Page 27 - MGA Today: Middle Georgia State University

2015 Outstanding Alumnus Award as a bass player, composer, writer and producer.
Emory Lee Gordy Jr. In addition to working with the artists named, he
played with the Bellamy Brothers, Tom Petty and
Elvis Presley. Emmylou Harris. Neil John Denver, among many others. In 1983, he
Diamond. Billy Joel. Patty Loveless. joined MCA Records in Nashville and produced
albums for artists including George Jones, Vince
Those are just a few of the artists Emory Gordy Gill, Alabama and Patty Loveless. He was inducted
worked with as a touring or studio bass player, or into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1992.
as a producer. Always low-key, Gordy might be
one of the music industry’s most influential Even though Gordy is one of Nashville’s most
figures you’ve never heard of. influential producers, he is very down to earth and
humble about his accomplishments.
Middle Georgia State University is proud to
claim Gordy as one of its own. He earned his “We all owe Emory a debt of gratitude for his
associate’s degree from what was then Middle contributions to the music industry,” said Dave
Georgia College in 1964, and he credits a specific Pomeroy, president of the Nashville Musicians
professor – James Earl Whitaker – for guiding him Association.
into music.
Semi-retired, Gordy lives in northwest Atlanta,
“Back when I went to Middle Georgia, the writes, occasionally travels to Nashville as a studio
Beatles had not yet come along,” Gordy said. musician and plays guitar at most of his wife’s
“Musicians were somewhere around lepers and yearly appearances at the Grand Ole Opry.
horse thieves on the totem pole. Fortunately, Doc
Whitaker, who was head of the music department, The Middle Georgia State Foundation
started steering me toward music.” established the Outstanding Alumnus Award to
recognize graduates who have distinguished them-
And the industry is all the richer for it. selves academically, professionally or through
Gordy, who is married to award-winning singer community involvement, and achieved positions
Loveless, went on to have a very successful career of influence and regional or national reputation.

Emory Lee Gordy Jr. is the recipient
of the 2015 Outstanding Alumnus
Award. He is shown with, left to right,
Beth Byers, Middle Georgia State’s
executive director for Development; his
wife, singer Patty Loveless; his pet
dog, Gustav; and Natalie Rischbieter,
Middle Georgia State’s director of
Alumni Relations. TYLER HORNE