Jim Gordon Mother life was marked by tragedy when Jim attacked and killed her in June 1983. It was an unfortunate event that shocked the world.
However, Gordon’s musical legacy lives on despite the tragic incident, and he is ranked Number 59 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time.
His work on albums like Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs and Pet Sounds will continue to be celebrated by music fans for generations.
Also Read: Does Bob Odenkirk Have Cancer? Health Condition After Heart Attack
Who Was Jim Gordon Mother Osa Marie Gordon?
Osa Marie Gordon was the mother of Jim Gordon, a renowned drummer and session musician who played with Eric Clapton, John Lennon, and the Beach Boys.
Despite her son’s success in the music industry, Osa’s life was marked by tragedy when Jim, amid a severe psychotic episode, attacked and killed her with a hammer and knife in June of 1983.
While the exact details surrounding the incident are unclear, it is known that Jim had a long history of mental illness and struggled with drug addiction.
He reported hearing voices in his head, including that of his mother, who he claimed tormented him and told him to eat less.
His mental health issues profoundly impacted his relationships and career, and despite multiple interventions, he could not maintain ongoing treatment.
Following the murder of Osa, Jim was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and found guilty of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison but never attended his parole hearings.
While the circumstances surrounding Osa’s death are undoubtedly tragic, little is known about her life and legacy beyond her role as Jim’s mother.
However, her memory will continue to be honored by those who knew and cared for her. Her death serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences that can result from untreated mental illness.
Jim Gordon -Murderer Eric Clapton Drummer Died At 77
On March 14, 2023, it was announced that Jim Gordon had passed away at 77 in a state-run medical facility in Vacaville, California. According to his publicist, Bob Merlis, Gordon died of natural causes.
James Beck Gordon, better known as Jim Gordon, was a renowned drummer who played on several iconic albums, including Derek, the Dominos’ Layla, Other Assorted Love Songs, and the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds.
Despite the tragic end to his life, Jim Gordon made an indelible mark on the music industry as one of the most talented and sought-after session drummers of his time.
Before his work on Layla, Gordon was a member of the Wrecking Crew, a group of session players who were instrumental in creating the sound of the 1960s.
His mentor, drum legend Hal Blaine, recommended Gordon when he didn’t have the time to take on a job, recognizing Gordon’s incredible talent as a drummer.
Gordon’s drumming can be heard on recordings by many famous artists, including John Lennon, Cher, the Byrds, Jackson Browne, Joan Baez, Alice Cooper, Tom Waits, Neil Diamond, and many others.
He was so highly regarded for his precision and craft that he even became the go-to session drummer for some of rock’s most notorious perfectionists, including Frank Zappa and Steely Dan.
Learn More About Jim Gordon Career Life Explored
Jim Gordon’s career as a drummer is nothing short of legendary. Born in 1945 in California, Gordon attended Grant High School in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles.
As a teenager, he passed up a music scholarship to UCLA to pursue his professional career as a drummer. At the age of 17, he began backing the Everly Brothers and went on to become one of the most sought-after recording session drummers in Los Angeles.
Gordon was the protégé of studio drummer Hal Blaine and performed on many notable recordings in the 1960s. In 1969 and 1970, Gordon toured as part of the backing band for Delaney & Bonnie, which at the time included Eric Clapton.
The band’s first studio work was as the House band for George Harrison’s three-disc set All Things Must Pass (1970).
Gordon then played on Derek and the Dominos’ 1970 double album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, and also played with the band on subsequent U.S. and U.K. tours.
Gordon was also the drummer on the Incredible Bongo Band’s album Bongo Rock, released in 1972, and rap music artists have frequently sampled his drum break on the L.P. version of “Apache.”
In 1972, Gordon was part of Frank Zappa’s 20-piece ‘Grand Wazoo big band and the subsequent 10-piece ‘Petit Wazoo band.
He played drums on Helen Reddy’s Top 20 U.S. album I Am Woman in 1972, and in 1973 he played on Johnny Rivers’ Blue Suede Shoes and Art Garfunkel’s Angel Clare albums.
In addition to his drumming skills, Gordon shared a songwriting credit with Eric Clapton on “Layla” for the song’s famous piano coda.
However, controversy arose when organist Bobby Whitlock claimed that Gordon had plagiarized the part from something his ex-girlfriend, Rita Coolidge, had written. Coolidge also accused Gordon of physical abuse.
Despite these controversies, Jim Gordon’s drumming skills continued to be in high demand, and he even became an unlikely figure in the rise of hip-hop.
DJ Kool Herc started inspiring Bronx dancers with Gordon’s drum break from the Incredible Bongo Band’s “Apache,” “Everybody started searching for the perfect beat, trying to beat that record,” Herc recalled.
Explore: Brad Pitt Face Disorder And Illness: What Happened To Him? Health Update
