Gordy Pratt: The "original" Fabulous One Guy

About

On the day of his big break, a spot on ABC’s Good Morning America, Gordy was “pre-empted by the untimely death of Frank Sinatra.” It was an honor for him to share any spotlight with the famous crooner, although this was certainly not how he would have wanted it to happen. The show was eventually aired; however, it was not nearly as star-studded as NOT being on the show.

Gordy appeared on the show as part of the program’s special tourism of the Black Hills. “I was on the show because I showed up at the Deadwood Chamber office with my guitar and proceeded to sing a couple of songs for the GMA producer. He said, ‘Could we can use that one on the show?’ Could they? YEAH!!!” And so Gordy sang his original song “Days of ‘76” from his one-man show, “SETH BULLOCK: Spirit of the West,” on the popular morning program.

“Turns out that wasn’t my big break. I’m still waiting. In the meantime, I’m doing what I love: playing music and singing.”

Born in Corpus Christie, Texas, where his father was stationed in the Navy, Gordy came home to a 20-foot trailer. At the tender age of eight months, Gordy began walking. His father said it was because the hallway was so narrow and Gordy could brace himself against the two walls. Gordy said it’s because he knew he had “pretty much done everything there was to do in Corpus Christie and he was ready to move on.”

As part of a military family, Gordy moved around a lot. I learned early on that I could make friends by making people laugh--with me or at me, it didn’t matter.” In second grade, Gordy was a foot taller than most of his classmates (he is six feet, four inches tall--the same height he was at 13) and sat at the back of his second-grade classroom in a desk built for much taller children. It’s not as if he loved being the center of attention, he simply had no choice. “I was a bit of a conversation piece.”

Gordy began playing music on a guitar his mother bought for him at Montgomery Ward. For $37.50. It didn’t matter to the 10-year-old Pratt. “I wanted to rock and roll.” Two years later, Pratt began spending summers at the Black Hills Playhouse in the Black Hills of South Dakota. He met people from all over the country--actors, musicians, directors, you name it--and became “hooked” on entertainment. His exposure to so many talented people propelled Gordy into the entertainment world; it wasn’t long before the lanky teenager was performing professionally.

His first engagement was with the band “Fungi” in Grand Valley, Colorado. He was 13 years old. “The drummer and I wanted to play the Beatles and Rolling Stones. But Pat, the cowboy of the group, wanted to play the ‘real’ country music. He introduced us to ‘Cheating Heart’ and ‘Wings of a Dove.’ I still love those songs.”

A move to Morgantown, West Virginia, landed Gordy in a college “horn band.” He was 15. “We played behind Woody the singer, who was always late and always drunk but always good.” They played the music of such greats as Sam and Dave, Wilson Pickett and the Temptations in frat houses and bars for $25 a night. “We played the music all right, but we never could get the choreography.”

Later, he went on the road with singer/pianist Becky Bell. They played in lounges, bars and the occasional coffee house. They hitchhiked from West Virginia to New York City to Michigan and back, playing wherever they could get a gig. Eventually, he formed Fresh Air.

Then something happened that would change Gordy’s life. “Fresh Air’s fiddle player, Ricky Morrison, dropped the needle on a Julian Bream classical guitar record (vinyl, that is). I was amazed at the sounds coming out of that machine! I said, ‘Hey, those guys are great!’ Ricky said, ‘That’s one guy.’” It was the beginning of a lifelong love for classical guitar. And the ONE GUY.

Gordy became obsessed. He studied classical guitar at Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, and the Royal College of Music in London, England. He took a year off to make money and received the first of many touring grants from the South Dakota Arts council. He toured the state playing classical guitar, including a performance of Vivaldi Lute Concerto with the Rapid City Chamber Orchestra.

He went to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music to continue his studies in classical guitar, where he came under the spell of Laurette Goldberg and the instruments of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods, especially the lute. “Laurette was like the Queen Mother of early music. I was privileged to attend workshops with the best practitioners of ancient music in the world, including lutenist Paul Odette, who she brought in for me (and the two other luters in town).”

Gordy lived in San Francisco for five years. He toured with La Corte Musical, a Medieval Spanish music group, playing the oud. They played up and down the West Coast, including a tour of Spanish Missions. “We were playing music that might have been heard in those beautiful mission churches when they were built. It really was a cool deal to play there. There were no microphones, no anything. We just walked out and played. To feel our music vibrate in that architecture was truly amazing.”

He moved New York City where he slipped back into theater, building sets for the New York Shakespeare Festival and selling programs on Broadway. He did a tour of “Pirates of Penzance” with Jim Belushi and Peter Noone (Herman’s Hermits). Gordy served as a merchandise manager (Belushi, who played the Pirate King, called Gordy “the Pirate King of the Lobby”) and sound operator. A few months later, he went on a world tour with “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and spent nine months in Europe as a stage hand and stage manager.

Gordy worked for a time in marketing and gaming, which gave him a great education in business. “It gave me the knowledge and confidence to start my own business, which became the Deadwood Production Company and One Guy LLC.” He wrote, produced, acted in, did tech stuff, made props and even built a couple of performing spaces (ONE GUY, get it?) for more than a dozen shows that were performed more than 3,000 times.

In 1990, Gordy began writing and performing his unique brand of stand-up musical comedy and now does more than 100 corporate comedy shows a year across the country. His 90-minute concert shows, which include a generous sprinkle of comedy, classical guitar, favorite songs and original songs, have been seen in concert halls and other venues from Vancouver to San Francisco to New York.

He continues to write comedy and original songs, while performing “sensational songs” by some of his favorite songwriters: Guy Clark, Don Henry, Craig Carothers and many others. He also performs the one-man living history show about Deadwood’s most famous sheriff: Seth Bullock. The show, “SETH BULLOCK: The Spirit of the West” was written by Gordy and includes four original songs.

Personnel

Constance Walter: Manager

Influences

Tom Leher (musical satirist), Red Skelton (comedian), Bill Cosby (actor and comedian), Victor Borge (classical pianist and comedian), Carlos Montoya (flamenco guitarist), Andre Segovia (classical guitarist), and Guy Clark and John Prine (singer/songwriters).

What to Expect

Typical Gig Duration: 45 - 90 minutes

Audiences can expect a clean stand-up musical comedy show that is hysterically funny and musically amazing. Gordy also does full-length concerts; serves as emcee for special events, concerts and other programs; and performs a history alive show, "SETH BULLOCK: The Spirit of the West.

Stage/Setup Requirements:
Self contained.

Additional Notes:
Self contained: performer provides all lights, sound, etc.

Set/Song/Sequence List:
A variety of parodies, original songs and classical guitar music suitable for the occasion.

Available for Your

Awards Night, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Party, Casino, Christmas Party, Club/Nightclub, Convention, Corporate Event, Cruise, Fair, Festival, Fundraiser, Grand Opening, Halloween Party, Holiday Party, Hotel, Private Party, Seminar, Studio Session, Workshop

Browse Other

Musical Comedy Acts in Spearfish, South Dakota

Search a different location

Whether you hire Gordy Pratt: The "original" Fabulous One Guy or other Musical Comedy Acts in Spearfish for your party, wedding, or event, Gig Salad makes it super-easy to book professional Musical Comedy Acts.

We strongly recommend that all communication be kept on the Gig Salad Booking Platform as you book your Musical Comedy Act. When you do, we’re able to offer numerous benefits that we can’t guarantee if you take communication or deposit payment off the Gig Salad platform. Our booking system is easy to use and handles secure deposit payments from you to the Spearfish Musical Comedy Act of your choice.

Additionally, the quote/agreement sent from your Musical Comedy Act to you using the Gig Salad platform, should outline performance fees, extras, arrival and departure times, cancellation policy, insurance information and other details.