Gordon Goodwin

Gordon L. Goodwin, the celebrated American pianist, saxophonist, composer, arranger and conductor who was best known as the driving force behind the renowned 18-piece jazz ensemble Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, died December 8, 2025, of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 70 years old.

Goodwin was born December 30, 1954, in Wichita, Kansas. His earliest foray into big-band music came when, while in seventh grade, he penned his first chart, titled "Hang Loose." He later studied music at California State University, Northridge.

After college, Goodwin was employed as a musician at California's Disneyland. That experience launched a career that would bridge studio, film, television, and live performance, including later work with Disney that boasted a much higher profile.

In 1999, Goodwin founded the Big Phat Band, combining the swing-era spirit of classic big bands with contemporary jazz, funk, and cinematic orchestration. Under his leadership, the group earned both critical acclaim and commercial success. Their debut album "Swingin' for the Fences" became the first DVD-Audio release ever nominated for two Grammy Awards.

Over a career spanning decades, Goodwin earned four Grammy Awards and three Daytime Emmy Awards - alongside more than two dozen Grammy nominations. Two of his Emmy Awards came for his work as the musical director for the animated series "Animaniacs." He also wrote music for the scores of such Disney and Pixar films as "The Incredibles," "Ratatouille," and "The Lion King."

Goodwin leaves behind not only a discography full of bold, inventive jazz, but also a revitalization of big-band music for a new generation. His work proved that big-band jazz could be both reverent of tradition and daringly modern.

In an era when many declared big-band jazz a relic, Goodwin insisted otherwise. Through sheer talent and determination, he kept the brass blazing, the rhythms swinging, and the spirit alive.

Goodwin is survived by his wife, Vangie Gunn-Goodwin; mother, Alice; four children, Madison, Garett, Trevor, and Garrison; and stepchildren, Levi and Aria.

By Legacy News Staff

(Image: Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)