Musician, producer, and one-time covert agent Pete Goodall unveils The Jazz Spy — an extraordinary memoir blending music, espionage, and a lifetime at the heart of British and global pop culture.

Born in 1945, Goodall grew up on Merseyside as the son of a GI, a gifted child who could play piano at four and mastered the guitar soon after. By 11, he was performing with local groups — even catching the attention of Brian Epstein and Bob Wooler, who sought to sign him before The Beatles rose to fame. But his father’s wisdom kept him grounded, and Goodall soon carved his own path in the industry.

By 18, he had moved to London, where his precision and ear for perfection made him one of the city’s most sought-after session guitarists. Working alongside names like The Tremeloes, Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames, Thunderclap Newman, Percy Sledge, and The Foundations, Pete quickly became known as “the musician’s musician.”

But behind the music lay a secret life. During the height of the Cold War, Goodall was recruited by MI6, becoming “The Jazz Spy” — a touring musician with a mission. From apartheid South Africa to communist Eastern Europe and beyond the Berlin Wall, his gigs doubled as cover for intelligence work.

After decades in the music business, Goodall founded Pandora Music in Stratford-upon-Avon, collaborating with the Royal Shakespeare Company and continuing to produce acclaimed records, including Pick n Tell, co-written with Cream lyricist Pete Brown. His work under the

Speakeasy Label remains highly respected among collectors and jazz enthusiasts alike.

More recently, Pete curated “The Birth of The Beatles”, an acclaimed travelling exhibition featuring 69 historic Liverpool recordings — including the earliest known tracks by The Quarrymen. The show, which includes talks from John Lennon’s sister Julia, continues to tour internationally, delighting Beatles fans across the globe.

Now in his 80s, Goodall shows no signs of slowing down. His next multimedia project,

NAKUPENDA — Swahili for “I Love You” — launches October 2026 at Brixton Library, blending art, poetry, and music to explore the legacy of slavery and Black artistry. A UK tour and an appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival will follow.

Interest in The Jazz Spy memoir has already drawn attention from major UK and US publishers,

and Pete Phillips of The Young Vic has expressed intent to adapt the story for film, television, and radio.

“Most of my friends are dead,” laughs Pete, “but I’m good for a few more battles — just not the spying kind!”

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