Bobby Goldsboro

Born on 18 January 1941 in Marianna, Florida, Bobby Goldsboro studied business administration at college before playing the guitar with a band that performed for fraternity and sorority parties.

Dropping out of college, he turned to music full-time, signing a contract with United Artists in 1963.

In the course of his varied career, Goldsboro composed many songs which made the Top 40 for artists including Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra and Paul Anka. He also hosted a top-rated TV variety show for two years, formed a Nashville music publishing firm, and began producing children’s entertainment.

His first kid’s show, Easter Egg Mornin’, ran for 11 years on the Disney Channel. He also wrote 12 best-selling children’s books.

A messy divorce in the 1980s saw Goldsboro accused by his ex-wife of sexually abusing his 12-year-old daughter and possessing child pornography. He strenuously denied all claims at the time and was never criminally charged but lost custody of his youngest daughter as a result.

In the 1990s, Goldsboro created a children’s TV show called The Swamp Critters Of Lost Lagoon. He wrote all the scripts and music, played all the instruments, performed all the character voices and worked the heads of the characters using a unique animation system.

Live actors filled the man-sized suits and moved about the set under direction from Goldsboro, bringing to life characters like Billy Bob Possum, Big Al (an alligator), Ribbit E Lee, Joe Racoon, Phineas Phatrat and Ima Dilla.