JD Gordon’s long and winding road to Centennial
Singer songwriter Dave Gordon grew up in Lennoxville. He did his share of performing in the area in the 1970s-80s, but like many musicians, opted for the stability of a ‘real’ job.
While studying Business Administration at Bishop’s University, he went to a concert at Centennial Theatre featuring a trio from the University of Sherbrooke.
“Man, can these guys sing,” Gordon said to himself, taken in by the experience.
“I’m going to play here some day,” he thought.
Over 35 years later, after getting swept up in the high tech business boom and dodging every curve ball life had to throw at him, Gordon has returned to music, and will return to Centennial Theatre on June 15. This time, he will be the one on the stage.
“My dad was a pipe major for the Eastern Townships Pipe Band,” Gordon said, explaining his introduction to music.
“I was forced to play the pipes at an early age,” he said, starting lessons when he was around 8 years old.
Right around that time, Gordon said The Beatles were making waves on the music scene.
“I could see how the girls were reacting to rock and country, so I didn’t want anything to do with the bagpipes,” he said.
Gordon managed to strike a deal with his dad. The compromise between piping and rock and roll, according to his dad, was the banjo.
Gordon had already started learning guitar watching his older brothers, and also picked up the banjo at 11 years old.
“I’ve worked with every musician from Montreal to Mégantic to Quebec at one time or another,” Gordon said, in his heyday.
“But I didn’t sing,” he added, only adding harmonies on occasion.
Songwriting had always been a passion of his, but in the early years, Gordon never shared his songs.
His main influences include Gordon Lightfoot, Johnny Cash, The Beatles and Earl Scruggs.
Gordon remembered playing bluegrass, country, and rock tunes at most legions and hotels in the Townships for dances in his younger years.
He said he was brought on to the stage to play Nick Dean’s barn dance at 14 years old alongside Jerry Robitaille and Rodney Bray.
“It burned down the next month,” he said.
A few years after graduating from Bishop’s, music took a back seat. Gordon moved to Ottawa and focused on a career in high tech. He got married and had two sons. “I was writing a lot to fill that void of not playing live,” Gordon said.
“I had a high stress job,” he said, explaining that eventually the pressure took its toll.
“I just couldn’t take it,” he said, finally getting out of business and back into music.
“I wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t pursued my dream,” Gordon