Like many youths who went to parties during the 1960s, Clement Gordon listened and danced to songs from Motown Records. ‘I Second That Emotion’ by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles was one of his favourites.
Gordon recently covered the 1967 classic, reggae style. An impressive cast of musicians played on the self-produced song. “I always love Smokey Robinson songs, and that particular song, it’s nice for the ladies because it sends a message,” said Gordon. He actually recorded ‘I Second That Emotion’ several years ago with Sly and Robbie on drums and bass, Dalton Browne and Paul “Wrongmove” Crosdale (piano).
Interestingly, Gordon is a long-time resident of Detroit, Michigan, where Motown was founded, and had a remarkable run of hit songs in the 1960s. In the 1960s, the Kingston-born artiste was also taken by the sounds of Studio One, often likened to Motown because of similarities in approach to recording dance music geared at teenagers.
Gordon was part of the vibrant reggae scene in Toronto, Canada, during the 1970s. At the time, that city was home to top acts like Leroy Sibbles, Johnny Osbourne, and Willi Williams.
In the past 15 years he has released a number of songs, including the humorous ‘Granny’ and a cover of The Isley Brothers ‘This Old Heart of Mine’. Last year, Gordon released the patriotic ‘Rule the World’.
