Billy Brown (singer)

In 1962, Brown along with Ronald Coleman, Leon Trent and Ray Morris started a vocal group, The Uniques and performed locally. By 1966, they changed their name to, The Broadways. The group recorded a demo and sent it to MGM records, a division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. Record executives Charles Koppelman and Donald Rubin liked the sound of The Broadways, and signed them to MGM Records.[7] They recorded the single, "Goin' Goin" Gone" with a 32-piece band.[8] MGM released a second single entitled,"You Just Don't Know" followed by "Sweet and Heavenly Melody", in September 1966.[9] Ray Morris left the group and was replaced by singer Robert Conti. Brown left The Broadways in 1968 to join The Moments.

In 1968, Brown was asked by record executive, Sylvia Robinson who was the co-founder of Stang Records out of Englewood, New Jersey, to join The Moments, and he became their lead singer. The members of The Moments at that time was down to two after (former members Mark Greene, Eric Olfus and Richard Gross departed the group), singer and songwriter Al Goodman and John Morgan. Brown joined Goodman and Morgan and in 1969, with Brown on lead, The Moments recorded and released four hit singles, "Sunday" (No. 13 R&B), "I Do" (No. 10 R&B), "I'm So Lost" (No. 43 R&B) and "Lovely Way She Loves" (No. 14 R&B), which Brown co-wrote with Goodman and Robinson.

In 1969, The Moments scored a top 10 R&B hit with their debut album entitled, "Not On The Outside, But Inside Strong" which peaked at No. 8 on Billboard R&B chart. Brown co-wrote the song on the album entitled, "Somebody Loves You Baby".[10]

In 1970, singer Harry Ray joined the group replacing Johnny Moore, who had replaced John Morgan. Between 1970 and 1978, Brown, Goodman and Ray released nine albums and twenty-nine singles (23 charted) that included two No. 1 R&B singles, "Love On A Two-Way Street", and "Look At Me I'm In Love" (No. 3 pop chart).[11][12]

In 1979, The Moments left Stang Records changing their name to Ray, Goodman & Brown due to the record company owning the name, The Moments.[13]

After leaving Stang/All Platinum Records and changing their names, the group signed a recording contract with Polydor Records in 1979, and released their first self-titled album, "Ray, Goodman & Brown" which earned them the No. 2 spot on Billboard R&B chart and No. 17 on the Pop chart. It also became their first RIAA Gold album. The first single from the album entitled, "Special Lady" became a hit song peaking at No. 1 on the R&B chart and No. 5 on the Pop chart.[14][15][16] Ray, Goodman & Brown recorded six more albums and fourteen singles between, 1980 and 1988.

On October 1, 1992, Harry Ray died from a fatal stroke at age 45.[17] Long-time background singer for Luther Vandross, Kevin Owens became a member of the group after Ray's death.

Throughout the 1990s, Brown along with, Goodman and Owens continued touring as Ray, Goodman & Brown.

In 2002, they released a new CD entitled, "A Moment With Friends" which included covers of their peers in the industry. In 2023, they released another CD entitled, "Intimate Friends". Brown co-wrote four of the songs. Both CD's were produced by George Kerr and Goodman.[18][19][20]

In 2003, they added singer Larry "Ice" Winfree to the group and became a quartet. That same year they were invited by Alicia Keys to back her up on her hit single, "You Don't Know My Name" for a live recording of Sessions@AOL. Keys then took the quartet out with her for live performances that included, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Ellen Show, BET, and Good Morning America[21]

On July 26, 2010, Al Goodman died in the hospital after complication from surgery in Englewood, New Jersey.[22][23]

After the death of Al Goodman, Brown continued on with Owens and Winfree as a trio.