Herald Goodman
Musician
Best known for
Songwriter
Herald Goodman was one third of the Vagabonds, the Grand Ole Opry vocal trio that joined the show in 1931 and broke its long string-band-only booking policy. He co-wrote “When It’s Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley” (1932), which the Vagabonds first sang on the Opry that year and which has since become a country and bluegrass-gospel standard.
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- Was one of the three sons of ministers — with Curt Poulton and Dean Upson — who made up the Vagabonds.
- Joined the Grand Ole Opry with the Vagabonds in 1931; the group’s pop-leaning close harmony broke the Opry’s long-standing string-band-and-fiddle-only booking practice.
- Co-wrote “When It’s Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley” with Sam C. Hart and Joe Lyons; the Vagabonds introduced it on the Opry in 1932 and recorded it the following year.
- The song has since been recorded by the Carter Family, Roy Acuff, Hank Locklin, the Stanley Brothers, and many other country and bluegrass acts.
- Helped found Old Cabin Music, Nashville’s first dedicated country-music song publisher.
- Later fronted his own Tennessee Valley Boys, recording a string of 78s and continuing to appear on the Opry.
