Robert Gordon, an Emmy and Grammy Award-winning filmmaker, has made a name for himself as the producer/director of eight feature documentaries and the author of six books. His work focuses on American popular culture, telling contemporary stories through historical music, art, and politics.
Gordon's documentary, "Best of Enemies," won an Emmy in 2017 for Outstanding Historical Documentary. The film tells the story of the 1968 nationally televised debates between William F. Buckley Jr. and Gore Vidal, and how they marked the beginning of the age of spectacle television. Additionally, Gordon has directed and produced films such as "William Eggleston's Stranded In Canton" and "Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story."
Gordon's documentary, "Johnny Cash's America," features interviews with notable figures such as former Vice President Al Gore, US Senator Lamar Alexander, Snoop Dogg, and Ozzy Osbourne. The film explores the unifying forces in the life of Johnny Cash.
In 2018, Gordon published "Memphis Rent Party," a collection of profiles and magazine pieces about artists who forged their own paths. This book can be seen as a sequel to Gordon's first book, "It Came From Memphis," which was published in 1995. The book takes readers on a journey through the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, exploring the weirdos, winos, and midget wrestlers who contributed to the creation of rock and roll. Elvis was a marginal figure in this book, but Gordon was later contracted by Elvis' estate, Graceland, to write two books: "The King on the Road" and "The Elvis Treasures." These books were the first to have access to Col. Parker's archives.
Gordon has also written the definitive biography of blues great Muddy Waters, titled "Can't Be Satisfied." His book "Respect Yourself," about Stax Records, was published to great acclaim in late 2013 and has been optioned in Hollywood.
