Singer Al Goodman of the Moments and Ray, Goodman & Brown Passes Away

Soul singer Al Goodman, who would have hits as a member of the Moments and Ray, Goodman and Brown, passed away last Monday due to heart failure during cancer surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center.  He was 67.

Goodman started his music career in Jackson, MS as a member of the mid-60's group the Carvettes who appeared on a local radio station every Saturday singing Doo Wop and recorded one single on Copa Records.  After leaving the group in 1968, he moved to New York where he formed the group the Vipers, once again recording just one single.

Luckily, that one song brought him to the attention of Joe Robinson who signed Goodman with All Platinum Records.  They initially paired him with Sylvia Robinson, making Al the new "Mickey" in Mickey & Sylvia but, before any recording was done, he was brought in as a member of the Moments with William "Billy" Brown. 

The new lineup found success quickly when Love on a Two Way Street reached number 1 on the R&B and 3 on the Pop charts in the spring of 1970.  Over the course of the decade, the group hit 21 more times on the R&B charts with songs like If I Didn't Care (1970/#44 Pop/#7 R&B), Sexy Mama (1973/#17 Pop/#3 R&B) and Look at Me (I'm in Love) (1975/#39 Pop/#1 R&B).

In 1979, the group left Stang records, where all but one of their hits had been released since 1963, for Polydor; however, they were barred legally from using the name The Moments at their new home.  The group decided to change their name to Ray, Goodman and Brown (Harry Ray joined the Moments in 1971).  The newly named trio scored ten hits during the 80's including Special Lady (1980/#5 Pop/#1 R&B) and Take It to the Limit (1987/#8 R&B).

Harry Ray passed away in 1992 but the group stayed together through to this year with Goodman, Brown and Kevin "Ray" Owens.

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