Family Gospel
Upcoming The Happy Goodmans Tour
The Happy Goodman Family is a Southern gospel group that was founded in the 1940s by Howard "Happy" Goodman and performed together for several decades. The Happy Goodmans achieved significant popularity in the 1960s. In 1968, they won the first Grammy Award to be awarded for a gospel album by a gospel group. 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. Howard and Vestal became evangelists. Gussie Mae's daughter LaBreeska Rogers Hemphill traveled with them off and on during this period.
Read moreThe Happy Goodman Family is a Southern gospel group that was founded in the 1940s by Howard "Happy" Goodman and performed together for several decades. The Happy Goodmans achieved significant popularity in the 1960s. In 1968, they won the first Grammy Award to be awarded for a gospel album by a gospel group. 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. Howard and Vestal became evangelists. Gussie Mae's daughter LaBreeska Rogers Hemphill traveled with them off and on during this period.
