One of Australia's most accomplished musicians.Born in Coonamble N.S.W, Jimmy's musical beginning was at the age of four. 12 years of classical piano and 10 years in brass bands with bandmaster/father and coronet champion, Harry Slogget B.E.M., O.A.M.
Both parents were musical and with saxophone-playing uncles this was a strong influence and probably the main reason for Jimmy taking up the saxophone at the age of 16.
Jimmy's first band was from and based in Orange, N.S.W. His apprenticeship of piano tuning eventually took him to Sydney where he was asked to join Johnny Rebb and the Rebels to do a national tour with the Everly Brothers, Salmineo, Tab Hunter and later with Fabian, Lloyd Price and Conway Twitty. These were the first 'Lee Gordon Big Shows'. T.V. shows included Bandstand and 6 o'clock Rock.
Johnny O’Keefe encouraged Jimmy as an arranger and musical producer as well as a saxophonist in his band the Dee Jays and had Jimmy do the arrangements for 2 of his biggest hits - 'Sing, Sing, Sing' and 'I Thank You', along with other recordings for Warren Williams and Lonnie Lee. Jimmy played jazz as well as R/R in Sydney and finally went into the nightclub scene at Chequers as featured saxophonist, with Della Reece, Carmen McRae, Nelson Eddy and Francis Faye, and was the youngest in the band by 10 years.
After this, Jimmy went to Auckland, N.Z. and had a number 1 hit with 'Yackety Sax' and was Musical Director for the N.Z. Broadcasting Commission for 3 TV shows, each running for 26 weeks. Jimmy returned to Sydney in the late 70's and built a music studio in Cremorne (now taken over by son Matthew), and back to playing live music.
In the 80's Jimmy enjoyed working with Cold Chisel, Renee Geyer and Venetta Fields to name a few. Recently Jimmy was Musical Director for the highly successful Long Way To The Top show.
He now resides in what he believes is Australia's premier music capital – Melbourne and is still playing with Max Merritt and has been for over 40 years.
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