Al Gorgoni (born 1939) is an American guitarist, composer, arranger, and producer, known for his work as a studio musician during the 1960s and 1970s.

Biography

Growing up in Philadelphia, his family moved to The Bronx where he took up the guitar at age 14.[1]

His first recording sessions took place in 1959, playing on demo recordings with Brill Building songwriters Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Carole King, Gerry Goffin, and Phil Spector.[2] Gorgoni eventually moved into proper sessions, appearing on hit singles such as "The Name Game" by Shirley Ellis, "Sherry," "Walk Like A Man" and "Big Girls Don't Cry" by The Four Seasons, "Leader of the Pack" by The Shangri-Las, and "Chapel of Love" by The Dixie Cups.[3] Other hits featuring Gorgoni's playing are "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel, "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison, "I'm a Believer" by The Monkees, "At Seventeen" by Janis Ian, "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies, and "Brand New Key" by Melanie.[4]

Gorgoni worked with many other artists including Joan Baez, Blood Sweat & Tears, Bobby Darin, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Richard and Mimi Fariña, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Astrud Gilberto, Herbie Mann, Laura Nyro, James Taylor, and B.J. Thomas.[5] This article contains only a partial list of credits.

Discography

With Herbie Mann

With Barry Mann

  • Lay It All Out (CBS Records, 1971)
  • Barry Mann (Casablanca Records, 1980)

With Al Kooper

  • White Chocolate (Sony, 2008)

With Kai Winding

With Simon & Garfunkel

With Carole Bayer Sager

  • Carole Bayer Sager (Elektra Records, 1977)

With Janis Ian

  • Janis Ian (Verve, 1967)
  • Stars (Columbia Records, 1974)
  • Aftertones (Columbia Records, 1975)
  • Janis Ian (Columbia Records, 1978)

With B.J Thomas

  • Billy Joe Thomas (1972)
  • Rock'n'Roll Lullaby (1972)
  • Songs (1973)
  • Longhorn & London Bridges (1974)

Gorgoni, Martin and Taylor ( Buddah /Legacy, 1972)

References

  1. ^ Michael Gray. The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia. 2006, ISBN 0-8264-6933-7, p. 268.
  2. ^ "Al Gorgoni webpage biography". Archived from the original on 2016-01-18. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  3. ^ Gray, p. 268.
  4. ^ Gorgoni webpage.
  5. ^ Gray, p. 268.


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