American folk music singer/songwriter, born July 25, 1948 in Chicago, Illinois and died September 20, 1984 in Seattle, Washington. Goodman grew up listening to all genres of music and began playing guitar when he was 13. In December 1968 he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and given three years to live. While in treatment in a New York hospital he composed his first song. A train ride to see his mother-in-law in 1970 resulted in Goodman composing his most successful song, "City of New Orleans.