The Main Ingredient

Originally formed in 1964 as the Poets, this New York soul group (Donald McPherson, Luther
Simmons Jr., and Tony Sylvester) recorded for Red Bird before changing their name in 1966. After
McPherson's death in 1971, Cuba Gooding became the lead singer, and the band scored three Top
40 hits, including "Everybody Plays the Fool," which went to number three. The Main Ingredient
tried it again in 1986, with Cuba Gooding returning to his lead spot. They recorded for Zakia, but
didn't get much response to "Do Me Right." They kept trying, cutting a song on Polydor in 1989.
Longtime group member Luther Simmons, who had left in 1975 to become a stockbroker and then
come back in 1980, returned to Wall Street and was replaced for this session by Jerome Jackson.