One By One They Took the Stage
For the first part of the concert I sat in Section A. Bill Gaither, Ben Speer, The Isaacs, and others took the stage. Jake Hess was home after a recent illness. Bill Gaither said we just couldn’t afford to lose anymore of the great voices. And then he introduced Vestal Goodman. She walked slowly onto the stage and was met with the warmth of a standing ovation. She launched into my personal favorite, “God Walks The Dark Hills.” It was at that moment I knew I had not traveled this far not to meet her. The first half ended with the rich notes of the Gaither Vocal Band.
My Memories of the Goodmans
From camp meetings under tents throughout the south, to sold-out auditoriums around the country, the Happy Goodman Family’s music was always recognizable with that “big sound.” It was in 1968 that the National Academy For The Recorded Arts and Sciences created a new Grammy Award for “Best Gospel Performance.” Prior to that, gospel singers were awarded for their work only with other singers. But when the Goodman’s won that first award of its kind they had done it solely on their own merits.
I first heard the music of the Happy Goodman Family over television as a teenager but it wasn’t until 1984 while at WDOR Radio that I was able to turn that interest into something tangible. I was put in charge of the Sunday morning show, which up until then had consisted of slower songs, by the likes of George Beverly Shea. Since I was given latitude to revamp the show I went through the record library and started pulling Dottie Rambo, The Speers, and The Blackwood Brothers for a new sound for Sunday. However, no Happy Goodman music was to be found. I headed off to Ace Records on North 3rd Avenue in Sturgeon Bay and bought a two-album live recording of the Goodmans in Huntsville, Alabama. I had found the opening for my first show. I had never before received much feedback from the listening audience while at the station. That is, until a few minutes after 6:00 A.M. that first Sunday morning. When the needle landed on that Southern Gospel music folks started calling and saying they loved the new sound. Days later, cards and letters came into the station. “Sunday Southern Gospel” with Trevor James had an audience. And in a short time we even had sponsors!
Several years ago Uncle Dick and Aunt Rene, Brain and Ruth, and myself went to a Homecoming concert in Milwaukee. What a time! Howard and Vestal both walking slowly had no problems once they were on the stage to put power to the music. Howard passed away in November 2002. Bill Gaither talked in Champaign how they “sang Howard to heaven” during his service. After the Homecoming Friends had sang many songs at his funeral a video clip of Howard playing the piano and singing “What a Time I’m Having Over Here”
At intermission I walked down onto the main floor and waited for the singers to leave their dressing rooms in the back of the building and again take the stage. And then the large double doors opened for the Homecoming Friends. Slowly Vestal started walking to the stage. And I thought to myself with a twist on the meaning of their song, ‘I Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now.”
I really couldn't believe she was walking right towards me!
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