Goode was born in Kingston, Jamaica. His father was a choirmaster and organist who promoted classical choral music in Jamaica and his mother sang in the choir. I was born a year after." Goode came to Britain in 1934 as a 19-year-old student at the Royal Technical College in Glasgow (later the University of Strathclyde), and then went on to read for a degree in engineering at Glasgow University.
Goode was also involved with the saxophonist"s later pioneering blend of jazz and Indian music in Indo-Jazz Fusions, the group Harriott co-led with composer/violinist John Mayer. He was already proficient as an amateur classical violinist but turned to jazz and took up the bass after hearing the music of such stars as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Louis Jordan. Abandoning his plans to return to Jamaica to work as an engineer, Goode decided to embark upon a musical career.
His primary early influences as a bassist were Walter Page, Slam Stewart and Jimmy Blanton.
Later Goode played in Tito Burns" sextet and led his own group, before being invited to join Harriott"s new band in 1958. During the 1960s and 1970s Goode worked extensively with pianist/composer Michael Garrick.
Goode was still performing in the house band at Laurie Morgan"s Sunday jam sessions at the King"s Head in Crouch End into his nineties. One of the finest jazz bassists who has worked in Europe, Goode is an important link to a proud heritage of Caribbean contributions to the music
Goode was a member of Harriott"s innovatory jazz quintet throughout its eight-year existence as a regular unit (1958-1965).
