Gordon’s record label, Cleopatra Records, confirmed the musician’s death to Variety without providing a cause of death.
“Cleopatra Records would like to offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends. We liked working with Robert and will miss his powerful baritone vocal as well as his focused dedication to his music,” label VP Matt Green told the entertainment news outlet.
Meanwhile, Gordon’s friend and colleague Sam Grosso confirmed to Billboard that he died at Don Greene Hospice of acute myeloid leukemia.
As per Variety: “With his swept-up D.A. haircut and predilection for 1950s clothing, it would have been easy in the 1970s to consider Gordon a ‘Happy Days’-style throwback. But with a deeply resonant and romantic voice, curatorial precision and excellent taste in guitarist collaborators such as (Chris) Spedding, Link Wray and Danny Gatton, Gordon was unique among neo-rockabilly revivalists. His work pre-dated that of Brian Setzer’s Stray Cats, who took the sound he embraced to the top of the charts in the early 1980s.”
Gordon’s final album, “Hellafied,” featuring Spedding, is slated for release on Nov. 25.
“Heartbreaking news about Robert Gordon passing away,” wrote Lou Molinaro, owner of the Hamilton, Ontario, venue This Ain’t Hollywood, on Facebook.
“He was like family at This Ain’t Hollywood. I will miss his ‘check one one. Uh huh’ during soundchecks. Gordie and I LOVED those moments. Wish I had one last chance to bring him back to Hamilton. Goodbye Robert,” Molinaro added.
Born March 29, 1947, in Bethesda, Maryland, Gordon cut his first record at 17 with The Confidentials, but he soon relocated to New York City, where he became a permanent fixture on the early punk scene. He released his first solo album in 1977 and would go on to record more than 20 others, as well as dabble in acting opposite Willem Dafoe in 1982 outlaw biker flick “The Loveless,” according to Billboard.
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Robert Gordon through the years (MANDATORY CREDIT Ebet Roberts/Getty Images) UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 10: Photo of Robert GORDON; Portrait of Robert Gordon in a New York diner (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns) (Ebet Roberts/Redferns via Getty Images)
Robert Gordon through the years UNITED STATES - JANUARY 01: Photo of Robert GORDON (Photo by Roberta Bayley/Redferns) (Roberta Bayley/Redferns via Getty Images)
Robert Gordon through the years CANADA - JANUARY 01: Photo of Robert GORDON (Photo by Peter Noble/Redferns) (Peter Noble/Redferns via Getty Images)
Robert Gordon through the years (MANDATORY CREDIT Ebet Roberts/Getty Images) NEW YORK - JUNE 11: Producer Richard Gottherer with Chris Stein of Blondie and Robert Gordon backstage at Max's Kansas City in New York City on June 11,1977 (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns) (Ebet Roberts/Redferns via Getty Images)
Robert Gordon through the years Robert Gordon performing at the Park West in Chicago, Illinois, May 21, 1981. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) (Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
Robert Gordon through the years Robert Gordon, Zaal Lux, Herenthout, Belgium, 2nd June 1978. (Photo by Gie Knaeps/Getty Images) (gie Knaeps/Getty Images)
Robert Gordon through the years American Blues musician Bo Diddley (left) poses with fellow musicians Robert Gordon (center) and David Johansen after Diddley's show at Max's, New York, New York, March 4, 1977. (Photo by Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images) (Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images)
Robert Gordon through the years Robert Gordon and Link Wray, Zaal Lux, Herenthout, Belgium, 2nd June 1978. (Photo by Gie Knaeps/Getty Images) (gie Knaeps/Getty Images)
Robert Gordon through the years (MANDATORY CREDIT Ebet Roberts/Redferns) Robert Gordon, Tommy Dean (the owner of Max's Kansas City), Chris Spedding and music writer Lisa Robinson backstage at The Ritz in New York City on June 4,1981. (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns) (Ebet Roberts/Redferns via Getty Images)
Robert Gordon through the years Portrait of American rockabilly singer Robert Gordon with his band, including British guitarist Chris Spedding, drummer Dave Teighem, and bassist Tony Garnier, backstage at the Lone Star Cafe in New York, 1981. (Photo: John Kisch Archive/Getty Images) (John Kisch Archive/Getty Images)
Robert Gordon through the years TORREMOLINOS, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 06: American singer Robert Gordon performs during the 26th Rockin' Race Jamboree International Festival on February 06, 2020 in Torremolinos, Spain. (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/Redferns) (Juan Naharro Gimenez/Redferns via Getty Images)
Robert Gordon through the years Portrait of American rockabilly singer Robert Gordon drinking whiskey at the White Horse Tavern in New York City, 2016. (Photo: John Kisch Archive/Getty Images) (John Kisch Archive/Getty Images)
Robert Gordon through the years NEW YORK, NY - September 29: MANDATORY CREDIT Bill Tompkins/Getty Images Robert Gordon performs at the 20th Century Boy: Marc Bolan & T. Rex 30th Anniversary Celebration in the Delaorte Theatre in Central Park/ New York City."nSeptember 29, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Bill Tompkins/Getty Images) (Bill Tompkins/Getty Images)
Robert Gordon through the years Portrait of married couple American Rockabilly singer Robert Gordon and Mary Lee Gordon as they pose together in their home, New York, New York, 2019. (Photo by John Kisch Archive/Getty Images) (JOHN KISCH /Getty Images)
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