Happy Goodman Family
The Happy Goodman Family is a
History
The Happy Goodman Family began around 1938. Howard Goodman (eldest of eight children) had been traveling as an evangelist and gradually began to form his seven siblings into a gospel singing group. Until the late 1950s there were various combinations of all eight brothers and sisters, always including Howard, and after 1949 his wife Vestal. Eventually the Goodman sisters (Gussie Mae, Stella, Eloise, and Helen Ruth) left the group to get married. During this period brothers Sam, Charles (Rusty) and Bobby Ray all had various careers as well. Sam served in the United States Air Force, Rusty was in the United States Army and later sang with The Plainsmen and Martha Carson. Bobby drove a truck and played in a rock and roll band.
In the early 60s Howard and Vestal moved to Madisonville, Kentucky and started a church named Life Temple. Sam and his family soon joined Howard and Vestal in Madisonville at the church. Howard, Vestal, and Sam did some singing in the area. In 1962 Rusty left the Plainsmen and moved to Madisonville as well. Before long Bobby joined the group again playing bass guitar. It was during this time period that the group began to travel more widely and become more well-known on the gospel music circuit.
In the 1963, the group released their first full-length recording "I'm Too Near Home" on the Sims label. It was later re-released on Canaan/Word Records in 1965.
Appearances at the
The Goodmans had a long list of hit songs. Many of the songs they introduced to gospel music are now considered classics. Songs such as "I Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now", "Who Am I?", "God Walks the Dark Hills", "Had It Not Been", "What a Beautiful Day", and many others will forever be part of gospel music and synonymous with the Happy Goodman Family.
The Goodmans broke new ground in gospel music during the 1950s by incorporating drummer Jake Hand as well as accordion and various guitars. When the group began traveling again in the 1960s their instrumentation consisted of Howard at the piano and Bobby playing bass guitar. Rusty and Sam would occasionally play guitars as well. During the late 1960s and 1970s they began adding more musicians including pianist Eddie Crook, drummer Ricky Goodman (son of Howard and Vestal) and various guitarists and bass players. It was during these years that they developed their now classic "grab a note and hang on" endings. Sam's humorous emcee work, Howard's showmanship at the piano, Rusty's songwriting, and Vestal's hairdos, white handkerchiefs, and powerful singing voice all rose to a new prominence. Tenor Johnny Cook joined the group for a while in 1974 and Rusty's daughter Tanya was added in 1976.
Separate paths
Around 1980, creative differences about musical style caused a division in the family. The musical landscape of Christian music was expanding considerably at this time, and Howard and Vestal wanted to maintain their traditional sound. Rusty, Sam, and Tanya wanted to take the group in a more contemporary direction. Ultimately, Howard and Vestal decided to leave the group, after making what would become one of their best albums. Rusty, Sam, and Tanya carried on with Johnny Cook returning at tenor. Michael English joined them a couple of years later singing lead. Michael left The Goodmans, a short time after joining, to sing with The Singing Americans.
Reunion
Aside from a one-time performance at the 1984 National Quartet Convention by Sam, Rusty, Howard, and Vestal, the Happy Goodmans did not sing together from 1984 to 1990. Shortly after the breakup, a compilation album, The Goodmans Greatest Hits was released in 1985, with the quartet pictured on the cover. It has more recently been re-mastered and re-released on Compact Disc. In 1990, news that Rusty had been diagnosed with cancer prompted the family to record a project together called "The Reunion". Although they initially planned to tour in support of the project, Rusty's health deteriorated rapidly. He died in November 1990. Sam followed his brother in death the next year. This album features the last song Rusty wrote, Standing in the Presence of the King, a fitting end to his songwriting career.
Howard and Vestal's Final Stand with Johnny Minick
In 1993, Howard and Vestal were joined on vocals by former Happy Goodman band member
The group recorded 15 number-one singles and played over 3,500 shows. They were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1998.
Tanya with Johnny Minick
In 2012, Michael and Tanya Sykes (Rusty's daughter and son-in-law) stayed with Minick when they returned back to the Nashville metropolitan area for a few weeks. The trip reformed another Goodman family group, the Goodman Revival.
Awards
In 1968, The Goodmans won the
Discography
1963–1964
(SIMS Records) |
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1965–1982
(Canaan Records) |
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1990
(Word Records) |
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1997–2000
(Spring Hill Records) |
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2000
(Pamplin Entertainment) |
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2001
(Crowne/Spring Hill) |
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2014
(Gaither Music Group) |
* Songs in the Key of Happy |
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2017
(Gaither Music Group) |
* Still Happy |
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Compilations
1985
(Word Records) |
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1994
(Arrival/K-Tel) |
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1996
(Crowne Music Group) |
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2000
(Word Records) |
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2003
(New Haven Records) |
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Complete list of group members
Timeline
Band members
- Howard Goodman1963–1971 (pianist, vocalist)
- Eddie Crook 1971–1975, 1978–1982 (pianist)
- Johnny Minick 1975–1977 (pianist)
- Aaron Wilburn 1972–1974 (rhythm guitar, soloist)
- Jack Smith 1971–1974 (steel guitar)
- Gary Dee 1975–1976 (steel guitar)
- Steve "Rabbit" Easter 1977–1979, 1981–1982 (steel guitar, banjo, dobro)
- Benny Johnson 1980 (steel guitar)
- Ricky Goodman 1970s–1980 (drummer)
- Bruce Droit 1980–1982 (drummer)
- Dwayne Friend 1965 (guitarist)
- Ernie Maxwell 1966–1970 (guitarist)
- Jim "Duke" Dumas 1972–1974 (guitarist)
- Jeff Chambers 1975–1977 (guitarist)
- Bobby Goodman 1965–1971 (bass guitar, soloist)
- Larry Strzelecki 1972–1977 (bass guitar)
- Joey Maxwell 1977–1978 (bass guitar)
- Keith Moore 1978 (bass guitar)
- Jefferson Ross 1980 (bass guitar)
- James Gordon Freeze 1980–1982 (bass guitar)
References
- Happy Goodman Family Album Cover Credits and Liner notes
- Resource Publications, "The Christian Music Directories" formerly "The Recording Locator" - https://web.archive.org/web/20101006063310/http://www.rpinet.com/cmd.html
- Happy Goodmans History and Discography with Art Work
- Canaan Records Discography
- Word Records History
- Word Distribution
- New Haven Records "Goodman" Products[permanent dead link]