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Singer-songwriter
from Long Branch, New Jersey, who was a member of The Establishment and The
Valtairs before joining The Moments. Sylvia Robinson hired him to replace
John Moore. He and Sylvia sang
together on 1973’s “Sho Nuff Boogie”. His first turn as lead singer with
the group was a remake of The Ink Spots’ “If I Didn’t
Care”, which peaked at #7 on the R&B chart.
He co-wrote
much of the group’s material, such as 1974’s “Sexy Mama”,
a #3 R&B hit that crossed over to #17 on the pop chart. In 1975, “Look at Me (I’m
in Love)” soared as high as Harry’s
tenor vocals, topping the R&B chart and grazing the top 40 on the pop
chart.
When Harry, Al
Goodman and Billy Brown left All Platinum to sign with Polydor,
the Robinsons wouldn’t allow them to take the name “The Moments”
with them. Hence, the first
album with their new label was the self-titled Ray, Goodman & Brown, in 1979. Again, Ray co-penned several of the
songs with Al Goodman, including “Another Day”, “Inside
of You”, and “Slipped Away”. In 1980, they once again claimed the
top spot on the R&B chart, and reached the top five on the pop chart,
with “Special Lady”.
Harry quit the
band in 1982 to take another shot as a solo artist—he had released “Ride
Your Pony Girl” backed with “Best Thing for Me” in 1974—and
gave the world It’s Good to Be
Home. In 1986, he re-joined
the group in time for them to hit the R&B top ten one last time with the
title track from Take it to the Limit. They released Mood for Lovin’ in 1988, but it
would turn out to be Harry’s last album of
new material with the group. On
1st October 1992, he died of complications from a stroke. He was buried in White Ridge
Cemetery in Eatontown, New Jersey.
Fortunately
for The Moments and Ray, Goodman & Brown aficionados, Harry left much
to remember him by. Veteran
fans and newcomers alike could do worse than 1996’s The Best of Ray, Goodman & Brown
and Best of the Moments: Love on a Two-Way Street. The latter boasts one of Harry’s solo singles, “I’m Willing”,
and an alternate version of “Sexy Mama”. It’s
Good to Be Home was released on CD in 2008.
The Moments recordings
Jack in the Box (Al Goodman/ Tommy Keith/Harry Ray)
All Platinum
6146 318 (UK
single)
Sources:
- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6434747
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msfA-GL50sU
- http://faac.us/adf/messages/150056/156332.html?1190241836
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray,_Goodman_%26_Brown
- http://www.soul-patrol.com/soul/moments.htm
- http://mog.com/blog_post/content/518/214155
- http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/8750_0_2_0_C/
- http://www.soulandfunkmusic.com/album/ray_goodman_and_brown/ray_goodman_and_brown
- http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/ray__goodman_and_brown
- http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=5B9AC3C2E703E126
- http://www.secondhandsongs.com/work/76258
- http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Moments.html
- http://www.discogs.com/artist/Harry+Ray
- http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/albums/harry-ray/559760
- http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/ray,%20goodman%20&%20brown.html
- http://soulchoonz80s.blogspot.com/2009/01/ray-goodman-and-brown-mood-for-lovin.html
- http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1992-10-09/news/9210090295_1_ray-goodman-and-brown-platinum
- http://www.answers.com/topic/the-best-of-ray-goodman-brown
- http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/artist/Harry+Ray/a/albums.htm
- http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1118136/a/Best+Of+The+Moments%3A+Love+On+A+Two-Way+Street.htm
- http://www.amazon.com/Its-Good-To-Be-Home/dp/B001A3A9QQ
- http://www.top40db.net/find/Songs.asp?By=Author&ID=25521&Match=Harry+Ray
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