Irwin Goodman

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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Antti Yrjö Hammarberg
Alias = Irwin Goodman Rock-Williams William White Andy Rudolf Holtz
Born = September 14, 1943 Hämeenlinna, Finland
Died = Death date and age|1991|1|14|1943|14|9 Hamina, Finland
Origin = Hämeenlinna, Finland
Instrument = Vocals
Guitar
Harmonica
Genre = Rock
Folk
Occupation = Singer-songwriter
Years_active = 1962 – 1991
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Irwin Goodman (real name: Antti Yrjö Hammarberg, 14 September 1943, Hämeenlinna – 14 January 1991, Hamina) was a popular Finnish rock and folk singer. He recorded over 300 songs, most of which were his own compositions, with lyrics written by Vexi Salmi. Irwin Goodman started as a protest song singer in the folk boom of the mid-1960s, his humorous songs often mocking any authorities becoming evergreens among Finnish people; to such extent that small "Irwin singalike" contests are nowadays arranged by some pubs for entertainment. Irwin got into continuing troubles with Finnish tax authorities, had ever-worsening problems with alcohol, and his escapades were eagerly followed by such sensationalist magazines as Hymy.

Goodman died of a heart attack while on the way from Vyborg to Hamina, Finland. His life was turned into a feature film, "Rentun Ruusu", in 2001.

Irwin's most famous songs include "Poing poing poing" (1971), "Haistakaa paska koko valtiovalta" (1976) , "Rentun ruusu" (1988), "Ei tippa tapa" (1966), "Työmiehen lauantai" (1965), "En kerro kuinka jouduin naimisiin" (1965) and "Tyttö tuli" (1978). He won the Syksyn Sävel contest twice.

Common themes on his songs were drinking and alcoholism ("Ei tippa tapa", "Vielä yhdet", "Kieltolaki", "Homma käy", "Soittajan maanantai", "Rentun ruusu") and problems with money ("Raha ratkaisee", "Kun ei rahat riitä", "Meni rahahommat pieleen", "Manu vippaa muutama markka"). He also protested the government with songs like "Juhlavalssi" and "Haistakaa paska koko valtiovalta".

In 1971, Irwin released an album featuring actor Esa Pakarinen; his 1972 album "Kohta taas on joulu" consists of Christmas carols. The later songs ("Suruton nuoruusaika", "Maailma on kaunis", "Ai, ai, ai, kun nuori ois" and "Viimeinen laulu") were often dark when compared to songs from the 1960s and 1970s.

Albums discography

* "Irwinismi" (1966)
* "Ei tippa tapa" (1966)
* "Osta minut" (1967)
* "Reteesti vaan" (1968)
* "Irwin Goodman" (1969)
* "Työmiehen lauantai" (1970)
* "St. Pauli ja Reeperbahn" (1970)
* "Lonkalta (1971, feat. Esa Pakarinen)
* "Poing, poing, poing" (1971)
* "Kohta taas on joulu" (1972)
* "Las Palmas" (1972)
* "Si Si Si" (1973)
* "Häirikkö" (1976)
* "Kolmastoista kerta" (1977)
* "Cha Cha Cha" (1977)
* "Inkkareita ja länkkäreitä" (1977)
* "Tyttö tuli" (1978)
* "Kulkurin kulta" (1979)
* "Keisari Irwin I" (1979)
* "Härmäläinen perusjuntti" (1984)
* "Dirly dirly dee" (1985)
* "Rentun Ruusu" (1988)
* " Vuosikerta -89" (1989)
* "Hurraa - Me teemme laivoja" (1990)
* "Ai ai ai kun nuori ois" (1990)