About Gordon Huntley
Lived 1930 – 1988 (aged 57–58). Gordon Huntley was an American musician.
Thomas Gordon Huntley (20 December 1925 – 7 March 1988) was a British steel guitar player, best known for being a member of Matthews Southern Comfort. His early playing career was with the Hawaiian Serenaders in 1959, for whom he played a triple neck Fender lap steel guitar. He converted this to a pedal steel by adding an accelerator pedal from a tractor connected with bicycle brake cable. He formed the Black Stetson Boys in 1959 with John Derek, the two later playing together in Johnny and the Hounders (later to become the Flintlocks). In 1970, he played on the band's single "Woodstock", which reached No. 1 on the UK record charts on 31 October and remained there for 3 weeks. Also in 1970, Huntley played steel guitar on the track "Country Comfort" on Elton John's second album, Tumbleweed Connection.
Huntley was highly respected as a session musician and his steel sound was subsequently heard on recordings by artists including Elton John, Rod Stewart, Clodagh Rodgers, Barbara Dickson, the Pretty Things, Fairport Convention, and on the soundtrack of Cliff Richard's Take Me High.
In 1974, Huntley released his own album, Sleepwalk: The Romantic Sound of Gordon Huntley, with arrangements by Harry Robinson.
Huntley died on 7 March 1988 from cancer.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Gordon Huntley's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Gordon Huntley's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Gordon Huntley?
musician
When was Gordon Huntley born?
Gordon Huntley was born in 1930 in Newbury, Berkshire.
When did Gordon Huntley die?
Gordon Huntley died on 7 March 1988.
What was Gordon Huntley's occupation?
Gordon Huntley was a musician.
What nationality was Gordon Huntley?
Gordon Huntley was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Gordon Huntley. https://biography.guide/gordon-huntley/
MLA: "Gordon Huntley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/gordon-huntley/.
Chicago: "Gordon Huntley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/gordon-huntley/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:20 UTC