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John Kenneth Goodison (1943 – 3 September 1988) was an English rock musician, songwriter and record producer. He was a member of the original Brotherhood of Man, prior to leading his own number one charting group Big John’s Rock 'N' Roll Circus. As a songwriter, he co-wrote the number-one charting song “Give a Little Love” for Bay City Rollers.

Goodison is especially unique in that he made it big in different musical scenes using many different names during the 1960s and 1970s; Johnny B. Great as a solo artist, Johnny Goodison or sometimes John Goodison (his real name) as a member of Brotherhood of Man and solo artist, Big John as a member of Big John's Rock 'N' Roll Circus, Peter Simmons or Peter Simons as a songwriter, and J. Goodis (for one time only) as a producer.

After a decade of touring as a solo artist or group member, Goodison moved behind the scenes to songwriting and producing. He died on 3 September 1988.

Early years

John Kenneth Goodison was born in 1943 in Coventry. He started singing in choirs as a child. Goodison also took organ lessons. Goodison attended The Woodlands School, Coventry from 1954 to 1959, and was a dedicated bell ringer at Allesley church. He gave up his engineering apprenticeship to become a full time singer. Goodison left Coventry in mid 1964 to move to London to pursue his musical career. Goodison was 6ft (1.83m) tall.

Career

Early career

Goodison signed onto a music label in 1963 under the name Johnny B. Great, a clear play on words to the Chuck Berry song Johnny B. Goode. He appears in the 1964 film "Just For You" singing "If I Had a Hammer" with his own distinctive piano accompaniment. As Johnny B. Great, John was backed by The Goodmen, which included Don Kerr (guitar), Olly Warner (bass), Al King (sax) and Nigel Lomas (drums), and a later lineup included Goodison and Lomas, Dick Morden on lead guitar, and Mick Calcott on bass.

The Goodmen's name was later changed, Johnny B. Great and The Quotations. The Goodmen and Rolling Stones were both banned from Knutsford Services, after a fight broke out between the two groups in the cafe. By the time the group became The Quotations, none of the original Goodmen members remained. A 1966 tour had the lineup of Pete McGregor and Barry Martin on sax, Graham Alexander on bass guitar, Tony Mabbett on trumpet, Graham Dee on guitar and Jimmy Buchard on drums.

Goodison and the Quotations backed The Walker Brothers on tour. He also worked for CBS Records and recorded "Race with the Devil" by Gun. Goodison arranged tracks for acts including Love Affair and Sue & Sunny. John wrote an entire album for Billy J. Kramer, but it was never released.

Brotherhood of Man

In 1969, Goodison and producer Tony Hiller wrote two songs, "Love One Another" and "United We Stand", and envisioned a bubblegum pop vocal group to record the number. After meeting Reginald Dwight, AKA Elton John to record a demo, the two ultimately decided to hire sister vocal duo Sue Glover and Sunny Leslie of Sue & Sunny, session singer Tony Burrows, and songwriter/producer Roger Greenaway to record an official record with John, under the name Brotherhood of Man. The song, written by Hiller and Goodison (who penned the song under the name Peter Simons), went to number ten in the UK in 1970.

Goodison was in the original line-up of the group Brotherhood of Man from its foundation in 1969, co-writing and performing its 1970 chart hits "United We Stand" and "Where Are You Going to My Love" as well as other songs before leaving the group in 1971. Goodison's strong voice meant that he was the main male lead on songs, often duetting with female lead singer Sunny Leslie on most tracks. "United We Stand" has often been used an anthem for diversity and togetherness. Forty years after the original 1970 hit it was popularised again by becoming a patriotic and spiritual anthem for many during the post 9/11 recovery.

It has also been used as a football chant and by gay rights groups. Taken literally, the song's lyrics convey two lovers who tell each other that no matter what hardships come their way, they will always be together. In general terms, it relates a message of strength in unity.

The Brotherhood of Man was later remade into the group that is still active today, for their song "Save Your Kisses For Me", a song that won the Eurovision Song Contest 1976.

Big John's Rock 'N' Roll Circus

Big John's Rock 'N' Roll Circus is a rock group put together by "Big" John Goodison in 1974. The band had a minor success in the UK, but found fame in Africa, where they had a number one hit on Rhodesian music charts. On album covers and television appearances, the band sometimes wore outfits relating to circus acts, with Goodison being dressed as a ringleader.

Big John's Rock 'N' Roll Circus was a project started by Goodison, when he produced an self–titled album. All the tracks on the album were written by Goodison and Wainman. Upon it's release, Goodison hired a band to tour with him. These members were:

• Colin Frechter (piano)
• Mike Gregory (bass)
• Pip Williams (guitar)
• Phil Wainman (drums)

The band appeared on the show “Saturday Scene” in 1975, and were introduced on the show by Sally James. Goodison said in an interview on the Saturday Scene that he created the band to "put fun back in music again". A second album, Big John's Rock 'N' Roll Circus Act 2, was made after they started touring. One of their singles, "Lady (Put The Light On Me)", was a cover of the 1977 Brownsville Station song.

One of their songs, "Rockin' In The U.S.A.", found success in Africa. The song charted in South Africa at #11 in November 1974, but was a debut chart topper in Rhodesia, where it was number one for four weeks in February 1975. They were supposed to do a six week tour there, but was cancelled at the last minute. Goodison contacted many clubs around the UK, and started many one week residencies at different venues.

The Rock and Roll Circus had stopped touring by 1979.

Lead singer John Goodison died on 3 September 1988, aged 45, guitarist Pip Williams has taught music at the University of West London since 2004, bassist Mike Gregory, who was from Liverpool and previously played in The Escorts and The Swinging Blue Jeans, later formed a rock and roll cover band called "The Rock N' Roll Circus", and died on 27 April 2023, aged 76, pianist Colin Frechter later worked with John in the band Blackwater Junction and now directs theatre productions in Burnham-on-Sea, and drummer Phil Wainman later went on to work in property and real estate management.

Discography: Here

Later works

John was in James Last Orchestra as a member of the English choir for some time. Goodison and Maurice King created Blackwater Junction in 1973. Other members were John Collier, Linda Clarke (of 5000 Volts), Lesley Ankrah, Chris Kelly, Colin Frechter, Rod Alexander (who was "The Vicar" on the album Green Bullfrog), and Simon Byrne.

He also used the pseudonyms Peter Simmons and Peter Simons for co-writing songs. Peter Simmons was actually Goodison’s cousins name. In 1975 he co-wrote and co-produced The Bay City Rollers' second No. 1 "Give a Little Love" with Phil Wainman, and Status Quo had a Top 40 hit in 1988 with "Who Gets The Love", co-written by Goodison and Pip Williams.

An album containing unreleased demos was released in 2023 as Singles And Demos.

Pseudonyms

During Goodison’s career, he used many different names for recording, producing, and for songwriting, these were:

• Johnny B. Great (play on words to Johnny B. Goode, 1960s)
• John Goodison (his real name, 1960s–1988)
• Big John (1974–1979)
• Peter Simmons (1970s–?)
• Peter Simons (his cousin’s name, 1970s–?)
• J. Goodis (1971, only used once)

Death

Goodison died in Coventry on 3 September 1988, at the age of 45, after suffering a heart attack.

Discography

Solo

Singles

Album

Brotherhood of Man

Albums

Singles

Big John’s Rock 'N' Roll Circus

Albums

Singles

See also

• Brotherhood of Man
• Tony Burrows
• Roger Greenaway
• Tony Hiller
• Sue and Sunny
• Pip Williams
• Colin Frechter
• Phil Wainman

References

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15. Beat Instrumental & International Recording 1974 "THE follow-up album to Big John's Rock And Roll Circus is at present being recorded at Marquee Studios. It is produced by Phil Wainman and John Goodison and is called, appropriately enough. Big John's Rock And Roll Circus Vol.2"
16. History of contemporary music of South Africa Garth Chilvers, Tom Jasiukowicz - 1994 -- Part 1 - Page 24 "The above line up made the following recordings: Rock And Roll Singer (1975) HUB (produced by John Gooderson of Big John's Rock and Roll Circus - who was in South Africa at the time)"
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External links

• Songwriting credits @ AllMusic

• 1943 births
• 1988 deaths
• Musicians from Coventry
• English pop singers
• English male songwriters
• English record producers
• English rock singers
• 20th-century English male singers
• 20th-century English songwriters
• Brotherhood of Man members