A native of Philadelphia, Rocky is the son of jazz tenor saxophonist Irv Gordon (Billie Holiday, Sinatra, Bennett), who moved the family from Philadelphia to Las Vegas when Rocky was young and when work was plentiful in that town.

From his studies at an early age on classical piano, Rocky continued his musical journey behind a set of drums as a student of big band great Irv Kluger. Self taught on saxophone, but never placing the instrument at the forefront of his performing career, Rocky only referred to it as an alternative means of expression early on. He later studied composition, arranging and orchestration privately with the legendary Wes Hensel, who would eventually leave Vegas to accept a position as director of arranging and orchestration at Berklee School Of Music in Boston.

Over time Rocky developed the saxophone into an integral part of his career professionally as well as that of a drummer, solidifying the foundation of his playing under the mentoring of his father, the legendary Bill Trujillo, and a graduate of jazz great Dave Liebman's Saxophone Master Class.

“Saxophone is a true jazz instrument. And jazz is the main reason I play it.” Specializing most of his playing on the soprano-like saxello, Rocky keeps the tenor in his arsenal as well. READ MORE