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July 26, 2010

Al Goodman, one-third of Ray, Goodman & Brown as well as the Moments ("Love on a Two Way Street"), has died at age 67 of an undisclosed illness.

Part of two of the most underrated soul groups of the past half century, Goodman provided the "bottom end" on hits such as "Special Lady" and "Take It To the Limit."

Part of the generation of soul music groups that arose in the late 60s and early 70s, the combination of Harry Ray, Al Goodman and Billy Brown became most notable as perhaps the greatest live performing group of that elite bunch. While many groups of that era had more successful recording careers, few have equaled the stage presence and consistent crowd pleasing shows of RG&B.

The trio was brought together by Stang Records in 1970 as replacement members of the label's soul group the Moments. As the Moments, they hit the top of the pop and soul charts in 1970 with the falsetto ballad, "Love On A Two Way Street." That began a string of major soul hits throughout the 70s, including "If I Didn't Care," "Gotta Find a Way," "Sexy Mama" and another soul chart topper, "Look At Me (I'm In Love)."

As the decade came to a close, the group experienced significant creative differences with Stang and label founder Sylvia Robinson (later known as a rap pioneer through her Sugar Hill label). Unfortunately, Stang owned the "Moments" name, and the group's departure from the label meant leaving their well established moniker behind -- a tough pill to swallow after a decade as the Moments.

They signed with Polydor in 1979 and decided to simply label themselves Ray, Goodman & Brown in part "because no one can take our names from us."

Their Polydor debut was a masterpiece, led by the #1 crossover hit "Special Lady." In a time of disco domination, an album featuring ballads with rich harmonies and casual repartee among group members clearly appeared out of place.

But it was just what weary soul music fans were looking for and the LP shot to the top of the charts. In fact, the first side of the disc, featuring "Special Lady," "Inside of You," "Slipped Away" and "This is the Way Love Should Be" was the best album side of that year (and most other years) and created a whole new following for the group among fans who didn't know that Ray, Goodman & Brown was the Moments renamed.

Their follow-up disc, Ray, Goodman & Brown II, was similar to its predecessor and spun off two minor hits with "Happy Anniversary" and a cover of the Platters' "My Prayer." However, by the time of the group's third album, Stay, it was considerably more difficult to get airplay for what was viewed by many industry people as an "old" Soul sound. Harry Ray left the group for a brief solo career in 1982 (ironically on Sylvia Robinson's Sugar Hill label), but returned by the mid-80s.

The group made a minor comeback in 1987 on EMI with the big ballad "Take It To the Limit," but wasn't able to score a follow-up hit. Unfortunately, tragedy followed, as Harry Ray died suddenly in 1992. He was replaced by long-time group associate Kevin Owens, a talented tenor and falsetto lead who had toured for years with Luther Vandross.

Through the 90s, RG&B continued to find welcoming audiences as they toured extensively with the Stylistics, the Chi-Lites, and other classic soul groups. While they tended to play early in the bills, their ability to transcend their collection of hits when performing live -- often interspersing hot covers of modern hits in their shows -- made them crowd favorites (especially the women) in most major cities. Their sexy, upbeat, exciting act generally stole the show in the multi-group tours and has kept them busy and in demand years after their last hit.

In 2003, fifteen years after their last recording, Ray Goodman & Brown released not one, but two new albums. The first, Intimate Moments, collected some new and some previously unreleased recordings but, despite good reviews, received little attention. The other disc was a concept album, the self-released A Moment With Friends (available on the group's website), in which the group covered hit songs of some of their friends - namely, other classic soul groups from the Stylistics ("You Are Everything," "Break Up To Make Up") to the Manhattans ("It Feels So Good To Be Loved So Bad") to Blue Magic ("Sideshow," "Three Ring Circus"). It was a great concept, and the performances were even better.

The recording is crisp and the group's harmonies are divine. And while the covers are generally faithful to the original versions, they hold up very well on their own and on occasion (such as their version of the Main Ingredient's "Spinnin' Around") maybe even surpass the originals. It is one of my favorite albums of 2003 and is a must collection for lovers of 70s soul groups.

Late in '03 the group was contacted by Alicia Keys to provide vocal support on her album, Diary of Alicia Keys. Ray Goodman & Brown's backing harmonies created the foundation for the album's first release, the wonderful 6 minute smash "You Don't Know My Name." They have since performed on several occasions with Keys, who is to be given great credit for recognizing and honoring this wonderful vocal group. A few years later Goodman produced an excellent Sam Cooke tribute album by the Manhattans' Gerald Alston. And in 2009, the group began working on a pilot for a radio show called "A Moment With Friends."

Whether as the Moments or as Ray, Goodman & Brown, the group (both with Harry Ray and now with Kevin Owens) has consistently been one of the most reliable and enjoyable soul groups, and sounds better than ever 34 years after first coming together. If you get a chance, check them out in concert.

http://www.iseecolor.com/...%3A1371230

[Edited 7/29/10 5:37am]

I was listening to them on the radio coming home, maybe that's why they were playing Ray, Goodman & Brown music. wow.

May Mr. Goodman R.I.P.

R.I.P

Ray,Goodman & Brown aka The Moments live forever.

This was one of my fave tracks of The Moments that I played alot as a child in the 70's. R.I.P.

funkyslsistah said:

This was one of my fave tracks of The Moments that I played alot as a child in the 70's. R.I.P.

I love that song, and the article is making Ray, Goodman and Brown "and" the Moments seem like two different groups, the're the same group.

RIP.

Damn it!!! They were set to be in Chicago on my birthday.

Peace to his soul.

Vendetta1 said:

Damn it!!! They were set to be in Chicago on my birthday.

Peace to his soul.

When is your birthday Ivy?

TD3 said:

RIP.

Vendetta1 said:

TD3 said:

When is your birthday Ivy?

the 7th of august. I was gonna see them with the Manhattans and blue magic.

I've seen the Moments many times in recent years,on those Old School R&B-type tours,where they perform with acts like Bloodstone,The Stylistics,etc.I swear,the Moments always kicked ass!

This article is on Al's cause of death.

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July 28, 2010

Al Goodman, who sang baritone on such soul classics as "Love on a Two Way Street" and "Special Lady," died Monday, his family told CNN.

Goodman, 67, died of heart failure during surgery to remove a tumor at Hackensack Medical Center in New Jersey, according to his daughter, Rhonda Goodman.

Goodman was "joking and laughing" before his surgery, she said. "There's mourning all over the world -- in England, in Germany and in Japan," said Marshall Thompson, leader of the Chi-Lites, on Tuesday. "We're all mourning for Al Goodman."

Goodman was a member of the Moments -- an R&B group that formed in Hackensack, New Jersey, in 1968 -- along with Harry Ray and William Brown. They topped the soul charts in 1970 with "Love on a Two Way Street" and again in 1975 with "Look at Me (I'm in Love)."

Last year, rapper Jay-Z sampled "Love on a Two Way Street" for his hit, "Empire State of Mind."

In 1978, the trio renamed itself Ray, Goodman and Brown. A year later, they hit No. 1 with "Special Lady." The group made regular appearances on the soul charts into the 1980s. Their last Top Ten single was in 1986.

Goodman is survived by his wife of 34 years, Henrietta, five children and one grandson.

A funeral is planned for Monday at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/S.../?hpt=Sbin

Requiscat in Pace, Al.