Al Goodman

It's being reported that the legandary soul singer, "Al Goodman" passed away; he was 63.

It seems as if every oldtimer who allows Jay-Z to sample their music, end up Dead. Maybe it's all about the Royalty checks after all...

According to Reports:

"My good friend of at least 40 years passed away yesterday," said Marshall Thompson, leader of The Chi-lites, on Tuesday. " There's mourning all over the world -- in England, in Germany and in Japan. We're all mourning for Al Goodman."

Goodman was a member of the Moments, an R&B group that formed in Hackensack, New Jersey, in 1968, along with Harry Ray and William Brown. They topped the soul charts in 1970 with "Love on a Two Way Street," and again in 1975 with "Look at Me (I'm in Love)."

Last year, rapper Jay-Z sampled "Love on a Two Way Street" for his hit, "Empire State of Mind."

In 1978, the trio renamed itself Ray, Goodman and Brown. A year later, they hit No. 1with "Special Lady." The group made regular appearances on the soul charts into the 1980s. Their last Top Ten single was in 1986.

Goodman's funeral is planned for Monday at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey.

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