Gordon Goodwin

Gordon Louis Goodwin (December 30, 1954 – December 8, 2025) was an American pianist, saxophonist, composer, arranger and conductor. He was the leader of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. He won three Daytime Emmy Awards, four Grammy Awards, and 25 Grammy nominations for his compositions and arrangements.

Early life and education Gordon Goodwin was born in Wichita, Kansas, on December 30, 1954, He wrote his first big band chart, called "Hang Loose", when he was in the seventh grade. He attended Bonita High School in La Verne, California. He continued his musical education at California State University, Northridge, with Joel Leach and Bill Calkins.

Career Following graduation from college, Goodwin was employed as a musician at the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California. Subsequently, Disney approached him to write a musical show featuring past and present Mouseketeers, including Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Since then, Goodwin rose to prominence in the American studio music scene with his big band, The Big Phat Band. He wrote and worked with artists including Ray Charles, Christina Aguilera, Johnny Mathis, John Williams, Natalie Cole, David Foster; Sarah Vaughan, Mel Tormé, Leslie Odom, Jr., Idina Menzel, Lang Lang, and Quincy Jones. Goodwin was the host of a nationally syndicated jazz radio program called Phat Tracks with Gordon Goodwin, that aired on weekends on KSDS, San Diego's 88.3 FM.

Death Goodwin suffered a stroke from which he did not regain consciousness and died in Los Angeles on December 8, 2025, at the age of 70, due to complications of pancreatic cancer.

Discography "Festival of the Lion King" (Buena Vista, 2001) Swingin' for the Fences (Immergent, 2001) XXL (Silverline, 2003) The Phat Pack (Silverline, 2006) Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas (Immergent, 2006) Act Your Age (Immergent, 2008) Dave Siebels With: Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band (PBGL, 2009) That's How We Roll (Telarc, 2011) Life in the Bubble (Telarc, 2014) Wrap This! A Big Phat Christmas (Music of Content, 2015) The Gordian Knot (Music of Content, 2019) The Gordian Knot (Dolby Atmos Release) (Music of Content, 2020) The Reset (Music of Content, 2021)

Awards and honors Goodwin received many individual awards, including a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for his work on the feature film The Incredibles.

Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Music Direction and Composition, Animaniacs (1998, 1999) Outstanding Music Direction and Composition, Histeria! (2000)

Memberships Goodwin was initiated into the men's music fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, as a National Honorary member and was made a Signature Sinfonian at the 55th National Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, 2015.