OT: Howard Goodman of the Happy Goodman Family passes away.
stacy p
Legendary Gospel Singer Howard "Happy" Goodman Completes The Journey
Nashville, TN - The Gospel music world was saddened Thanksgiving weekend, as
Howard "Happy" Goodman, long-time member of the legendary Happy Goodman
Family passed away in Nashville, TN, on Saturday morning, November 30.
Goodman had been hospitalized for seven months as a result of various
complications following knee surgery, a spokesman for the Goodman family
stated. During that span he spent time at Vanderbilt Medical Center and
Baptist Hospital in Nashville, as well as an extended period at the Mayo
Clinic in Rochester, MN. He was undergoing therapy and rehabilitation when
he developed pneumonia a week prior to his death.
Born November 7, 1921, Goodman first began singing Gospel music in 1938 with
his sisters. His first encounter with his wife of 53 years, the former
Vestal Freeman, came when he was just a young teen. The two married on
November 9, 1949, and began singing and traveling. Together, with Howard's
brothers, Sam and Rusty, The Happy Goodman Family became a household name.
The group's first long-play record, entitled "I'm Too Near Home," marked the
first of many which have sold in excess of 7,000,000 units, earning three
Grammy Awards and spawning dozens and dozens of popular hits, including 15
Number One songs. The Happy Goodman Family was inducted into the Gospel
Music Hall of Fame in 1998. Additionally, Goodman was a charter member of
the Gospel Music Association and a lifetime member of the American
Federation of Musicians Local 257.
Goodman penned the classic Goodman song, "Give Up," and he also wrote the
song "I Don't Regret A Mile," featured on "A 50th Anniversary Celebration,"
recorded in November of 1999, commemorating his 50th wedding anniversary to
his lovely bride whom he often referred to as his "sweetheart and best
friend." This video debuted as the Number Two video according to Billboard
Magazine零 Concert Video Sales Chart when it was released in 2000.
Goodman is survived by his wife, Vestal of Brentwood, TN; son Rick Goodman,
and wife, Dianne of Brentwood, TN; daughter, Vicki Meadows and husband,
Clark of Collinsville, IL; four grandchildren, Travis Goodman and wife, Tara
of Franklin, TN; Leslie Goodman of Nashville, TN; Nicki Blank and husband,
John of Nashville, TN; and Donnie Smith of Nashville, TN. Three great
grandchildren also survived him.
Visitation will take place on Monday evening, December 2 from 6:00pm until
9:00pm at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home, located at 3009 Columbia Pike in
Franklin, TN. Funeral services will be held at Christ Church, located at
15354 Old Hickory Blvd, in Nashville, TN, on Tuesday, December 3 at 1:00pm.
Burial will follow at the Christ Church Memorial Gardens.
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Truly sad!
--
Stacy P.
"God bless the boys who make the noise on 16th Avenue"
Written by Tom Schuyler
Performed by Lacy J. Dalton