By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 12:02 pm:

HEY GANG,ONE OF THE GREATEST BUT LEAST TALKED ABOUT GROUPS IS RAY,GOODMAN AND BROWN,WHO HAD A GOOD RUN OF HITS IN THE LATE 60'S AS THE MOMENTS[SUNDAY,SEXY MAMA,LOVE ON A TWO WAY STREET}AND THROUHOUT THE 70'S{SPECIAL LADY,TELL ME YOUR NAME,HAPPY ANIVERSARY,I COULD HAVE LOVED YOU}THESE GUYS OUT OF NEW JERSEY LAID DOWN SOME OF THE SWEETEST SOUL OF ALL TIME,FIRST WITH MARK GREEN[THE MOMENTS]AND LATER WITH THE LATE GREAT HARRY RAY WHO REPLACED HIM,ALSO THESE SMOOTH GENTLEMEN OF SONG WERE SO COOL ON STAGE.I TIP MY HAT TO THESE GENTLEMEN OF SILKY SOFT SOUL..RAY,GOODMAN AND BROWN!DOES ANYONE HAVE A FAVORITE SONG OR LIVE PERFORMANCE TO SHARE?

By Scratcher (65.134.147.186) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 12:21 pm:

Harry Ray didn't replaced Mark Greene, Mark Greene and the original "Not on the Outside" Moments were fired--all but John Morgan--as the tune was racing up the R&B chart. Billy Brown and Al Goodman was brought in, and along with Morgan, made up the new lineup. Morgan was later replaced by another guy whose name escapes me at the moment, who was then replaced by Harry Ray.

By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 12:27 pm:

THANKS SCRATCHER,MY FACTS MAY BE A BIT MIXED BUT I JUST WANT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THEM.

By Scratcher (65.134.147.186) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 12:39 pm:

Ray, Goodman & Brown are an excellent group, one of the best live performing groups I've ever seen. They have practically mastered the art of entertaining. Like the Supremes, each member is/was charismatic, and all have/had infectious lead voices. Even Goodman's lower registers are top shelf and should have been utilized more.

However, those who only saw Ray, Goodman, & Brown live when they were pissed off either by money, placement on the show, or the time given to them, may have another opinion. I've seen the good and the bad. Mostly the good. The bad: they once clowned around on "Sexy Mama" for more than 20 minutes (it seemed like an hour) because their time was cut and they couldn't do the show they had planned. Too many good points to mention.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 01:05 pm:

I've got a CD of them and it is one of my favorites.

By stephanie (64.63.221.117) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 01:34 pm:

This is great!!! I dont know Al Goodman but I talked to him on the phone yesterday. Someone I know in the music business had him in a meeting with them!! I have to tell you they have a website
raygoodmanandbrown.net AND they are revered over in Japan as so many groups are. He does not take credit for Not on the Outside and he is a very nice man. I told him I got mad at them because when I saw them in 1991 and was waiting for them to say "Get down Billy Brown" and he didnt do it I GOT MAD!!! I waited the whole night to hear that they were on the bill with Blue Magic and the Stylistics. But thats OK they were great and they are good showmen. If I remember correctly the Stylistics had top billing (and rightfully so) and then Ray Goodman and Brown and then Blue Magic. Sexy Mama (which is basically a Harry Ray solo) is one of my favorite records by them and I was just flabbergasted when it went up the pop charts. I wish that they had more pop hits I think they deserved better..
Stephanie

By TonyRussi (68.18.230.25) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 01:37 pm:

I saw the Moments(Ray,Goodman & Brown)with Millie Jackson when her show was done kinda like a play.This was in late 70's.They sang with her & without her but it was a play format.before she got real raunchy with her live show. It was excellent.

By PhillyGroove (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 01:44 pm:

Hats off to R&B for launching this thread.

I saw RGB at Kimball's East near Oakland for an intimate and fantastic show around 1995. The show was so good that I went back twice more. The lead singer at the time was a very talented guy, Wade Elliott. From what I understand, Wade is no longer with them, but he did a great job. (If anyone knows what he's up to now, please post and let us know.)

Al Goodman was very welcoming and delighted to chat and autograph a cd I brought to the show.

RGB may be one of the acts that joins the bill of "70s Soul Jam," a great show that tours the U.S.

By Scratcher (63.188.48.55) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 02:25 pm:

My opinion: But Ray, Goodman & Brown are a far superior live act than the Stylistics. I never understood why the Stylistics headlined shows over the Dramatics, the Dells, RG&B, and some others. Billy Brown is a fantastic singer, he's better live than on record. Their version of "Secret Garden" (they use to do it live) is the best I've ever heard. They also use to do a rousing version of that Christopher Cross hit (believe it or not). RG&B always performs with a fourth guy who stands on stage with them and is as much a part of the group as the other guys.

Stephanie, you're right, the Moments (Al Goodman, Billy Brown, etal) or as RG&B don't take credit for "Not on the Outside," or even perform it live (they did earlier on). But, remember, the general public never knew the original group was dismissed until years later and most assumed Brown sang lead on "Not on the Outside," and were always dismayed when they didn't make this engaging song and their first hit a centerpiece of their live show.

Mark Greene, I'm told, performs at times in the Baltimore/Washington, D. C. area. He use to have a webpage but I can't find it anymore.

Never saw Wade Elliot with them Philly Groove but seen them with Kevin Owens (also Luther Vandross' background singer) many times after Harry Ray passed. They didn't miss a beat.

By Heikki (62.71.79.239) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 02:53 pm:

Hi Stephanie!
What a nice coincidence. You talked to Al Goodman yesterday, I talked to him a couple of days ago. I did it because of their new cd, Intimate Moments.

The last time I talked to Al was a year ago, when they released their A Moment With Friends cd (a great one with covers of many 70s sweet soul classics; you can purchase it on their website), and then he told me that

..."Walter Morris is called 'the 4th wheel in our harmonies'. Walter was our guitar player from 1970 till probably 1985. He was also my writing partner. If you look at Special Lady, you see L.Walter. That's Walter Morris. Walter was also instrumental on all our backgrounds...

..."Larry Winfree is like a background singer, but he's actually one of us. He's the person, who takes over Kevin Owens, when he's out with Luther Vandross."

Best regards
Heikki

By Scratcher (63.188.48.55) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 03:26 pm:

Heikki, if you ever see Ray, Goodman & Brown live you'll see the fourth guy on stage with them. When Ray was alive, it was Ray, Goodman & Brown and the fourth guy. I haven't seen them performed with only the three of them since they were billed as the Moments. The fourth guy starts off their rendition of "Secret Garden."

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 04:00 pm:

Scratcher & company:
Right on about RG&B. I met Al Goodman in 1997 through the Chi-lites' Marshall Thompson and he's a complete gentleman.
I have the CD of the music from the play "Young Man, Older Woman Part 2" & their song "She's Still Crazy" is hilarious - it showed a humorous side of the trio that I didn't know existed.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Reese (204.152.12.159) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 04:41 pm:

One of the members(forgive me for not remembering his name) appeared as the male lead in Millie Jackson's play YOUNG MAN, OLDER WOMAN. Its now avaialbe on DVD and VHS.

By fayette (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 04:41 pm:

harry ray original lead singer of the ray
goodman and brown passed away

By fayette (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 04:47 pm:

ps according to my touch of class book, harry ray
had hypertension and died of a massive stroke.
at tha age of 45

By PhillyGroove (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 04:50 pm:

With some of the contacts mentioned with Al Goodman, let's invite him over to the Board. I think he'd be pleased with the fans here.

By fayette (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 04:56 pm:

philly groove i like that idea

By 65memories (66.72.189.5) on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 - 05:36 pm:

Great idea! Stephanie, can you follow through on
Philly's suggestion?

By Heikki (62.71.79.239) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 05:39 am:

Hi Scratcher!
I sure hope I'll be able to catch RG&B some day on stage. I've always liked their music a lot.
I think these days the fourth guy - besides Al, Billy and Kevin - is Larry Winfree, as in the sleevenotes to their latest cd, Intimate Moments, Al this time thanks Larry (Ice) Winfree as "the fourth wheel on stage", as well as clothes designer, fitness trainer and best man to have as a friend.
Walter Morris still appears as one of the musicians.
Best regards
Heikki

By stephanie (64.63.221.222) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 10:25 am:

I will tell Al Goodman about the board I have to tell George Kerr so he can let him know. He was with George when I called George..
Stephanie

By Scratcher (65.132.78.129) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 10:49 am:

Stephanie, you tell Al a member of his first group, the Corvettes (out of Jackson, MS) had nothing but nice things to say about him a few years ago. All the members were happy for his success with the Moments and later RG&B.

This board will throw questions at George Kerr and Al Goodman all day and all night.

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 12:41 pm:

I HOPE THAT AL COMES ABOARD BECAUSE I WANNA ASK HIM WHO SINGS LEAD ON TWO OF THE COOLEST SONGS THEY EVER DID[LADY IN BLUE..DISCO MAN].

By fayette (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 03:30 pm:

didn't kevin owens once background for luther vandross

By JoeR (170.148.92.53) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 03:40 pm:

Hello FAYETTE,

Kevin Owens sings background for Luther Vandross. You can see him on the PBS Special aired about 10 years ago. I believe it was filmed in London, England.

Kevin also had a small hit on the East Coast with a remake of the Temptations' 'You're My Everything' with Luther singing David Ruffin's part. His cover never moved me. He still returns to his old neighborhood in NYC to catch up with family and friends.

JoeR - http://mypages.netopia.com/channels