| Aloysius "Lucky" Gordon | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Jamaican |
| Other names | Casbah |
| Occupation | jazz pianist |
| Known for | Profumo Affair |
Aloysius "Lucky" Gordon is a British-based Jamaican jazz pianist and singer who came to public attention during the Profumo Affair. He arrived in London from Jamaica in the late 1940s.[1]
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Joining his brother "Psycho" Gordon on the London jazz scene, Lucky Gordon became involved with nightclub hostess Christine Keeler, a relationship that ended acrimoniously. According to Keeler, he assaulted in her the street and held her hostage for two days. Keeler sought the protection of another lover, Johnny Edgecombe, which culminated in a public fight between Edgecombe and Gordon at the Flamingo Club in Wardour Street in October 1962. Gordon required 17 stitches after Edgecombe slit his face with a knife. He later posted the seventeen used stitches to Keeler and warned her that for each stitch he had sent she would get two on her face in return.[2]
Edgecombe's frustrations in seeking protection from Keeler following this fight led to the shooting at Stephen Ward's flat in December 1962 that set in motion a chain of events that would eventually result in the public revelations of the Profumo Affair.[3]
In June 1963 Gordon was jailed for three years for assaulting Keeler, but she later withdrew her accusations, and was convicted for perjury in December 1963.[2]
Gordon later worked as a cook at Island Records' Notting Hill studios (later Sarm West studios),[4] his employers including Bob Marley.[2] It was while working at the latter in the mid-1980s that he contributed "skank" vocals to a cover version of Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now by pop duo Act (under the name of "Casbah"),[4] and a rare vocal mix of the Art of Noise's Moments in Love, both for ZTT Records.[5]