Geoff Goddard (19 November 1937 – 15 May 2000) was an English songwriter, singer and instrumentalist. Working for Joe Meek in the early 1960s, he wrote songs for Heinz, Mike Berry, Gerry Temple, The Tornados, Kenny Hollywood, The Outlaws,
Freddie Starr, Screaming Lord Sutch, The Ramblers and John Leyton. His song for Leyton, "Johnny Remember Me", reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart.Goddard was born in Reading, Berkshire, England. He sang in choir in a local church before going on to study the viola and piano at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Following national service, he sought to move into popular music, and met Meek. He initially attempted to establish himself as a Russ Conway/Liberace styled singer-pianist under the stage-name "Anton Hollywood". Meek promoted him, but he was unable to achieve success.
"Girl Bride" / "For Eternity" HMV POP 938 October 1961
"My Little Girl's Come Home" / "Try Once More" HMV POP 1068 September 1962
"Saturday Dance" / "Come Back To Me" HMV POP 1160 May 1963
"Sky Men" / "Walk With Me My Angel" HMV POP 1213 October 1963
His best known efforts were as a songwriter. The first project he worked on for Meek was the instrumental "Lone Riders" for The Flee-Rekkers. He then penned "Johnny Remember Me" for John Leyton.
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It became a number one hit single in the UK Singles Chart. Goddard also played keyboards on various of Meek's productions, most notably another chart-topper, The Tornados', "Telstar", and wrote and performed on the hit single's flip side, "Jungle Fever."
Despite his considerable track record as a songwriter, Goddard withdrew from the music industry after falling out with Meek. He brought a breach of copyright case in 1965 against Meek concerning The Honeycombs' hit "Have I The Right?", written by Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley. Goddard claimed that it borrowed from his earlier song "Give Me The Chance". Goddard was unwilling to testify personally and lost the case.
Weary of the shabbier aspects of the music industry, his withdrawal into anonymity was of his own choosing. The artistic motivation seemed to have gone out of his life. The most notable post-Meek ripple he made was in writing My Head Goes Round for Cliff Richard's Tracks And Grooves album (1969).Subsequently, Goddard returned to his home town and worked for many years in the catering department of the University of Reading. In 1985, the royalties and the platinum disc from the Marc Almond/Bronski Beat cover version of "Johnny Remember Me", having sold over 300,000 copies, came as a complete surprise to him. Goddard, completely out of touch with the modern music business, had never heard it.
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However, its success prompted him to resume song-writing. He met with his old friend John Leyton to discuss making an album together, although the project never surfaced.
However, its success prompted him to resume song-writing. He met with his old friend John Leyton to discuss making an album together, although the project never surfaced.In the 1990s Goddard was heard on piano at various university functions, notably at end-of-term Christmas celebrations where students could wonder why the clearer-up inserted ancient pop songs like Johnny Remember Me and Just Like Eddie in among the carols. Goddard was found dead of a heart attack at home in Reading in May 2000,by colleagues from the University, who had called round after becoming alarmed that he had not turned up at work for some days. He was 62 years old.
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In the 2009 film, Telstar: The Joe Meek Story, Goddard was portrayed by Tom Burke. In 2013, a plaque was unveiled by John Leyton on the wall of Reading university’s catering department where Goddard worked for two decades prior to his death.
(Edited from Wikipedia & The Guardian)