- Country musician and leading fiddler who began his music career as part of Bill Monroe's bluegrass band in 1949. Later went on to fiddle for Johnny Cash, Faron Young and Merle Haggard.
- Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, he first performed at age 9 at the Grand Ol' Opry and won the Alabama Fiddling Championship in Birmingham at age 14.
- His namesake is the Gordon Terry Parkway - Alabama 24 between Moulton and Decatur, named for him in the late 1980s.
- Served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
- Charter member of the Fiddler's Hall of Fame.
- Two other brothers were also instrumentalists. Calvin and Gordon, who played the mandolin and fiddle.
- In 1964, Gordon built Terrytown, a rustic resort and Western theme park that featured top country artists in Loretto, Tenn. Running the resort and touring became too much, however, and he sold it after just three seasons.
- Became founder and chief executive officer in 1980 of Reunion Of Professional Entertainers, also known as ROPE. The hope was to raise enough money to build a retirement home for entertainers and those working behind the scenes in the entertainment business. His dream lives on with the proposed Country Music Retirement Center.
- One of his last performances was at his 50th wedding anniversary cookout with Barbara Mandrell.
- Taught grandson Lars Thorson to play fiddle. The 13-year-old boy performed at Gordon's funeral alongside guitarist Marty Stuart.
- He had two daughters with his wife, Virginia: Rhonda and Mitzi.
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