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In 1993, Howard and Vestal were joined on vocals by former Happy Goodman band member Johnny Minick. As a trio, they brought back the Happy Goodman name to the delight of fans. Several projects were released over the next five years and they were regular fixtures at Gaither Homecoming events.
Howard "Happy" Goodman (November 7, 1921 – November 30, 2002) was an American gospel singer. In 1949, he founded the vocal group The Happy Goodman Family which included combinations of all eight Goodman siblings and his wife Vestal Goodman (née Freeman).
Along with Howard's two brothers Sam and Rusty, they became known as The Happy Goodman Family, helping pave the way for Southern gospel music during the 1960s. With the formation of Word Records in the early 1960s, Vestal and The Happy Goodman Family were the flagship artists signed to the company.
In 1949, Howard met Vestal Freeman, an aspiring opera singer and sister of gospel tenor singer Cat Freeman. They were soon married. By 1962, the singing group fans most fondly remember as The Happy Goodmans had formed consisting of Howard, Vestal, Sam, and Rusty. Their younger brother Bobby was soon in the band as well playing bass guitar.
Howard's wife, Fyffe native Vestal Freeman Goodman (seated right), joined the group after their marriage in 1949. The group's popularity peaked during the 1960s and 70s, and in 1968 the Happy Goodman Family won the first ever Grammy Award for a gospel album by a gospel group.
Howard and Vestal Goodman, along with Howard's brothers Sam Goodman and Rusty Goodman, became known as the " Happy Goodman Family ". They were regulars on the Sunday Morning broadcast of the Gospel Singing Jubilee. Howard was known for his unique "bouncing off the ivories" on the piano.
Dec 27, 2003 · In 1949, Vestal’s brother, Cat Freeman, who was a well-known tenor singer by that point, introduced her to Howard “Happy” Goodman. The two were eventually married. The couple sang with Howard’s brothers Sam and Rusty for many years at The Happy Goodman Family.
