Photo: Rex Bullington / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Gordon Goodwin is, to my ears, one of the great keepers of the big-band flame. As a pianist, saxophonist, composer, arranger and conductor leading his Big Phat Band, he proved that a large ensemble can still hit hard in the modern era. Four Grammys, three Daytime Emmys and twenty-five nominations are not flukes; they reflect a writer who fuses precision with genuine playfulness. I love arrangements that are dense yet swing, and his do exactly that. He passed in late 2025, but those charts will keep getting pulled out and played, which is the best tribute a composer can earn.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Gordon Goodwin
- Name (Japanese)
- ゴードン・グッドウィン
- Reading
- ごーどん・ぐっどうぃん
- Born
- December 30, 1954 (age 71)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Capricorn / Horse
- Origin
- Wichita, Kansas, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- composer / pianist / jazz musician / conductor / saxophonist
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Bonita High School
- University
- California State University, Northridge
Awards & achievements
- Grammy Awards
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Life in the Bubble | — |
6. Links
- Official sitehttp://www.gordongoodwin.com
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon%20Goodwin
Frequently asked questions
When was Gordon Goodwin born?
Born December 30, 1954 (age 71).
Where is Gordon Goodwin from?
Gordon Goodwin is from Wichita, Kansas, United States.
What does Gordon Goodwin do?
Gordon Goodwin works as composer, pianist, jazz musician, conductor, saxophonist.
What is Gordon Goodwin known for?
Notable works include Life in the Bubble.
Composer — see all → · Pianist — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.