THE founder of Golden Discs has passed away aged 94, almost six decades after setting up his first store in Dublin.
Jack Fitzgerald passed away peacefully on Saturday surrounded by his family.
He co-founded the Trans-Atlantic Record Agency with Tom Rogers in 1962 before the pair rebranded as Golden Discs four years later and opened a store in Ireland’s first shopping centre in Stillorgan.
The store continued to expand nationwide throughout the 1970s and 1980s, becoming a pioneer in home delivery and offering everything from chart-topping albums to concert tickets and VHS rentals.
Over 100 stores opened across Ireland and Northern Ireland after the introduction of CDs and DVDs in the 1980s and 1990s fuelled growth.
There was a slow down in the industry after the rise of the internet and streaming, but Golden Discs still remains a nationwide presence.
Golden Discs still operates 20 stores nationwide and Jack’s legacy in the music industry continues on in his son Stephen who runs the business.
A Golden Discs spokesperson said: “His influence on Ireland’s music industry will be remembered for generations to come.”
Jack is survived by his wife, Rose Marie and their children Gary, Stephen, Barbara, Debbie, and DP.
He will be laid to rest at 11am tomorrow in Church of the Assumption on Booterstown Avenue followed by a burial in Deans Grange Cemetery.
