His parents moved from Idaho to Los Angeles.
His father, Frank Gordon, was known as "Doctor Jazz," and had patients named Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday.
During the Roaring Twenties, the most powerful woman in Hollywood–Mary Pickford–handpicked her personal doctor. She knew Frank Gordon was a Negro Doctor. Therefore, he had to be pretty damn Good!
And Dr. Jazz certainly was.
Making house calls to Pickford Estates, little Dexter would wait in his father's car. The rolling hills of the estate inspired the young boy–and the future inspiration for John Coltrane–to think of long, rolling musical notes. Thus he created the extended saxophone solo.
Can you find Dexter Gordon in this McKinley Junior High School 1936 class photo?
Blogger's Hint
He is the tallest student in the back row!
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