Gordon Mote  E-mail

www.gordonmote.com

www.rsimusicgroup.com

Born in Gadsden, Ala., Gordon, who has been blind since birth, Gordon Mote surprised his parents by playing the piano when he was only three years old. His family moved to Talladega when he was six, and sports and music became the two passions that dominated his youth. An honor student and captain of his high school marching band, Gordon earned a full scholarship to Alabama’s Jacksonville State University.

While attending college in Jacksonville, a friend set up a meeting for Gordon with famed Muscle Shoals musician/producer Jimmy Johnson, an Alabama icon who has worked with Bob Seger, the Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan. “I played some of my songs for him and he said, ‘Son, you’re really good, but you’re in the wrong place,’” Gordon recalls. “He said, ‘You need to go to Nashville and go to Belmont. You need to be in a place where everybody is better than you, where they’ll just knock you off your feet. You’re the best there is where you are; but in a year, you’ll be better than them.’ He didn’t just tell me that; he set it up for me to get an audition for a scholarship.”

 

Though he was comfortable being a big fish in a small pond, Gordon made the move to Nashville and began attending Belmont University. During finals a professor told him Lee Greenwood was looking to hire a piano player who could also sing for his band. Gordon didn’t think he had a chance at the gig; but much to his surprise two days after graduation, Gordon found himself on the road as the new piano player in Greenwood’s band.

Three years later when Greenwood came off the road and moved to Sevierville, Tenn., to open his own theater, Gordon opted to remain in Nashville. He began steadily building his resume as a studio musician and life was good. He recorded a couple of instrumental projects that were extremely well-received, landing a Dove Award nomination. If you look at the credits of a Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson or Martina McBride album anxious to find the name of the great piano player who adds so much musical flavor to those top-selling records, the name is Gordon Mote, an accomplished musician, master prankster and devoted Christian. If there was an award on Nashville’s famed Music Row for Mr. Congeniality, Gordon would be the recipient.

However, his session work remained his bread and butter—a great way to remain at home with his family and make a good living. When he was approached about recording another album, he politely said no. “I said, ‘Man, thank you so much for thinking of me, but I’m not interested. I’m here with my wife and kids and I don’t need a job. I have a job,” Gordon recalls telling record executive Bob Rodgers. “About nine or 10 months later, I was out on my porch, listening to a Braves game and just feeling so down. I had nothing to feel down about. I was working a lot. My kids were healthy and everything was great between me and my wife, but I just felt so empty.

“Finally I just said, ‘God, if this really is what you want me to do, I’ll do it; but you know in my heart I have no desire to do this. I need you to give me the passion to minister.’ Once I said yes, I have never had passion for something like this ministry. It’s pretty unbelievable. I thought you had to be perfect. You don’t have to be perfect; you just have to be willing.”

That willingness led to the recording There’s No Place That Love Can’t Reach, which garnered notice for his singing and songwriting skills, and gained the attention of music lovers nationwide, including legendary Gospel music icon Bill Gaither. Shortly after the release of Gordon’s debut RSI recording, he received an invitation from Gaither to join him on several concert events. By the Spring of 2006, Gordon had become a permanent fixture on the highly successful, long-running Gaither Homecoming Tour. Since joining the Tour and becoming pianist for the multi-talented Gaither Vocal Band, Gordon has gained the respect and admiration of fans nationwide.

To say that Gordon has enjoyed whirlwind success throughout the past four years would be somewhat of an understatement. This passionate Alabama football fan now performs in excess of 145 concerts a year, in addition to being one of Nashville’s most sought-after studio musicians. Gordon is the first to attest that he is fulfilling his lifelong dream, but he remains a focused, dedicated family man, who admits his favorite thing about traveling is returning home to his family. He and wife, Kimberly have been married for 17 years. The two have three children, 13-year-old Samantha, 10-year-old Parker and Ashton now 2 years old.  Since that first solo project, Gordon has released Don’t Let Me Miss The Glory in 2006 and this years release, I Will Sing.  Both CD’s released through Spring Hill Music Group and RSI Music Group.  His prowess on the keyboards has earned him a reputation as one of Nashville’s top session musicians and most sought-after concert pianists. With the release of these projects, Gordon steps from the shadows of Music Row’s busiest studios and into the bright spotlight.

Gordon’s passion for music is contagious. He’s an insightful songwriter who knows the value of a strong lyric, and he possesses a voice that resonates with warmth and conviction. As a pianist, he’s one of the best-known musicians in the industry. He’s performed on stage with Lee Greenwood, Trisha Yearwood, Tanya Tucker, Bill Gaither and Grand Ole Opry legend Porter Wagoner among others. In the studio, a “who’s who of country and Christian artists” have benefited from Gordon’s gifts, among them Rascal Flatts, Randy Travis, The Martins, Mark Lowry, Trace Adkins, The Gaither Vocal Band and Kenny Chesney.

However, when a Christian gets comfortable with the status quo, that’s often when God calls them out of their comfort zone.  “I think the thing that I’ve learned more than anything is just to be true to who you are because it’s your name that’s on the album and it’s your name that’s on the bus,” says Gordon. “If you don’t really believe in what you’re singing, you can’t do it with passion.” 

 
 

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