Little is known of the childhood of this future monkey superstar. He was brought to the US from Africa during October 1929. He was sold to a blind organ grinder, and spent the next four years holding a tin cup and begging. Soon Gordon took over the management of the duo and suggested matching costumes and a more 'funky' repertoire. This is the first ever reported use of the phrase funky, and he went on to coin the catch phrase 'Taking you to funky town'. Although he was a committed music fan, he soon realized that the big money was in movies, and in 1933 he and the organ grinder split, citing musical differences, and Gordon headed to Hollywood, California.
The timing was immaculate as Hollywood had the phenomenal success of King Kong that very year, and the Tarzan series with Johnny Weismuller was just getting into full swing. Monkeys were very much in. He quickly landed minor roles in 'Giant Monkey: Crush, Crush!' and 'Tarzan and the City of Doom'.  This lead to his being announced as the replacement of the increasingly temperamental Cheetah in the 1935 production of 'Tarzan and the Tribe of Peril'. At the last moment though Cheetah and MGM management patched up their differences and he was reinstated.
Gordon's contract was watertight, so he found himself instead as the stunt double on the movie, a role he performed so well he continued it during the next four Tarzan movies. During this period he also appeared in 'Gold Diggers go to the Circus', 'Satan and the Monkey' and the Oscar nominated 'Suspicious Lady'. Work dried up a little as the 1930's moved towards their conclusion, but socially he was a hit. Soon he had befriended Humphrey Bogart, Ronald Reagan and Glen Miller among others. Several biographers of Miller have pointed out Gordons influence upon the Big Band style.
The Second World War marked a period of inactivity for Gordon as good monkey roles become hard to find. He had a futile attempt to revive his old organ grinder routine and some limited success in several Marx Brothers inspired vaudeville acts. By 1944 he was destitute and unable to find any work. He volunteered but failed the medical, and his non American history created suspicion and fear wherever he went. His old friend Ronald Reagan used his influence to get Gordon cast in the title role of his 1951 movie 'Bedtime for Gordon'. It was to have been his triumphant return to the big screen, but at the last moment studio executives demanded he be replaced. The director Frederick De Cordova and Regan tried valiantly to change their minds but to no avail, and 'Bedtime for Bonzo' proved to be a huge hit. The press made much of an alleged public fight between Bonzo and Gordon at a night club, but Gordon has always claimed that it never happened.
Disgusted at Hollywood's hypocrisy and weakness, Gordon turned his back on Movies for good in 1951 and decided instead to return to his first love, music. His initial efforts were unsuccessful as he sought to start an all primate big band, the music was by all accounts ground breaking and the stage show dynamic and innovative. Early 1950's audiences though were not yet ready for such diverse entertainment and they stayed away from the group's concerts in droves.
For the next few years Gordon moved into the management side of the music business, working with Perry Como and Pat Boone. He also helped Alan Freed put together his first rock and roll radio show. He soon realized that the older, more gentle music was being replaced with the more raucous sounds that signaled the beginning of rock. He alternatively worked for the Chess brothers in Chicago and Sam Philips in Memphis, were he listened one afternoon to a nineteen year old truck driver record two songs as a present to is mother. Gordon urged Philips to immediately sign him, but Philips was less interested. Gordon persevered until Sam gave the teenager another chance. This time he realized the potential Gordon had sensed and Elvis Presley was signed to Sun records. At the time Elvis wanted Gordon to manage him, but Gordon had other plans so he referred him to an acquaintance called Tom Parker.
By 1958 Gordon had worked with Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly. He had gained a reputation that he would never loose as a monkey musically ahead of his times. He had an almost uncanny ability to spot talent and predict future trends.  Tired by years of continuous working he decided to take a vacation. He traveled back to his homeland in Africa and then across Europe. He ended up in Hamburg where he soon become friendly with the various musicians who were living there. One drummer in particular he developed a deep friendship with, Ringo Starr. One night they both visited The Star Club where they saw The Beatles perform, after the gig John Lennon was introduced to Gordon and Ringo and was fascinated by the tales of American rock and roll. They talked all night and as they parted Gordon gave the rapt John several pieces of advise, among them was the request he look up a record store owner Gordon knew called Brian Epstein and the possibility of replacing the scowling Pete Best with the perky Ringo. When John requested one final piece of advise from one who had celebrated thirty years in show business, Gordon simply told him "stay away from Japanese women".
Returning to the US he resumed his managing career supervising tours and concerts for numerous bands. During the 1960s his company 'Monkey Magic' grew to be one of the most powerful in the rock business. He retreated away from the public side of music, and became a virtual recluse. Nevertheless he was involved with the likes of Cream, The Who, The Rolling Stones (he was an uncredited writer and percussionist on 'Sympathy for the Devil'), Janis Joplin, Iron Butterfly, Black Sabbath (a falling out with Ozzy lead to the changing of 'War Monkeys' to 'Warpigs') and Pink Floyd among many others during Monkey Magic's twenty year existence. In the late 1970s he sold his company to Warner Entertainment for $80 million and announced his retirement.
He soon dropped out of sight, and spent his time traveling between Europe and the US. He is credited with some involvement with the British Punk scene of the later 1970s and early 1980s, although he denies being anything more than an interested spectator, although he does admit to punching Malcom McLaren and giving Adam Ant make-up tips. As the mainly soulless 1980s dragged on Gordon returned partially to the public eye on various chat and discussion shows. He also spoke of his friendship with now President Reagan, and he spent many days and nights at the Whitehouse, although Nancy disliked his influence upon Ronald.
By the 1990s he was a recognized expert on new musical trends, and he predicted the emergence of Grunge and the mainstream crossover of Rap and Hip-Hop. At a party in the early 1990s he got extremely drunk and angry at life and music in general. He insulted many people at the party, calling two young artists, Beck Hansen and Thom Yorke, a 'Loser' and a 'Creep' respectively. From this point on he felt saddened at how he had turned his back on new, unknown talent and vowed to build a vehicle for the promotion of minor label and unsigned bands. So was born Indie Monkey.
Gordon is now somewhere in his seventies and continues to be extremely active within the publication empire he started. He has always refused to answer question about his exact species classification and sexual orientation. He is working on his autobiography 'Seen it, spoke it, heard it', and has recently hit the headlines once again with his offer of one million dollars to Alanis Morrisette, Celine Dion and Rod Stewart to 'just quit it, please'.