Cuba Gooding, Sr., R.I.P.

Cuba Gooding, Sr., lead singer of the '70's soul group The Main Ingredient and father of Oscar winning actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. was found dead in his automobile of an evident alcohol or drug overdose. The elder Gooding was 72.

It was in 1972 that The Main Ingredient scored their biggest hit "Everybody Plays The Fool" which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 that October. The Main Ingredient would have one other Top 10 hit "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely" which charted in early 1974.

On a personal note, I got see Gooding, Sr. perform with The Main Ingredient here in Boston in the mid 2000's as part of the '70's Soul Revue along with The Spinners, The Stylistics, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes and The Delfonics. I remember that he was in fine form that evening.

"Everybody Plays The Fool" is one of those songs that makes one feel better after each listen. Life can go sour on you, but it doesn't have to stay sour. R.I.P.