Goodrum started to take piano lessons at 8, initially studying classical music and later learning to play jazz.

Also known as the Three Blind Mice for the dark glasses they wore, the trio included Goodrum's friend Bill Clinton on saxophone.

Because he could sight read—and because Arkansas was at a "geographical crossroads" which drew a wide variety of performing musicians—Goodrum played with blues, country, jazz, R&B and rock & roll artists.

Inspired by Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, Jimmy Webb and James Taylor, he began to focus on writing songs.

Instead, at the suggestion of a friend, Bob Millsap, he moved to Nashville, where he could finance his songwriting endeavors as a pianist-for-hire for session work and live performances.

[3][11] As a pianist during his early years in Nashville, Goodrum played live and in the studio with artists including Roy Orbison and Jerry Reed.

Goodrum's composition "So Soft Your Goodbye" won a 1991 Grammy award for Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler.

Her first hit as a solo artist, it went to #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in April; in 1981, West had another #1 with Goodrum's "What Are We Doin' In Love", a duet with Kenny Rogers.

Over the next two years, Goodrum wrote songs which were performed by artists including Michael McDonald, Kenny Rogers, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty and Tammy Wynette, among others.

"Now and Forever (You and Me)", co-written with David Foster and Jim Vallance, was a major hit for Anne Murray in 1986, appearing on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks.

In the mid-90s, he returned to Nashville, and later wrote hit songs for artists including Ronan Keating and John Berry.

[15] His film and television credits include Prancer Returns, Snowden on Ice, Back to School and Stir Crazy.

[16] Together with Dave Innis and Bruce Gaitsch Goodrum formed the group GIG, named after the first letters of their surnames.