Shep Gordon

Gordon was born in 1945 to a Jewish family in Jackson Heights, Queens.{{cite news |title=Interview: Shep Gordon |url=https://www.thejc.com/culture/features/interview-shep-gordon-1.55771}}{{cite news |title=Supermensch Shep Gordon |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-30/supermensch-shep-gordon-hargitay-novogratz-cruz-scene.html|publisher=Bloomberg News|date= May 30, 2014}}

He obtained his B.A. in 1968 from the State University of New York at Buffalo in sociology.{{cite web|title=Alumni Profile|url=http://www.buffalo.edu/UBT/UBT-archives/volume26number1/alumni_profiles/gordon.html|publisher=University of Buffalo|access-date=21 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227045507/http://www.buffalo.edu/UBT/UBT-archives/volume26number1/alumni_profiles/gordon.html|archive-date=27 February 2014}} While attending, he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. He attended The New School for Social Research for post-graduation work. He then moved to Los Angeles, California, taking on a job as a probation officer.

Shep was first introduced to the band Alice Cooper by Jimi Hendrix according to an Alice Cooper interview with Dan Rather, he and his partner Joe Greenberg began to manage the group in 1968.

Gordon went on to represent Anne Murray, Blondie, Teddy Pendergrass, Luther Vandross, Ben Vereen, Burton Cummings, The Calloways, Difford and Tilbrook, Frankie Valli, Gary Wright, George Clinton, Gipsy Kings, Groucho Marx, Jean-Luc Ponty, Johnny Clegg, Kenny Loggins, King Sunny Ade, Lisa Fischer, Majek Fashek, Maurice White, Michelle Shocked, Mtume, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Pink Floyd, Pointer Sisters, Raquel Welch, Rick James, Sarah Miles, Stephanie Mills and Yvonne Elliman.{{cite news|url=https://www.gq.com/story/at-lunch-with-shep-gordon-the-godfather-of-everything|title=The Unfamous Man Who Made Everyone Famous|last=Stein|first=Joshua|date=October 5, 2016|publisher=GQ}}{{cite web|title=David Letterman - Supermensch's Shep Gordon, Part 1|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzJ7SxAUrxY|website=Youtube|publisher=The David Letterman Show|access-date=21 June 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/shep-gordon-talks-alice-cooper-bond-new-memoir-w442168|title=Shep Gordon Talks Alice Cooper Bond, Legalizing Pot, Creepy Fan Mail|publisher=Rolling Stone|last=Hudak|first=Joseph|date=October 3, 2016}}

Gordon was a partner with Sammy Hagar (of Van Halen) on Cabo Wabo Tequila. He also partnered with Willie Nelson to create Old Whiskey River Bourbon.{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/10/07/drinks-with-shep-gordon.html|title=Drinks with Shep Gordon|last=Rothbaum|first=Noah|date=October 7, 2016|publisher=The Daily Beast}}

In 1993 Gordon created Alive Culinary Resources, the first talent agency to represent chefs.{{cite web|title=The Man Who Would Turn Chefs Into Household Names|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/17/garden/the-man-who-would-turn-chefs-into-household-names.html|work=The New York Times|date=March 17, 1993}} In the words of Emeril Lagasse, “He single-handedly created celebrity chefs."{{cite news|url=http://www.laweekly.com/restaurants/the-man-who-convinced-chefs-they-were-rock-stars-6972088|title=The Man Who Convinced Chefs They Were Rock Stars|last=Mosbaugh|first=Erin|date=May 31, 2016|publisher=LA Weekly}} His client list has included Celestino Drago, Charlie Trotter, Daniel Boulud, Dean Fearing, Emeril Lagasse, Jimmy Schmidt, Jonathan Waxman, Larry Forgione, Lydia Shire, Mark Miller, Mark Tarbell, Nobu Matsuhisa, Peter Merriman, Piero Selvaggio, Pino Luongo, Rovert Del Grande, Roger Vergé, Roy Yamaguchi, Sam Choy, Wolfgang Puck, and Alan Wong.

He has partnered in legendary restaurants including Tribeca Grill, Carlos'n Charlie's, Spice Market, and Maui Tacos (sold to Blimpie).{{cite news|title=Maui Tacos sold to franchisor |url=http://www.starbulletin.com/business/20090618_Maui_Tacos_sold_to_franchisor.html |first=Erika |last=Engle |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=2009-06-18 |access-date=2009-06-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620060832/http://www.starbulletin.com/business/20090618_Maui_Tacos_sold_to_franchisor.html |archive-date=June 20, 2009 }}

Gordon and Roy Yamaguchi were the Outback Steakhouse franchisees for Hawaii, and are now partnered in Humble Market Kitchen at the Wailea Beach Resort.{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/1996/07/29/story4.html|title=Marina theatre closing|date=July 28, 1996|last=Magaoay|first=Sandi}}{{cite news|url=http://www.frolichawaii.com/stories/shep-gordon-hawaiis-secret-culinary-mastermind/|title=Shep Gordon: Hawaii's secret culinary mastermind|date=August 14, 2015|last=SEO|first=Diane}}

Gordon has spoken at various events; SXSW, Summit at Sea, and 92Y.{{cite web|url=http://schedule.sxsw.com/2014/events/event_FS15112|title=SXSW 2014 Event Schedule|date=March 9, 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.vogue.com/13507029/summit-at-sea-end-of-the-world/|title=On Board Summit at Sea, the World's Wokest Cruise Ship|date=November 30, 2016|last=Codinha|first=Alessandra|publisher=Vogue}}{{cite web|url=http://www.92y.org/Event/Shep-Gordon-with-Anthony-Bourdain|title=Shep Gordon with Anthony Bourdain|access-date=January 1, 2017|publisher=92Y|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409023114/http://www.92y.org/event/shep-gordon-with-anthony-bourdain|archive-date=April 9, 2017|url-status=dead}} He delivered the 2015 baccalaureate address at the Culinary Institute of America.{{cite news|url=https://www.ciachef.edu/grad-speaker-shep-gordon/|title="Supermensch" Talent Manager Who Made Chefs Famous Speaks to Graduates|date=August 4, 2015|last=Levine|first=Jeff|publisher=Culinary Institute of America}}

Gordon's first film as a producer, The Duellists, won the Cannes Film Festival in 1977. He went on to create one of the first independent film production companies in the U.S., Alive Films, who made Roadie (1980) starring Meat Loaf. In 1983, Alive formed a partnership with Island Records to create Island Alive who made and distributed films including Koyaanisqatsi, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Stop Making Sense and Choose Me. The partnership was dissolved in 1985.{{cite magazine|magazine=Daily Variety|page=1|date=September 20, 1985|last=Greenberg|first=James|title=Island And Alive Dissolving Joint Prod'n Venture}} Whales of August was produced after the split.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0330607/|title=Shep Gordon on IMDb|website=IMDb|access-date=April 4, 2017}}

Gordon also was Executive Producer on Wes Craven's Shocker and The People Under The Stairs, as well as John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness and Village of the Damned.

Mike Myers directed Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon, a documentary on Shep's life, distributed theatrically by The Weinstein Company in 2013.Amy Kaufman, [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-mike-myers-shep-gordon-20130722,0,3916923.story#axzz3076PSVDd "Mike Myers to direct documentary about talent manager Shep Gordon"], Los Angeles Times, July 22, 2013. It featured Michael Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, Alice Cooper, Steven Tyler, Willie Nelson and Sammy Hagar.

Gordon's memoir is titled, They Call Me Supermensch: A Backstage Pass to the Amazing Worlds of Film, Food, and Rock 'n' Roll. It was released on September 20, 2016, published through Anthony Bourdain's HarperCollins imprint, and debuted on the New York Times Best Seller List.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2016/10/09/hardcover-nonfiction/?_r=0|title=Hardcover Nonfiction|work=New York Times|date=October 9, 2016}}

• University at Buffalo Distinguished Alumni Award{{cite news|url=http://www.buffalo.edu/ubnow/spotlight.host.html/content/shared/university/news/news-center-releases/2000/03/4630.detail.html|title=UB Alumni Association To Present Annual Awards April 7|date=March 10, 2000|last=Spina|first=Mary Beth|publisher=University at Buffalo}}
• Hawaii Restaurant Association Hall Of Fame Inductee{{cite news|url=http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/October-2011/Present-at-the-Food-Revolution-in-Hawaii/?cparticle=6|publisher=Honolulu Magazine|title=Present at the Food Revolution in Hawaii|last=Heckathorn|first=John|date=October 10, 2011}}
• Maui Film Festival Maverick Award{{cite web|url=http://www.mauifilmfestival.com/tixSYS/2014/xslguide/eventnote.php?EventNumber=3666|title=Maverick Award presented to Shep Gordon (2014 archive)|date=June 4, 2014|website=Maui Film Festival|access-date=April 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409111120/http://www.mauifilmfestival.com/tixSYS/2014/xslguide/eventnote.php?EventNumber=3666|archive-date=April 9, 2017|url-status=dead}}
• Fest Forward Lifetime Achievement Award{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jesselawrence/2015/09/17/festforward-will-bring-top-festival-minds-together-for-innovative-conference/#591fbf66338f|title=Festforward will bring top festival minds together for innovative conference|work=Forbes|last=Lawrence|first=Jesse|date=September 17, 2015}}
• National Conference of Personal Managers Hall of Fame Inductee{{cite news|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/personal-managers-hall-of-fame-inductees-announced-300053834.html|title=Personal Managers Hall of Fame Inductees Announced|publisher=Cision|date=March 23, 2015}}
• Tibet Fund Friend of Tibet Award{{cite news|url=http://hollywoodpresscorps.com/michael-douglas-with-philanthropist-actress-and-recording-artist-ha-phuong-at-the-tibet-funds-6th-annual-gala-co-chaired-by-richard-gere/|title=The Tibet Fund's 6th Annual Gala|publisher=Hollywood Press Corps|last=Brown|first=Dustin|date=November 13, 2015}}
• Hawaii European Cinema Maverick Award{{cite web|url=http://hawaiieuropeancinema.org/awards-gala/2017-honorees/123-shep-gordon|title=Hawaii European Cinema - Shep Gordon|publisher=Hawai'i European Cinema|access-date=April 4, 2017}}
• Hawaii Food And Wine Festival Honoree{{cite news|url=http://mauinow.com/2015/09/07/shep-gordon-honored-at-hawai%CA%BBi-food-and-wine-festival/|title=Shep Gordon Honored at Hawai'i Food and Wine Festival|date=September 7, 2015|publisher=Maui Now}}
• The Culinary Institute of America Leadership Award{{cite news|url=http://www.wagmag.com/recognition-on-the-menu/|publisher=WagMag|title=Recognition on the Menu|date=March 8, 2017}}

Gordon serves on the board of the Tibet Fund with the Dalai Lama, and has had the honor of cooking for him on numerous occasions. He produced a visit of the Dalai Lama to State University of New York at Buffalo in 2006 and Maui in 2007. Gordon produces an annual benefit dinner in Maui, and has provided over 1,000,000 meals for those in need since 2008.{{cite news|url=https://mauifoodbank.org/news/the-good-shepherd-rocks-new-years-eve-for-a-good-cause/|title=The Good Shepherd Rocks New Year's Eve for a Good Cause|date=July 1, 2015|publisher=Maui Food Bank}}

Gordon serves on the boards of The Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Reel FX, and the Tibet Fund.{{cite web|url=http://mauiarts.org/board|title=Maui Arts: Board & Staff|access-date=April 4, 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://omtimes.com/2014/06/shep-gordon-supermensch-interview/|title=Shep Gordon: Supermensch Interview|date=June 1, 2014|publisher=OMTimes}}{{cite web|url=http://tibetfund.org/board-staff/|title=Tibet Fund Board Staff|date=January 1, 2017}} In 2017, he became a trustee of The Culinary Institute of America.{{cite news|url=https://www.ciachef.edu/grad-speaker-shep-gordon/|title=Grad Speaker Shep Gordon|publisher=Culinary Institute of America|date=August 4, 2015|last=Levine|first=Jeff}}

In 1973 Gordon began dating a woman named Winona Williams and became close with her daughter Mia, a bond that continued after the relationship with Winona broke up. Mia died in 1991 in a car crash, and Gordon subsequently adopted her four children Monique, Chase, Amber, and Keira.{{Cite web |url=https://www.oprah.com/spirit/music-exec-shep-gordon-adopts-four-kids_1/all |title=Why Helping 4 Kids in Trouble Is One Music Exec's Biggest Success |access-date=2024-09-18 |date=December 2011 |website=O, The Oprah Magazine |last=Kaylin |first=Lucy}} Gordon and his wife Katie had a son named Benjamin in 2021.{{Cite web |url=https://keyt.com/health/2021/04/02/aging-well-maui-man-is-first-time-father-at-age-75/ |title=Aging Well: Maui man is first-time father at age 75 |date=April 2, 2021 |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=KEYT |last=Staff}}

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• [https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/2014/06/09/320369433/fresh-air-for-june-9-2014 NPR's Fresh Air for June 9 2014]

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Category:1945 births

Category:Film producers from New York (state)

Category:Living people

Category:People from Jackson Heights, Queens

Category:University at Buffalo alumni

Category:Talent managers

Category:Philanthropists from New York (state)

Category:American talent agents

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:Jewish American film people