Michael Z. Gordon was born Michael Zane Gordon on April 4, 1941, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota. He moved to Glendale, California, in 1957 and later to Los Angeles, graduating from Fairfax High School in 1958. Gordon was a self-taught musician who formed his first rock band, The Marketts, in 1961. He wrote and co-produced their first hit, "Surfer's Stomp." The band signed with Warner Bros. and achieved national success.

In 1962, Gordon formed another band, The Routers, which became known for their hit "Let's Go (Pony)." While on tour with The Routers, Gordon wrote "Outer Limits," later renamed "Out of Limits," which sold over a million copies and earned him a BMI award. His music has been featured in films like "Pulp Fiction" and "The Outsiders."

Gordon collaborated with Jimmy Griffin, writing over sixty songs, many of which were recorded by popular artists of the 1960s, including Cher and Lesley Gore. His work has been widely used in television and film soundtracks.

In addition to his music career, Gordon was a screenwriter and producer. He passed away on January 9, 2024, in Woodland Hills, California, at the age of 82.