THE MAIN INGREDIENT

The trio formed in Harlem in 1964 as the Poets. The original line-up comprised Donald McPherson, Luther Simmons, Jr., and Tony Silvester. Their debut single, “I’m Stuck on You,” came out on the Red Bird label in 1965. They then re-dubbed themselves the Insiders and signed with RCA Victor. After three singles under that name, they came up with “The Main Ingredient” in 1968. They got it from a Coca-Cola bottle.

The trio then teamed up with producer/arranger Bert DeCoteaux, who masterminded their 1970 chart debut, “You’ve Been My Inspiration.” They followed it with a successful remake of the Impressions’ “I’m So Proud” and their first top ten Soul hit, “Spinning Around (I Must Be Falling in Love).” After their next release, Donald McPherson’s “Black Seeds Keep on Growing,” the man took ill with leukemia. McPherson, 29, died on July 3, 1971. Though devastated by the loss, Luther Simmons and Tony Silvester kept the group going with a new lead, Cuba Gooding, who had filled in when McPherson took ill.

Their first single with Gooding would prove the Main Ingredient’s biggest. Released in the summer of 1972, “Everybody Plays the Fool” shot to #2 on the Billboard Soul chart and #3 in the pop market. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America in September. The resulting LP, Bitter Sweet, went top ten on the Soul Album chart as well.

The year 1973 produced the album Afrodisiac, which included songs written by Stevie Wonder, the Isley Brothers, and George Clinton. While it went top twenty on the Soul chart, Afrodisiac failed to produce a single that rose higher than #34. However, the Main Ingredient bounced back in 1974 with their second-biggest hit, “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely.” The follow-up, “Happiness Is Just Around the Bend,” proved their third and final top forty pop song.

In 1975, Tony Silvester recorded a solo album, Magic Touch. He then left the group to form a production team with Bert DeCoteaux. Together, they scored a smash with Ben E. King’s comeback hit, “Supernatural Thing.” Silverster’s replacement in the Main Ingredient was Carl Tompkins.

In 1977, Cuba Gooding quit the group and signed with Motown as a solo act. He would record two albums for the label. Luther Simmons left the music business and became a stockbroker. In 1979, Gooding, Simmons and Silvester reunited as the Main Ingredient and recorded two more albums: Ready for Love (1980) and I Only Have Eyes for You (1981). The trio reunited again in 1986, after which Simmons quit the act for good.. He was replaced by Jerome Jackson, who appeared on the group’s 1989 Polydor album, I Just Wanna Love You.

In 1991, Aaron Neville’s remake of “Everybody Plays the Fool” reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. This inspired Cuba Gooding to resume his solo career, which resulted in a 1993 album. In 1999, Silvester and Simmons re-formed the Main Ingredient with new lead Carlton Blount. This trio recorded the Pure Magic album in 2001.

Tony Silvester, 65, succumbed to multiple melanoma on November 26, 2006. Luther Simmons, 74, died on May 9, 2016. And Cuba Gooding, 72, was found dead in his car on April 20, 2017.

In 1997, Gooding’s son, Cuba Jr., won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the hit film, Jerry Maguire.

Charted singles:

“You’ve Been My Inspiration” (1970) R&B #25, Pop #64
“I’m Better Off Without You” (1970) Pop #91
“I’m So Proud” (1970) R&B #13, Pop #49
“Spinning Around (I Must be Falling in Love)” (1971) R&B #7, Pop #52
“Black Seeds Keep on Growing” (1971) R&B #15, Pop #97
“Everybody Plays the Fool” (1972) R&B #2, Pop #3
“You’ve Got to Take It (If You Want It)” (1972) R&B #18, Pop #46
“You Can Call Me Rover” (1973) R&B #34, Pop #101
“Girl Blue” (1973) R&B #51, Pop #119
“Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely” (1974) R&B #8, Pop #10
“Happiness Is Just Around the Bend” (1974) R&B #7, Pop #35
“California My Way” (1974) R&B #48, Pop #75
“Rolling Down a Mountainside” (1975) R&B #7, Pop #92
“The Good Old Days” (1975) R&B #45
“Shame on the World” (1975) R&B #20
“Instant Love” (1976) R&B #96
“Think Positive” (1980) R&B #69
“Do Me Right” (1986) R&B #75
“I Just Wanna Love You” (1989) R&B #15
“Nothing’s Too Good for My Baby” (1990) R&B #29