One of the leading figures in the international proliferation of reggae has died, as reports have emerged that Island Records co-founder Graeme Goodall passed away last Thursday (December 4) of natural causes. He was 82.
Goodall was born in Australia and later moved to England. In the '50s, he went to Kingston, Jamaica, to set up a commercial FM radio network. He later took a job at the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation and engineered some classic early reggae recordings. His credits include Bob Marley & the Wailers, Toots & the Maytals, the Skatalites, Jimmy Cliff, Derrick Morgan, Prince Buster, Millie, Desmond Dekker and many more.
Known as "Mr. Goody" among Jamaican musicians, he co-founded Island Records in 1959 with Chris Blackwell and Leslie Kong (although the business was headed up by Blackwell and moved to the UK a couple of years later). Goodall even captured the official recording of the Jamaican national anthem when the country gained independence in 1962. He later established the labels Doctor Bird and Pyramid.
Goodall eventually moved to the U.S. and worked in audio for Sony. He passed away at home in Atlanta. He is survived by his wife Fay and their two children.
Goodall was born in Australia and later moved to England. In the '50s, he went to Kingston, Jamaica, to set up a commercial FM radio network. He later took a job at the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation and engineered some classic early reggae recordings. His credits include Bob Marley & the Wailers, Toots & the Maytals, the Skatalites, Jimmy Cliff, Derrick Morgan, Prince Buster, Millie, Desmond Dekker and many more.
Known as "Mr. Goody" among Jamaican musicians, he co-founded Island Records in 1959 with Chris Blackwell and Leslie Kong (although the business was headed up by Blackwell and moved to the UK a couple of years later). Goodall even captured the official recording of the Jamaican national anthem when the country gained independence in 1962. He later established the labels Doctor Bird and Pyramid.
Goodall eventually moved to the U.S. and worked in audio for Sony. He passed away at home in Atlanta. He is survived by his wife Fay and their two children.
