About Evelyn: Since an early age, Evelyn Fordham Goodman has been inspiring audiences through music. Her rich voice stirs the heart and moves the spirit. She considers her voice not only an instrument, but a God-given gift that uplifts the soul. Her mission in life is to magnify Jesus Christ through word and song.
To listen to her music, click here >>
Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us today and congratulations on completing your latest album. Tell us a little bit about it.
Thank YOU for the opportunity! I think this “Featured Artist Profile” is a wonderful idea and I’m so glad to be a part.
Yay!! I’m so excited about our latest album, “Just Keith and Evelyn: Favorite Hymns and Spirituals”. The creation of this album is really a fascinating story in and of itself. This album was never in my plans. I was actually working on my solo album, but because of financial limitations, found the completion of it challenging. One morning, my husband Keith told me that he had dreamt that we (he and I) had recorded an album together and the name was, “Just Keith and Evelyn”. He said the album could feature the songs he and I had done throughout the years together and could serve as a fundraiser for me to complete my own. Keith is not the “dreamy” type, so this vision really blew me away. He asked me to think about it and let him know what I thought. After mulling the idea over in my head for about a day, it was clear. This was an answer to prayer. Almost immediately after Keith’s dream, the project planning began! The album is a collection of favorite hymns and spirituals that Keith and I have performed together over the years.
So let's take a step back and look at how you got here, music is something that has been near and dear to you for a long time. What are some of your favorite musical memories growing up?
I have always been somewhat of a “closet performer”. At home as a child, I could almost always be found with a pretend microphone in hand singing. One of my favorite musical memories is imitating our local church “star” soloists. My home church (Linwood Blvd. SDA temple, Kansas City, Missouri) had some great soloists and I would have my family in stitches as I sang the choir favorites. The funny thing is that although I always sang at home, I didn’t sing a solo in public until eighth grade. My music teacher (a great singer), Cherie Espinoza, asked me to sing a solo in our annual Christmas play. That solo still stands out to me as a most memorable experience.
You later attended Pine Forge Academy and then Oakwood College (now Oakwood University). How did your time there impact who you are as a person as well as your music?
Wow, where do I begin? Pine Forge and Oakwood had a tremendous impact on my life. The gifts and talents that sprouted in me as a child were undoubtedly nurtured here.
It was at these great institutions that I blossomed as a singer, speaker, and leader. I honestly can’t put into words the profound effect these schools have had on my life. I do know, however, that much of who I am today can be attributed to my experiences here.
While at Oakwood you grew close to your husband due to a shared a passion for music. How did the relationship start?
During my sophomore year at Oakwood, I wanted to audition for “Positive Images”, what was then the official recruitment group of the college. This group would travel throughout the United States and abroad representing the school alongside the Enrollment / Recruitment Manager. I enjoyed singing and wanted to be apart of this group. I was very nervous, however, about the auditioning process, hoping that I’d be good enough to get in. The gentleman doing the auditioning was a smart, charming upperclassman named Keith Goodman. Needless to say, I passed the audition, and the rest is history!
I understand that you enjoy public speaking as well. How did you first get started?
I actually preached my first sermon during my senior year at Oakwood for the college’s annual Student Week of Prayer. I thought preaching that sermon was a one-time experience, but the Lord continues to call me to preach.
What are some of the blessings that come with having a spouse that shares your passion for music ministry and public speaking?
Keith and I have lots of fun enjoying music together. In fact, on long road trips or on relaxing days at home, you can often hear the two of us making up silly songs or imitating an existing song, adding our own creative twist.
We both also love studying God’s Word. We enjoy sharing with each other concepts that we see in a particular passage of scripture. Our shared passions make for a beautiful exchange of thoughts and ideas.
Where are some of the places that you have been able to visit as a part of your ministry? Do you have any favorite memories from one of these trips?
I’ve been blessed to travel throughout the United States, as well as overseas to Bermuda, Barbados, England, The Holy Land, Ghana, and Botswana.
One favorite memory I have is from a most recent trip Keith and I took to Botswana. During the Evangelistic Meetings held there, I was asked to teach the children a song. I decided to teach them, “I’m going to sit at the Welcome Table”. I included all the creative verses that we sing in the United States. Together in that tightly packed tent, hundreds of children sang together those beautiful words. It was a most memorable experience.
What is one lesson you have learned that you would pass along to someone else contemplating pursuing music ministry?
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths! Proverbs 3:5,6
What are your future plans and how can people support your upcoming solo project?
My plans are to continue to promote our current cd, “Just Keith and Evelyn: Favorite Hymns and Spirituals”, and work towards completing our upcoming solo project. To support this effort, I ask for the following:
To listen to her music, click here >>
Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us today and congratulations on completing your latest album. Tell us a little bit about it.
Thank YOU for the opportunity! I think this “Featured Artist Profile” is a wonderful idea and I’m so glad to be a part.
Yay!! I’m so excited about our latest album, “Just Keith and Evelyn: Favorite Hymns and Spirituals”. The creation of this album is really a fascinating story in and of itself. This album was never in my plans. I was actually working on my solo album, but because of financial limitations, found the completion of it challenging. One morning, my husband Keith told me that he had dreamt that we (he and I) had recorded an album together and the name was, “Just Keith and Evelyn”. He said the album could feature the songs he and I had done throughout the years together and could serve as a fundraiser for me to complete my own. Keith is not the “dreamy” type, so this vision really blew me away. He asked me to think about it and let him know what I thought. After mulling the idea over in my head for about a day, it was clear. This was an answer to prayer. Almost immediately after Keith’s dream, the project planning began! The album is a collection of favorite hymns and spirituals that Keith and I have performed together over the years.
So let's take a step back and look at how you got here, music is something that has been near and dear to you for a long time. What are some of your favorite musical memories growing up? I have always been somewhat of a “closet performer”. At home as a child, I could almost always be found with a pretend microphone in hand singing. One of my favorite musical memories is imitating our local church “star” soloists. My home church (Linwood Blvd. SDA temple, Kansas City, Missouri) had some great soloists and I would have my family in stitches as I sang the choir favorites. The funny thing is that although I always sang at home, I didn’t sing a solo in public until eighth grade. My music teacher (a great singer), Cherie Espinoza, asked me to sing a solo in our annual Christmas play. That solo still stands out to me as a most memorable experience.
You later attended Pine Forge Academy and then Oakwood College (now Oakwood University). How did your time there impact who you are as a person as well as your music?
Wow, where do I begin? Pine Forge and Oakwood had a tremendous impact on my life. The gifts and talents that sprouted in me as a child were undoubtedly nurtured here.
It was at these great institutions that I blossomed as a singer, speaker, and leader. I honestly can’t put into words the profound effect these schools have had on my life. I do know, however, that much of who I am today can be attributed to my experiences here.
While at Oakwood you grew close to your husband due to a shared a passion for music. How did the relationship start?
During my sophomore year at Oakwood, I wanted to audition for “Positive Images”, what was then the official recruitment group of the college. This group would travel throughout the United States and abroad representing the school alongside the Enrollment / Recruitment Manager. I enjoyed singing and wanted to be apart of this group. I was very nervous, however, about the auditioning process, hoping that I’d be good enough to get in. The gentleman doing the auditioning was a smart, charming upperclassman named Keith Goodman. Needless to say, I passed the audition, and the rest is history!
I understand that you enjoy public speaking as well. How did you first get started?
I actually preached my first sermon during my senior year at Oakwood for the college’s annual Student Week of Prayer. I thought preaching that sermon was a one-time experience, but the Lord continues to call me to preach.
What are some of the blessings that come with having a spouse that shares your passion for music ministry and public speaking?
Keith and I have lots of fun enjoying music together. In fact, on long road trips or on relaxing days at home, you can often hear the two of us making up silly songs or imitating an existing song, adding our own creative twist.
We both also love studying God’s Word. We enjoy sharing with each other concepts that we see in a particular passage of scripture. Our shared passions make for a beautiful exchange of thoughts and ideas.
Where are some of the places that you have been able to visit as a part of your ministry? Do you have any favorite memories from one of these trips?
I’ve been blessed to travel throughout the United States, as well as overseas to Bermuda, Barbados, England, The Holy Land, Ghana, and Botswana.
One favorite memory I have is from a most recent trip Keith and I took to Botswana. During the Evangelistic Meetings held there, I was asked to teach the children a song. I decided to teach them, “I’m going to sit at the Welcome Table”. I included all the creative verses that we sing in the United States. Together in that tightly packed tent, hundreds of children sang together those beautiful words. It was a most memorable experience.
What is one lesson you have learned that you would pass along to someone else contemplating pursuing music ministry?
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths! Proverbs 3:5,6
What are your future plans and how can people support your upcoming solo project?
My plans are to continue to promote our current cd, “Just Keith and Evelyn: Favorite Hymns and Spirituals”, and work towards completing our upcoming solo project. To support this effort, I ask for the following:
- Your Prayers
- Your support by purchasing our current cd: “Just Keith and Evelyn: Favorite Hymns and Spirituals. It is currently available online at: www.cdbaby.com/kegoodman and also on iTunes.
- If you enjoy the cd, tell someone else about it!
I love to ask our featured artists what they're looking forward to most in heaven. So picture it, Christ triumphantly returns, you and your loved ones are caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and eventually you reach the New Jerusalem, your new home! Now that you are there, what are you looking forward to most?
Climbing on Jesus’ back for a good-ole piggy-back ride!!
Additional Information:
Websites: To learn more, visit Evelyn's Myspace pages - www.myspace.com/evelyngoodman
or www.myspace.com/justkeithandevelyn.
Booking: Jeannie Wright, Manager of CJWright Management (cjwrightmanagement@gmail.com, 215-667-8953)
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