Bluegrass Music Club said: "Rest easy, Mr. Monroe. Your music is in good hands". The Gordons returned to Ireland three times, in addition to the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, where they took part in the first ever European World of Bluegrass Festival Series, held at venues throughout Holland, under the auspieces of the International Bluegrass Music Association. Strictly Country Records released "Live in Holland" in 1999, featuring Gary and Roberta returning to their duet roots, using only guitar, autoharp, dobro, and voice.

During this time, they also recorded songs for two projects under the name "Summervilla", recorded live in the historic anti-bellium mansion of the same name, located on the Cape Fear River in Eastern North Carolina.

In 2002, The Gordons released "Time Will Tell Our Story", featuring first-rate musicianship from the likes of Alison Brown (banjo) and fiddle from Robert Bowlin.Yet again, it was critically praised -- Bluegrass Unlimited stated that it was "one of the strongest spiritual releases of the year".

While Gary Gordon released a blues record, "Real Blue", in 2005, six years passed with little touring and visible activity from the duo. However, The Gordons never stopped writing, collecting, and recording songs. In 2008, they released "Our Time" on Inside-Out Records. Featuring fourteen songs, The Gordons impart fond reminders of childhood, hopefulness after loss, promise of redemption, and love of man. With the new release, Gary and Roberta will now head back out on the road to play as a duo once again.

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Tags: autoharp, bluegrass, country, flatpick, folk, More…guitar, harmonica
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