1Gordon Mote
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GORDON MOTE BIOGRAPHY Maria Von Trapp, whose story is immortalized in the Beloved musical The Sound of Music, once said, “When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.” Nowhere is that truth more clearly emBodied than in the life of arLst Gordon Mote. Though Blind since Birth, Gordon was Blessed with profound musical talent in lieu of vision. When he was just three, Gordon amazed his family on Thanksgiving By sing down at the piano and playing “Jesus Loves Me” with Both hands. “I was just passionate about music,” states the ARalla, Alabama naLve. “My music is so eclecLc today Because I listened to every alBum I could find. As kids, my Brother (who is also Blind) and I traveled and sang in churches of all sizes and denominaons.” As a young man, Gordon Became one of the first Blind students in the country to Be mainstreamed into the puBlic-school system and later received a full scholarship to Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. AYer three years at JSU, he transferred to Nashville’s Belmont University and graduated with honors. Two days aYer graduaLon, Country music legend Lee Greenwood asked Mote to join his Band. Greenwood Became the first of many popular entertainers with whom Gordon has shared the stage over the past three decades, including Trisha Yearwood, Tanya Tucker, Porter Wagoner, Carrie Underwood, MarLna McBride, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Bill Gaither & the Gaither Vocal Band and Josh Turner to name just a few. In addiLon to touring with these legendary musicians, Gordon has enjoyed an illustrious solo career. His twelve alBums have Blended Country, Pop, and Gospel influences to earn mulLple Dove and Grammy nominaLons. His latest recording, Love Love Love, garnered Mote a second Grammy nominaLon for Best Roots Gospel AlBum (2019). [His first Grammy nod was for Hymns and Songs of Inspira:on. (2017)] For any other aspiring musician, these Blessings would Be more than enough. But many doors have opened and Gordon has Become one of Nashville’s most sought-aYer studio musicians. His Big Break came when fellow keyBoardist Hargus “Pig” RoBBins (who also happens to Be Blind) asked Mote to fill in for him on a session for Country superstar Alan Jackson. That recording session yielded Jackson’s iconic 9/11 triBute song, “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?” Mote’s keyBoard genius has since graced recordings By Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, MarLna McBride, BoB Seger, Rascal FlaRs, Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, Josh Turner, Darius Rucker and Alison Krauss, among many others. Gordon has received mulLple awards from Music Row Magazine, as well as the Academy of Country Music, who has named him Piano/KeyBoard Player of the Year three Lmes. ACM has nominated him on 17 different occasions. Balancing a Busy music and speaking career with family Lme can Be quite taxing and Gordon credits his wife KimBerly, daughter Samantha and husBand Jack , along with sons Parker and Ashton with helping maintain the Balance there. “I am so Blessed” Gordon Beams. “KimBerly is super-Woman, and I can’t thank God enough for the Blessings He has given me Both personally and professionally.” .