The Australian-born label boss helped bring ska and reggae to the rest of the world.

Graeme Goodall, co-founder of Island Records and sound engineer for countless ska and reggae greats, has died aged 82.

Known as ‘Mr Goody’ among Kingston musicians of the era, he engineered some of the first Jamaican records to make an impact overseas, including Millie Small’s ‘My Boy Lollipop’ and Desmond Dekker’s ‘Israelites’, and collaborated with sound system bosses like Duke Reid and Coxsone Dodd (pictured right) to record local talent.

His thousands of studio credits include Bob Marley & The Wailers, Toots & The Maytals, Prince Buster and The Skatalites, and when Jamaica gained independence in 1962 he engineered the official recording of the national anthem.

He co-founded Island Records with Chris Blackwell and Leslie Kong in 1959, but after that relationship dissolved he had success with his own labels, Doctor Bird and Pyramid, which released Dekker’s ‘Israelites’ in 1969.

Goodall moved to the US in the early 1970s, where he subsequently worked for Sony’s professional audio division. He died at home in Atlanta on December 4.

Check out this chunky interview with Goodall on Reggae Vibes for more on his life and music. Reggae fans should also be sure to check FACT’s thoroughly comprehensive guides to the studio albums of Bob Marley & The Wailers and the history of dub. [via SMH; Music Week]