Barry G remembered as a titan of Jamaican radio

Barrington ‘Barry G’ Gordon, the legendary broadcaster affectionately known as ‘The Boogie Man’, has been remembered as the consummate professional who transformed Jamaican radio and left an indelible mark on the nation’s entertainment landscape. The veteran announcer died on Wednesday at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital. He was 70.

“Barry G just loved radio,” Michael Chambers, a lifelong friend who worked alongside him at the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC), told THE WEEKEND STAR on Thursday. “He was on the microphone, but he was so into radio that he also did the technical side ... and that’s where I came in. I was the technical operator over at JBC while he was the announcer. Any little production thing we were doing, he would still come around and try to learn the board as well because he was so into radio.”

Chambers recalled Barry G’s dedication and hands-on approach. “He had a soapbox programme to do where he went out and would talk to people and then he would come back and edit it himself in the studio.” That level of commitment, Chambers said, helped shape the course of local broadcasting and opened the door for some of radio’s most iconic moments.

“Because of that commitment, he revolutionised radio,” Chambers said, adding, “That thing with [British DJ David] Rodigan came about because Rodigan came to Jamaica, came to the studio, and the Saturday night they just started playing music together ... one from him, one from David. That grew to the point where David recorded it and took it back to England, played it on his show, and then Barry started going to England to be on David’s programme. They eventually took it into the dancehall and had a clash between the both of them.”

The two first met while attending Kingston College and later reunited at JBC in 1978, developing a close working relationship that blossomed into decades of friendship. “After that, all my communication was through his wife because he had stopped using the phone,” Chambers said. “And then he had another stroke in December of last year and that just complicated things.” He learnt of his friend’s passing after hearing Barry G had developed pneumonia.

Barry G’s influence extended far beyond the studio. He was also a promoter who helped expose the music of up-and-coming artistes and served as master of ceremonies for major live shows across Jamaica, Canada, and New York.

David Geddes, who worked with him at Radio Jamaica, said Barry G established a new standard of professionalism in broadcasting and “brought thousands of new listeners to radio when he joined [Radio Jamaica].” He described Barry G’s show as “the essence of informative and entertaining,” adding, “It was a pleasure working with Barry G, who was never late and always showed up. He also revolutionised how broadcasters were paid with his sharing agreements.”

Winston Ridgard, former programme director at Radio Jamaica, spoke to Barry G’s dedication to both the nation and the next generation of broadcasters. “He ensured national upliftment. He was not afraid to give advice and he benefited from the experiences of others. He was not a person who thought that he had all the answers,” Ridgard said.

That sentiment was echoed by Norma Brown-Bell, who worked at Fame FM while Barry G was at Radio Jamaica. “Working with him was a wonderful experience,” she said, recalling their joint shows in Canada and Jamaica. “He believed in sharing information... . He did his research and did not pretend to know everything” and would always have the appropriate wording for the introduction of the music.

Clement ‘Ras Clem’ Hume, host of Groovin’ Radio on Irie Jam Radio in New York and producer of Groovin’ in the Park, called Barry G his idol. “It was amazing working on a stage with him,” he said. “Working on a stage with him was an inspiration. It was some amazing time being on the same stage with him.” He added that “his death hits home hard”.

In a release on Thursday, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange described Barry G’s impact on Jamaican radio as “immeasurable”, noting that he “excelled at his craft for more than 45 years, starting at the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation in the 1970s. Barry G played a significant role in promoting reggae and dancehall music and in launching the careers of iconic artistes such as King Yellowman and Beenie Man. He inspired generations of broadcasters and will remain a beloved figure in Jamaican entertainment.”

In 2010, Barry G was conferred with the Order of Distinction for his outstanding service to broadcasting.

Additional reporting by Yasmine Peru.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com