ENGLEWOOD, NJ - Funeral services are set for Aug. 2 in New Jersey, for Al Goodman, member of the popular 70s R&B group Ray, Goodman and Brown. Goodman died on July 26, of heart failure, while undergoing surgery to remove a tumor. Goodman was 67.
Reportedly born in Jackson, Miss., Goodman's musical career began in the 1960s when he teamed up with Harry Ray and William Brown and formed The Moments in 1968. The trio 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)."
As the 1970s came to a close, the group experienced major artistic differences with their record label, Stang, and they decided to leave the company. Because Stang legally owned "The Moments" name, the group was forced to leave their established moniker behind, and simply called themselves, Ray, Goodman and Brown. Goodman later said "no one can take our names from us."
Moving to Polydor Records in 1979 proved to be a milestone for the group because they landed an immediate hit with "Special Lady," which debuted at number one on the R&B charts.
Their follow up album, Ray, Goodman & Brown II, spun off two minor hits with "Happy Anniversary" and "My Prayer."
After that, Ray, Goodman and Brown made regular appearances on the soul charts well into the 1980s with their last Top Ten single in 1986.
The group suffered their first significant blow, however, in 1992 when Harry Ray died suddenly of a stroke.
Despite Ray's passing, the group continued to perform in recent years with various other members. They sang on Alicia Keys' hit single 'You Don't Know My Name' and Jay-Z sampled 'Love on a Two Way Street' for his single 'Empire State of Mind.'
Goodman is survived by his wife of 34 years, Henrietta, five children and one grandson.
To learn more about this outstanding musician, click here.