Irwin Goodman

Antti Yrjö Hammarberg (14 September 1943 – 14 January 1991), professionally known as Irwin Goodman, was a Finnish rock and folk singer.

Born in Hämeenlinna, Goodman lived in Stuttgart, West Germany, in the early 1960s.

Common themes in his songs were poverty, taxes, drinking and alcoholism ("Ei tippa tapa", "Vielä yhdet", "Kieltolaki", "Homma käy", "Työmiehen lauantai", "Rentun ruusu" – approximate English translations: "One drop won't kill you", "I'll have another one", "Prohibition", "It's OK", "The workman's Saturday", "The poor man's rose") and problems with money ("Raha ratkaisee", "Kun ei rahat riitä", "Meni rahahommat pieleen", "Manu vippaa muutama markka" – approximate English translations: "Money is the solution", "When you don't have enough money", "I failed the money job", "Manu, lend me a couple of markkas").

Goodman had continuing troubles with Finnish tax authorities and had ever-worsening problems with alcohol.

Goodman died of a heart attack while on the way from Vyborg, Soviet Union, to Hamina, Finland.

Irwin Goodman in 1966
Irwin Goodman in 1971
This red brick walled house, nicknamed "Ryysyranta" according to a well-known book by Ilmari Kianto , belonged to Irwin Goodman. It is located in Parola, Hattula , Finland. Built in 1969, it was auctioned the following year due to the artist's unpaid debts and taxes by KOP Bank . A place of pilgrimage for some die-hard fans, today it is a private house and in residential use and should be treated as such.