Gordon Goodwin

Gordon Louis Goodwin (December 30, 1954 – December 8, 2025) was an American pianist, saxophonist, composer, arranger and conductor. He was the leader of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. He won three Daytime Emmy Awards, four Grammy Awards, and 25 Grammy nominations for his compositions and arrangements.

Early life and education

Gordon Goodwin was born in Wichita, Kansas, on December 30, 1954.^[1] He wrote his first big band chart, called "Hang Loose", when he was in the seventh grade. He continued his musical education at California State University, Northridge, with Joel Leach and Bill Calkins.

Career

Following graduation from college, Goodwin was employed as a musician at the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California. Subsequently, Disney approached him to write a musical show featuring past and present Mouseketeers, including Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.^[2] Since then, Goodwin rose to prominence in the American studio music scene with his big band, The Big Phat Band.^[3][1] He wrote and worked with artists including Ray Charles, Christina Aguilera, Johnny Mathis, John Williams, Natalie Cole, David Foster; Sarah Vaughan, Mel Tormé, Leslie Odom, Jr., Idina Menzel, Lang Lang, and Quincy Jones.^{[citation needed]} Goodwin was the host of a nationally syndicated jazz radio program called Phat Tracks with Gordon Goodwin, that aired on weekends on KSDS, San Diego's 88.3 FM.

Death

Goodwin suffered a stroke from which he did not regain consciousness and died in Los Angeles on December 8, 2025, at the age of 70, due to complications of pancreatic cancer.^[4][5][6]

Discography

• Swingin' for the Fences (Immergent, 2001)
• XXL (Silverline, 2003)
• The Phat Pack (Silverline, 2006)
• Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas (Immergent, 2006)
• Act Your Age (Immergent, 2008)
• Dave Siebels With: Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band (PBGL, 2009)
• That's How We Roll (Telarc, 2011)
• Life in the Bubble (Telarc, 2014)
• Wrap This! A Big Phat Christmas (Music of Content, 2015)
• The Gordian Knot (Music of Content, 2019)
• The Gordian Knot (Dolby Atmos Release) (Music of Content, 2020)
• The Reset (Music of Content, 2021)^[7]

Awards and honors

Goodwin received many individual awards, including a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for his work on the feature film The Incredibles.^[1]

Grammy Awards

• Best Instrumental Arrangement: "The Incredits" (2005), "Rhapsody in Blue" (2011), "On Green Dolphin Street" (2013)
• Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Life in the Bubble (2014)

Grammy Award nominations

• Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: XXL (2003), Act Your Age (2008)
• Best Instrumental Composition: "Sing, Sang, Sung" (2000), "Hunting Wabbits" (2003), "Hit the Ground Running" (2008), "Hunting Wabbits 3 (Get Off My Lawn)" (2011), "California Pictures for String Quartet" (2013), "Life in the Bubble" (2014)
• Best Instrumental Arrangement: "Bach 2 Part Invention in D Minor" (2000), "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" (2006), "Yo Tannenbaum" (2007), "Yesterdays" (2008), "Salt Peanuts! (Mani Salado)" (2012)
• Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): "Comes Love" (2003)
• Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella: "Get Smart" (2014)
• Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals: "Party Rockers" (2014), "Do You Hear What I Hear?" (2016)
• Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals: "I Loves You Porgy" / "There's A Boat That's Leavin' Soon For New York" (2017)

Source:^[8]

Daytime Emmy Awards

• Outstanding Music Direction and Composition, Animaniacs (1998, 1999)^[9][10]
• Outstanding Music Direction and Composition, Histeria! (2000)^[11]

Memberships

• Goodwin was initiated into the men's music fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, as a National Honorary member and was made a Signature Sinfonian at the 55th National Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, 2015.^[12]

See also

• List of jazz arrangers

References

1. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Gordon Goodwin: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
2. ^ Sandler, Eric. "Gordon Goodwin Pt. 1: The Musician, The Composer". Revive-music.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
3. ^ "Gordon Goodwin music". Musicians.allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
4. ^ "Gordon Goodwin Obituary, Death: Passed Away After Battle With A Complications Of Pancreatic Cancer". Lifebulletin.site. Archived from the original on December 11, 2025. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
5. ^ West, Michael J. (9 December 2025). "In Memoriam: Gordon Goodwin, 1954–2025". DownBeat. Archived 11 December 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
6. ^ https://www.primetimer.com/features/who-was-gordon-goodwin-gofundme-raises-more-than-90-000-as-disney-legend-passes-away-at-70
7. ^ "Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
8. ^ "Gordon Goodwin". Grammy.com. 14 May 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
9. ^ Adalian, Josef (17 May 1999). "Emmy's 'Rosie' Glow". Variety.com. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
10. ^ "PBS early Daytime Emmy leader". Variety.com. 11 May 1998. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
11. ^ Grego, Melissa (15 May 2000). "Emmy time for 'Rosie' & 'Bill Nye'". Variety.com. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
12. ^ "2015 Signature Sinfonians : Gordon L. Goodwin, Alpha Alpha (National Honorary)". Sinfonia.org

External links

• Gordon Goodwin at IMDb
• Down Beat article