Steven Benjamin Goodman ( July 25 , 1948 – September 20 , 1984 ) was an American folk music singer-songwriter from Chicago . He wrote the song " City of New Orleans , " which was recorded by Arlo Guthrie and many others including Joan Baez , John Denver , The Highwaymen , and Judy Collins ; in 1985 , it received a Grammy award for best country song , as performed by Willie Nelson . Goodman had a small but dedicated group of fans for his albums and concerts during his lifetime , and is generally considered a musician 's musician . His most frequently sung song is the Chicago Cubs anthem , Go Cubs Go . Goodman died of leukemia in September 1984
Grammy
27th Annual Grammy Awards
Steve Goodman