Daily Inspiration: Meet Gorden Campbell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gorden Campbell.

Hi Gorden, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started playing drums at the age of five at my grandfather’s church in Newburgh, NY. From there, I began taking formal lessons in the fourth grade and I was involved in everything music straight through college (Howard University, Washington, DC). It was at Howard where I met an R&B group called SHAI and that was my introduction to the world of touring. That was my first big gig as a drummer! I moved to Los Angeles with them in 1993. From there, I’ve been touring and recording with some of the music industry’s top artists (Earth, Wind & Fire, Whitney Houston, Neyo, Mary J Blige…).

While touring, I was also building up my studio gear and I started producing. I’ve always written songs and put together beats on drums machines, but it was 1993 when I bought my first MPC (midi production center) and started really producing full songs. Today, I have a studio in North Hollywood, CA where I work with all types of artists. From rock, pop, jazz, R&B to gospel, we do it all!! I love the variety of being able to produce an artist one day and then record drums for a totally different artist the next day! I’m also a recording artist and I have an album out called “Conversations”. It features PJ Morton, BJ The Chicago Kid, Sheila E., Paul Jackson Jr., Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin, Alex Isley, B. Slade, and many more!

https://music.apple.com/us/album/conversations/1649932116

I’m currently finishing my new album “Conversations Live at East West Studios!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No! It definitely wasn’t a smooth road. I think that I had it a little easier because I already had a gig (with SHAI) when I moved to Los Angeles. A lot of people move with no gig and they have to start from scratch. I had a head start, BUT there were MANY days when I didn’t know where my next check was coming from! I always tell people that you really have to have a passion for this business because it’s a constant hustle trying to keep and find the next gig. If you stay the course and work hard at being proficient at what you do, you can and will have a long career in this business.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a producer/ musician, I do a variety of things on a daily basis. Some days I’m songwriting and producing music for an artist. Some days I’m recording live drums for an artist, producer or a tv show. Other days, I’m traveling and touring with artists, playing live shows around the world. I also teach drums so I have a few drums students that I work with on a weekly basis. I would have to say that my favorite thing to do is creating! I love writing and producing new music! That’s part of the reason that I decided to put my album out. I think that I’m most known for mixing live instruments into my production and giving music a “live” feel. I also think that that mixture sets me apart from other producers. Understanding how to meld together programmed beats with live instruments and making it feel authentic to a certain style of music.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think the biggest shift in the music industry in the next few years will be AI. People are starting to use AI as a songwriting tool and you can even use AI to demo a song if you don’t have a singer! I’m not mad at people using technology, but I’m an advocate for real people doing the work!

Contact Info:

• Website: Gordencampbell.com
• Instagram: Gorden512
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Gordencampbell
• Twitter: Gcampent
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@gcamp512

Image Credits
Photo by Cheriss May