Lilly Goodman is an award-winning Christian singer. Her sweet contralto voice is a beloved presence on Dominican Christian radio, on religious television, and in churches across Latin America and in Southern California in the United States. Her music has also translated to include secular music audiences.nn She was born in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic to a family of British origin. They were one of the most musical families in their church. Goodman began singing with them from a youthful age, but the quality of her voice set her apart and she was given many solos. She was incessantly encouraged by her family to pursue music, but resisted. Goodman has said she was fine with singing in church, but did not believe she had that "something special" that would set her apart to serve God in that way. At 17 she began studies to attain a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, but abandoned them at 19 when she relented and pursued a musical career.nn She recorded the independently released Contigo Dios in 2001. Its local and regional popularity resulted in her appearances on radio and television. She followed it with Lilly and Us a year later, and the album did even better commercially. In 2003 she signed with Jesús Adrián Romero's Vástago Producciones label and recorded Vuelve a Casa, featuring the single "Ven Te Necesito," a duet with Mexican singer Jesús Adrián Romero. The album took off, and so did Goodman. She began touring all across Latin America, and its singles landed on radio airplay charts. In 2005 she was awarded Female Vocalist of the Year at the New Life Awards in Los Angeles. Sobrevivire (Pistas) followed in 2006 and charted across the Spanish-language CCM and gospel spectrums. (It was re-released in the U.S. in 2008.) That same year she also guested on Hector el Father's final album, Juicio Final.nnGoodman began collaborating with other artists, including Marcos Witt, Jacqui Velasquez, Annette Moreno, and Ingrid Rosario, among others. In early 2007 she married American David M. Hedgewood, who subsequently became her manager. The pair established their own Promesas Producciones ministry and recording label. The album Sin Miedo a Nada appeared in December 2008 and charted. Goodman toured hard behind it for more than a year. She took time off from recording to begin a family and do pastoral work, emerging again in 2012 as a guest on Alex Campos' Regreso a Ti -- which won a Latin Grammy for Best Christian Album in 2012 -- and delivered her own Amor Favor Gracia a year later. (Campos returned the favor, appearing on the single "Me Amas.") The album was nominated for a Latin Grammy in the Best Christian Album category. In November 2016 Goodman released Abrigo, a collection of unreleased tracks recorded between 2002 and 2004. ~ Thom Jurek