Blind since birth, Mote’s faith provides the foundation for his life and constantly fuels his creative spirit. When he was just three, Gordon surprised his family on Thanksgiving by sitting down at the piano and miraculously playing “Jesus Loves Me” with both hands. “I was just passionate about music,” states the Attalla, Alabama native. “My music is so eclectic today because I listened to every album I could get my hands on growing up. As kids, my brother (who is also blind) and I traveled and sang in churches of all sizes and denominations.”
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. After three years at JSU, he transferred to Nashville’s Belmont University and graduated with honors. Two days after graduation, Country music legend Lee Greenwood asked Mote to join his band. Since then, he’s toured with Trisha Yearwood, Tanya Tucker, Porter Wagoner, the Gaither Vocal Band, and the long-running Gaither Homecoming Tour.
As a studio musician, Mote’s big break came when Country Music Hall of Fame keyboardist Pig Robbins (who is also blind) was unable to make a session and recommended that Gordon fill in. That particular day, Alan Jackson cut the poignant 9/11 tribute, “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?”—the first number one single on which Gordon performed.
Since that time, he has played for music’s biggest names, including Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, Bob Seger, Alan Jackson, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, Josh Turner, Darius Rucker, and Alison Krauss—to name a few. His unmatched studio prowess has earned him two Academy of Country Music Awards for top piano/keyboard player as well as two Music Row Magazine Instrumentalist of the Year Awards (2009, 2011) for playing on the most top ten albums. Gordon is honored and humbled by the artists and producers who place their trust in him, “I always try to bring my creativity and do the very best I can.”
Since stepping into the spotlight as a solo artist, Mote has recorded an impressive body of work—three instrumental and seven vocal albums—including the Dove Award-nominated If You Could Hear What I See (2004), Don’t Let Me Miss the Glory (2007), and his acclaimed Christmas collection, The Star Still Shines (2012).
