American jazz trumpeter, born May 15, 1928 in Boston, Massachusetts, died November 4, 1963 in Santa Monica, California
Gordon started playing professionally in Boston in 1947. During his career he played with Georgie Auld, Charlie Mariano, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Parker (1953-1955 intermittently), Art Blakey (1954), Don Redman, Dizzy Gillespie (on tour, 1956), Horace Silver, Barney Kessel, Benny Carter, Harold Land, Shelly Manne (1958-1960), Dexter Gordon, and many others.
He recorded two albums under his own name, Introducing Joe Gordon (1955) and Lookin' Good! (1961).
He died tragically in a house fire having fallen asleep with a lit cigarette.