The Main Ingredient was an American soul and R&B group which had a run of hits in the 1970s, including their 1972 million-selling song "Everybody Plays the Fool".[1]
The Main Ingredient
The Main Ingredient in 1970. Original members (L-to-R) Luther Simmons, Don McPherson, and Tony Silvester
Jerome Jackson Stanley Alston Cuba Gooding Sr. Donald McPherson Tony "Panama" Silvester Luther Simmons Carl Tompkins Larry Moore Carlton Blount George Staley Sr. Ryan Idell
The group was formed in Harlem, New York City in 1964 as a trio called the Poets, composed of lead singer Donald McPherson (July 9, 1941 – July 3, 1971),[2] Luther Simmons Jr. (September 9, 1942 – May 9, 2016), and Panama-born Tony Silvester (October 7, 1941 – November 26, 2006).[3] They made their first recordings for Leiber & Stoller's Red Bird label, but soon changed their name to the Insiders and signed with RCA Records. In 1968, after a couple of singles, they changed their name once again, this time permanently, to The Main Ingredient.[3] The name came from a Coca-Cola bottle.
They then teamed up with record producer/arranger Bert DeCoteaux.[3] Under his direction, The Main Ingredient reached the R&BTop 30 for the first time in 1970 with "You've Been My Inspiration". A cover of The Impressions' "I'm So Proud" broke the Top 20, and "Spinning Around (I Must Be Falling in Love)" went into the Top 10.[3] In 1971, they scored again, with the McPherson-penned black-power anthem "Black Seeds Keep on Growing," but tragedy struck that year. Don McPherson, who had been suddenly taken ill with leukemia, died unexpectedly on July 3, 1971, at age 29.[3] Stunned, Tony Silvester and Luther Simmons re-grouped with new lead singer Cuba Gooding Sr.,[3] who had served as a backing vocalist on some of their previous recordings, and had filled in on tour during McPherson's brief illness.
The Gooding era began auspiciously with the million-selling smash "Everybody Plays the Fool", which hit number two R&B and number three pop to become the group's biggest hit.[3] It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in September 1972.[4] The accompanying album, Bitter Sweet, became their first to hit the Top 10 on the R&B album chart; its follow-up, 1973's Afrodisiac, featured several songs written or co-written by Stevie Wonder, although it did not produce any huge successes on the singles charts. They peaked at number eight on the R&B chart in 1974 with "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely", which sold over a million copies,[4] and also reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100. The track peaked at number twenty-seven in the UK Singles Chart in July 1974, although it was their only chart presence in the UK.[5] In 1975, the group recorded several songs co-written by Leon Ware, including the R&B Top Ten "Rolling Down a Mountainside". By this point, however, Tony Silvester was harboring other ambitions; he released a solo album called Magic Touch that year, and left the group to form a production team with DeCoteaux. The two of them scored a Top 10 Pop and R&B smash with their production of Ben E. King's hit "Supernatural Thing" in 1975.
Later years
The Main Ingredient in 2008. The group at that time consisted of Cuba Gooding Sr., Jerome Jackson and Stanley Alston.
Silvester was replaced by Carl Tompkins, and Gooding departed for a solo career on Motown in 1977,[3] which produced two albums; Simmons, meanwhile, left the music industry to work as a stockbroker. Gooding, Silvester and Simmons reunited as the Main Ingredient in 1979, and recorded two more albums, 1980's Ready for Love and 1981's I Only Have Eyes for You (the latter featured a minor hit in "Evening of Love").[3] The trio reunited for a second time in 1986, but their Zakia single "Do Me Right" flopped, and Simmons returned to his day job. He was replaced by Jerome Jackson on the 1989 Polydor album I Just Wanna Love You.[3] In the wake of Aaron Neville's Top Ten revival of "Everybody Plays the Fool", Gooding resumed his solo career and issued his third album in 1993. Silvester and Simmons re-formed the Main Ingredient in 1999 with new lead singer Carlton Blount; this line-up recorded Pure Magic in 2001.
Tony Silvester died after a six-year struggle with multiple myeloma on November 26, 2006, at the age of 65,[2] and original member Luther Simmons retired shortly thereafter. Simmons died on May 9, 2016, at the age of 74.[2] Cuba Gooding Sr. was found dead in his car on April 20, 2017.[2]
The line-up of the group consisted of Jerome Jackson and Stanley Alston. On August 13, 2020, Alston died from ALS in his hometown of Palm Coast, FL at age 66.
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For other uses see The Main Ingredient disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources The Main Ingredient news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Main Ingredient was an American soul and R amp B group which had a run of hits in the 1970s including their 1972 million selling song Everybody Plays the Fool 1 The Main IngredientThe Main Ingredient in 1970 Original members L to R Luther Simmons Don McPherson and Tony SilvesterBackground informationOriginHarlem New York U S GenresSoul R amp B funkYears active1964 1977 1979 1981 1986 1991 1999 2020LabelsRed Bird Records 1964 RCA Records 1970 1981 Polydor Records 1989 Magnatar 2001 Kent Soul Compilation Past membersJerome JacksonStanley AlstonCuba Gooding Sr Donald McPherson Tony Panama SilvesterLuther SimmonsCarl TompkinsLarry MooreCarlton BlountGeorge Staley Sr Ryan Idell Contents 1 Early history 2 Later years 3 Discography 3 1 Studio albums 3 2 Compilation albums 3 3 Singles 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksEarly history EditThe group was formed in Harlem New York City in 1964 as a trio called the Poets composed of lead singer Donald McPherson July 9 1941 July 3 1971 2 Luther Simmons Jr September 9 1942 May 9 2016 and Panama born Tony Silvester October 7 1941 November 26 2006 3 They made their first recordings for Leiber amp Stoller s Red Bird label but soon changed their name to the Insiders and signed with RCA Records In 1968 after a couple of singles they changed their name once again this time permanently to The Main Ingredient 3 The name came from a Coca Cola bottle They then teamed up with record producer arranger Bert DeCoteaux 3 Under his direction The Main Ingredient reached the R amp B Top 30 for the first time in 1970 with You ve Been My Inspiration A cover of The Impressions I m So Proud broke the Top 20 and Spinning Around I Must Be Falling in Love went into the Top 10 3 In 1971 they scored again with the McPherson penned black power anthem Black Seeds Keep on Growing but tragedy struck that year Don McPherson who had been suddenly taken ill with leukemia died unexpectedly on July 3 1971 at age 29 3 Stunned Tony Silvester and Luther Simmons re grouped with new lead singer Cuba Gooding Sr 3 who had served as a backing vocalist on some of their previous recordings and had filled in on tour during McPherson s brief illness The Gooding era began auspiciously with the million selling smash Everybody Plays the Fool which hit number two R amp B and number three pop to become the group s biggest hit 3 It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the R I A A in September 1972 4 The accompanying album Bitter Sweet became their first to hit the Top 10 on the R amp B album chart its follow up 1973 s Afrodisiac featured several songs written or co written by Stevie Wonder although it did not produce any huge successes on the singles charts They peaked at number eight on the R amp B chart in 1974 with Just Don t Want to Be Lonely which sold over a million copies 4 and also reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 The track peaked at number twenty seven in the UK Singles Chart in July 1974 although it was their only chart presence in the UK 5 In 1975 the group recorded several songs co written by Leon Ware including the R amp B Top Ten Rolling Down a Mountainside By this point however Tony Silvester was harboring other ambitions he released a solo album called Magic Touch that year and left the group to form a production team with DeCoteaux The two of them scored a Top 10 Pop and R amp B smash with their production of Ben E King s hit Supernatural Thing in 1975 Later years Edit The Main Ingredient in 2008 The group at that time consisted of Cuba Gooding Sr Jerome Jackson and Stanley Alston Silvester was replaced by Carl Tompkins and Gooding departed for a solo career on Motown in 1977 3 which produced two albums Simmons meanwhile left the music industry to work as a stockbroker Gooding Silvester and Simmons reunited as the Main Ingredient in 1979 and recorded two more albums 1980 s Ready for Love and 1981 s I Only Have Eyes for You the latter featured a minor hit in Evening of Love 3 The trio reunited for a second time in 1986 but their Zakia single Do Me Right flopped and Simmons returned to his day job He was replaced by Jerome Jackson on the 1989 Polydor album I Just Wanna Love You 3 In the wake of Aaron Neville s Top Ten revival of Everybody Plays the Fool Gooding resumed his solo career and issued his third album in 1993 Silvester and Simmons re formed the Main Ingredient in 1999 with new lead singer Carlton Blount this line up recorded Pure Magic in 2001 Tony Silvester died after a six year struggle with multiple myeloma on November 26 2006 at the age of 65 2 and original member Luther Simmons retired shortly thereafter Simmons died on May 9 2016 at the age of 74 2 Cuba Gooding Sr was found dead in his car on April 20 2017 2 The line up of the group consisted of Jerome Jackson and Stanley Alston On August 13 2020 Alston died from ALS in his hometown of Palm Coast FL at age 66 Discography EditStudio albums Edit Year Album Peak chart positions Record labelUS 6 USR amp B 6 CAN 7 1970 L T D 200 38 RCA RecordsTasteful Soul 146 26 1971 Black Seeds 176 35 1972 Bitter Sweet 79 10 301973 Afrodisiac 132 16 1974 Euphrates River 52 8 481975 Rolling Down a Mountainside 90 3 Shame on the World 158 27 1977 Music Maximus 177 32 1980 Ready for Love 69 1981 I Only Have Eyes for You 1989 I Just Wanna Love You 59 Polydor2001 Pure Magic Magnatar denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory Compilation albums Edit Year Album Peak chart positions Record labelUS 6 USR amp B 6 1973 Greatest Hits 205 32 RCA Records1976 Super Hits 201 461990 Golden Classics CollectablesAll Time Greatest Hits RCA Records1996 A Quiet Storm 2005 Everybody Plays the Fool The Best of the Main Ingredient Legacy RCA2007 Spinning Around The Singles 1967 1975 Kent denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory Singles Edit Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications AlbumUS 6 USR amp B 6 USA C 6 AUS 8 CAN 7 UK 9 1965 I m Stuck on You A 1966 Chapel Bells Are Calling B 1967 I m Better Off Without You B If You Had a Heart B 1969 I Was Born to Lose You L T D Brotherly Love 1970 Can t Stand Your Love You ve Been My Inspiration 64 25 I m Better Off Without You re recorded version 91 Tasteful Soul I m So Proud 49 13 1971 Spinning Around I Must Be Falling in Love 52 7 Black Seeds Keep on Growing 97 15 Black Seeds Another Day Has Come 1972 Everybody Plays the Fool 3 2 25 44 6 54 A RIAA Gold 10 Bitter Sweet You ve Got to Take It If You Want It 46 18 1973 You Can Call Me Rover 101 34 Afrodisiac Girl Blue 119 51 1974 Just Don t Want to Be Lonely 10 8 42 7 27 RIAA Gold 10 Euphrates River Happiness Is Just Around the Bend 35 7 51 California My Way 75 48 1975 Rolling Down a Mountainside 92 7 Rolling Down a Mountainside The Good Old Days 45 Shame on the World 20 Shame on the World1976 Instant Love 96 Music Maximus1980 Think Positive 69 Ready for Love Makes No Diff rence to Me 1981 Evening of Love I Only Have Eyes for You I Only Have Eyes for You 1982 Party People 1986 Do Me Right 75 1989 I Just Wanna Love You 15 I Just Wanna Love You1990 Nothing s Too Good for My Baby 29 2001 Will You Marry Me Pure Magic We Got Us denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory A Single credited to The Poets B Single credited to The InsidersNotes Edit Chart position is from the official UK Breakers List References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Main Ingredient band Huey Steve Biography AllMusic Retrieved April 7 2022 a b c d Main Ingredient Page Soulwalking co uk Retrieved September 27 2021 a b c d e f g h i j Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music First ed Guinness Publishing p 1593 ISBN 0 85112 939 0 a b Murrells Joseph 1978 The Book of Golden Discs 2nd ed London Barrie and Jenkins Ltd pp 315 316 amp 347 ISBN 0 214 20512 6 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 344 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 a b c d e f g US Charts gt The Main Ingredient Billboard Archived from the original on February 24 2013 Retrieved February 8 2010 a b CAN Charts gt The Main Ingredient RPM Retrieved February 9 2015 Kent David 1993 Australian Charts Book 1970 1992 Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd Turramurra N S W ISBN 0 646 11917 6 UK Charts gt The Main Ingredient Official Charts Company Retrieved February 10 2015 a b American certifications Main Ingredient Recording Industry Association of America Retrieved June 14 2020 External links EditThe Main Ingredient at AllMusic The Main Ingredient on Soul Tracks Retrieved from https en 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