John Kenneth Goodison (1943[1] – 3 September 1988[2]) was an English rock musician, songwriter and record producer.

[3] 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.

After a decade of touring as a solo artist or group member, Goodison moved behind the scenes to songwriting and producing.

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 and Rolling Stones were both banned from Knutsford Services, after a fight broke out between the two groups in the cafe.

[5] John and the Quotations appeared on an episode of Beat-Club in 1966, and for one performance on the show duetted with Beryl Marsden.

[8] In 1966, Goodison joined The New Pirates, consisting of Mick Stewart, Nick Simper, and Roger "Truth" Pinner.

During one performance at the Imperial Ballroom in Nelson, Lancashire on 10 December 1966, Goodison lost his temper with a heckler in the crowd.

[10] In 1969, Goodison and producer Tony Hiller wrote two songs, "Love One Another" and "United We Stand",[11] and envisioned a bubblegum pop[12] vocal group to record the number.

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.

[17] 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.

[18][19][20] On album covers and television appearances, the band sometimes wore outfits relating to circus acts, with Goodison being dressed as a ringleader.

Lead singer John Goodison died on 3 September 1988, aged 45,[1] guitarist Pip Williams has taught music at the University of West London since 2004,[26] 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,[27] pianist Colin Frechter later worked with John in the band Blackwater Junction and now directs theatre productions in Burnham-on-Sea,[28][29] and drummer Phil Wainman later went on to work in property and real estate management.

[31] 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[32]), and Simon Byrne.

[33] On the album, Goodison sings lead vocals on the short one-minute song "Old Blind Mole".

for Status Quo, Goodison died in Hillingdon on 3 September 1988, at the age of 45, after suffering a heart attack.