James Beck Gordon was an American Influential rock drummer of the 1960s and 70s who played with George Harrison and Eric Clapton whose career took a turn when he was convicted of murdering his mother. Gordon's career began when he was a teenager with the Everly Brothers in 1964. He was a drummer and was one of the most sought-after recording session drummers in Los Angeles during the 60s and 70s. He played on many notable songs and artists including Pet Sounds, by the Beach Boys, Gene Clark with... moreJames Beck Gordon was an American Influential rock drummer of the 1960s and 70s who played with George Harrison and Eric Clapton whose career took a turn when he was convicted of murdering his mother. Gordon's career began when he was a teenager with the Everly Brothers in 1964. He was a drummer and was one of the most sought-after recording session drummers in Los Angeles during the 60s and 70s. He played on many notable songs and artists including Pet Sounds, by the Beach Boys, Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers, by Gene Clark; The Notorious Byrd Brothers, by the Byrds. Other hit songs he played on are Maria Muldaur’s Midnight at the Oasis, Glen Campbell’s Gentle on My Mind, Steely Dan’s Rikki Don’t Lose that Number, Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain and Joan Baez’s Diamonds and Rust. Gordon's mental health problem showed early on in his career, it was not until he he used a hammer and a knife to murder his 71-year-old mother, Osa Marie Gordon, claiming that he had heard voices telling him to kill her that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He was denied the insanity plea and ultimately sentenced to to 16 years to life in prison. He died in prison on March at the age of 77.
