Gordon was born in Whitburn, West Lothian in 1964. In 1976 at the age of 12, Gordon took up drumming seriously and joined the Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Novice Juvenile Band in November that year, where his Dad was already teaching the youngsters and the then Grade 3 corps.
In February 1977, within months of joining the band, Gordon gained 6th place in the Juvenile Section of the World Solo Drumming Championship. That season, Gordon and the Novice corps went on to win the drumming title in all five major championships, and also every drumming competition they played in including Grade 4 events.
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It was during this time that he started to get involved in teaching at his Dad’s famous Tuesday night drumming class. It is interesting to note that just almost every drummer currently involved with the Boghall Grade 1 corps came through that school.
The Boghall band was promoted to Grade 1 in 1980 and in their first season won the Cowal Championship drumming title. Between 1981 and 1983 they went on to lift a hat trick of World Championship Drumming titles as well as every other drumming award.
Another World Championship Drumming title was won in 1986 and one of the proudest moments and memories for Gordon and the Boghall drum corps was being the first ever drum corps to win the “Alex Duthart Memorial Trophy” for the Grade 1 champion of champion drum corps. The Boghall Novice and Juvenile corps also won the champion of champion title in their respective grades.
Gordon then started helping out with the Novice and the Juvenile drum corps and this input helped enable them to go on and win numerous drumming titles throughout the eighties and nineties.
In 1991, Gordon took over as Leading Drummer of the Grade 1 corps from his Dad and won his first major drumming title at the European Championships that same season.
Since taking the role of Leading Drummer Gordon has won the Scottish, British, European and Cowal Championships on numerous occasions as well as winning the Best Drum Corps and Bass Section awards at the 2001 World and Cowal Championships.
In 1994 that Gordon realised a life long ambition winning the Adult World Solo Drumming Championship title. Having made it through to the final on several previous occasions he had never managed to place higher than 4th place so to have won such a prestigious award really was a dream come true. Gordon won the title again in the 2002 event and has placed in the prize list at the World Solo Drumming consistently since the Millennium.
Since becoming involved in teaching, he is now realising another ambition by following in his father’s footsteps. He has taught in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Eire, Brittany, Switzerland, Denmark, South Africa, United States of America and Canada. His achievements as a solo player and as a leading drummer have resulted in numerous invitations from all over the World for teaching workshops and seminars.
Looking to the future, Gordon remains committed to teaching, and like his father unselfishly pass on what he regards as a noble art, especially to youngsters, to make them the drummers of the future.
The ultimate goal for Gordon remains to win the World Championship title with the Boghall band. With the hard work and dedication put in by the whole band everyone hopes this dream will be realised sometime soon.
Gordon is a fully qualified Trainer/Assessor (SVQ D32, C25); therefore his teaching skills are being used at all times. He is currently the Principal Drumming Instructor at The Strathallan School and The Glenalmond College, both in Perthshire.
Gordon is also involved with Andante Drums on product development of their highly successful Reactor Snare Drum.
Gordon Brown's Drum Scores
Various Time Signatures
- Inspired in Belfast eBook
- Advanced
Competition 2/4 March
- 25th K.O.S.B.’s
- Elementary | 4 parts
- Abercairney Highlanders
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Argyllshire Gathering, The
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Balmoral Highlanders, The
- Advanced | 6 parts
- Brigadier General Ronald Cheape of Tiroran
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Colin Thompson
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Hugh Kennedy, M.A., B. Sc.
- Advanced | 4 parts
- John MacDonald of Glencoe
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Kantara to El Arish
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Mrs. John MacColl
- Advanced | 4 parts
- P/M Willie Gray’s Farewell to the Glasgow Police
- Advanced | 4 parts
- P/M Willie Gray’s Farewell to the Glasgow Police
- Intermediate | 4 parts
- P/M Willie Gray’s Farewell to the Glasgow Police
- Elementary | 4 parts
Other 2/4 March
- Brown Haired Maiden, The
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Brown Haired Maiden, The
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Dornoch Links, The
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Drunken Piper, The
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Earl of Mansfield, The
- Elementary | 3 parts
- High Road to Gairloch
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Jenny’s Bawbee
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Jenny’s Bawbee
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Men of Argyll
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Mhairie’s Wedding
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Terribus
- Elementary | 2 parts
Competition Strathspey
- Blair Drummond
- Advanced | 6 parts
- Caber Feidh
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Dorrator Bridge
- Intermediate | 4 parts
- Inveraray Castle
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Lady MacKenzie of Gairloch
- Elementary | 4 parts
- Maggie Cameron
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Monymusk
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Struan Robertson
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Tulloch Castle
- Advanced | 4 parts
Other Strathspey
- Caledonian Society of London
- Intermediate | 2 parts
- Colonel Stuart Green
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Mac An Irish
- Elementary | 2 parts
- O’er the Bows to Ballindalloch
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Orange and Blue
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Sporting Jamie
- Intermediate | 2 parts
- Step Dancer
- Intermediate | 2 parts
Competition Reel
- Captain Lachlan MacPhail of Tiree
- Elementary | 4 parts
- Colonel MacLeod
- Elementary | 4 parts
- Dr. MacPhail’s Reel
- Elementary | 4 parts
- Lexie McAskill
- Elementary | 4 parts
- Loch Carron
- Advanced | 6 parts
- Mrs MacPherson of Inveran
- Advanced | 6 parts
- Mrs MacPherson of Inveran
- Intermediate | 6 parts
- Sheepwife, The
- Advanced | 6 parts
- Thompson’s Dirk
- Advanced | 4 parts
Other Reel
- Ale is Dear
- Intermediate | 2 parts
- Auld Fiddler Reel, The
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Caledonian Society of London Reel
- Intermediate | 2 parts
- Crossing the Minch
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Don Manson’s Reel
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Legless in Lisburn
- Intermediate | 4 parts
- Lexie McAskill
- Advanced | 4 parts
- MacFarlin’s Reel, The
- Intermediate | 2 parts
- Molly on the Shore
- Intermediate | 2 parts
- Mrs MacLeod of Raasay
- Intermediate | 2 parts
- Ness Pipers, The
- Advanced | 4 parts
- P/M Callum Campbell
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Sleepy Maggie
- Intermediate | 2 parts
6/8 March
- County Hall
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Dornoch Highland Games, The
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Laird of Blochairn, The
- Advanced | 4 parts
9/8 March
- 9/8 March No 1
- Elementary | 4 parts
12/8 March
- Glasgow Week in Hamburg
- Advanced | 4 parts
Hornpipe
- Archie Kenneth
- Advanced | 2 parts
- Beverly’s Wedding
- Intermediate | 2 parts
- Black Bag Syndrome, The
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Blackie MacLeod
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Calling, The
- Advanced | 2 parts
- City of Victoria Pipe Band
- Advanced | 2 parts
- Cunninghams Fancy
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Dechmont Flyer
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Dr. MacInness Fancy
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Fleshmarket Close
- Advanced | 2 parts
- Hare O’ the Dug
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Mason’s Apron
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Pumpkin’s Fancy
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Ramnee Ceilidh, The
- Advanced | 2 parts
- Shovel Tongue
- Intermediate | 2 parts
- Tatumtitabra
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Trip to Sligo
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Waterhole, The
- Advanced | 4 parts
Jig
- A Canadian Experience
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Archie Beag
- Elementary | 4 parts
- Biddy from Sligo
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Donald Cameron’s Powder Horn
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Jack’s Jig
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Kenny MacDonald’s Jig
- Advanced | 2 parts
- Out of the Air
- Intermediate | 2 parts
- Paddy Be Easy
- Intermediate | 2 parts
- Paddy Be Easy
- Elementary | 2 parts
- Piper’s Bonnet, The
- Advanced | 4 parts
- Rakes of Kildare
- Advanced | 4 parts