One of his first productions was Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe", where he took her demo of the song and overdubbed a string arrangement by Jimmie Haskell.
[4] Some of his compositions from that time went to well-known performers such as The Temptations, Nichelle Nichols, Aretha Franklin, and James Brown.
[5] Bobbie Gentry made an uncredited appearance on "Defunked", duetting on the song "Love Took My Heart and Mashed That Sucker Flat".
1963) A: Let Me Tell Ya Jack - 2:18 - Kelly Gordon, Arranged by: Shorty Rogers, Vocal produced by: Herschel Gilbert, Four Star Television Music (BMI), vinyl for broadcast only B: Tears, Tears - 2:10 - by Ray Johnson, sung by Kelly Gordon in Four Star TV "Burke's Law" (1963), Arranged by: Shorty Rogers - BNP Music Pub.
He's My Brother - 4:49 - Bob Russell, Bobby Scott, Arranged by: Tommy Oliver, Produced by: Kelly Gordon - Capitol, B.I.E.M.