Al Gorgoni (born 1939) is an American guitarist, composer, arranger, and producer, known for his work as a studio musician during the 1960s and 1970s.

Biography

Growing up in Philadelphia, his family moved to The Bronx where he took up the guitar at age 14.^[1]

His first recording sessions took place in 1959, playing on demo recordings with Brill Building songwriters Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Carole King, Gerry Goffin, and Phil Spector.^[2] Gorgoni eventually moved into proper sessions, appearing on hit singles such as "The Name Game" by Shirley Ellis, "Sherry," "Walk Like A Man" and "Big Girls Don't Cry" by The Four Seasons, "Leader of the Pack" by The Shangri-Las, and "Chapel of Love" by The Dixie Cups.^[3] Other hits featuring Gorgoni's playing are "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel, "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison, "I'm a Believer" by The Monkees, "At Seventeen" by Janis Ian, "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies, and "Brand New Key" by Melanie.^[4]

Gorgoni worked with many other artists including Joan Baez, Blood Sweat & Tears, Bobby Darin, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Richard and Mimi Fariña, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Astrud Gilberto, Herbie Mann, Laura Nyro, James Taylor, and B.J. Thomas.^[5] This article contains only a partial list of credits.

Discography

With Herbie Mann

• Our Mann Flute (Atlantic, 1966)

With Barry Mann

• Lay It All Out (CBS Records, 1971)
• Barry Mann (Casablanca Records, 1980)

With Al Kooper

• White Chocolate (Sony, 2008)

With Kai Winding

• The In Instrumentals (Verve, 1965)

With Simon & Garfunkel

• Sounds of Silence (Columbia Records, 1966)

With Carole Bayer Sager

• Carole Bayer Sager (Elektra Records, 1977)

With Janis Ian

• Janis Ian (Verve, 1967)
• Stars (Columbia Records, 1974)
• Aftertones (Columbia Records, 1975)
• Janis Ian (Columbia Records, 1978)

With B.J Thomas

• Billy Joe Thomas (1972)
• Rock'n'Roll Lullaby (1972)
• Songs (1973)
• Longhorn & London Bridges (1974)

Gorgoni, Martin and Taylor ( Buddah /Legacy, 1972)

References