Entertainer Cuba Gooding Sr has died at the age of 72.. Gooding was found dead in his automobile in Woodland Hills, California on April 20 just a week before his 73rd birthday. The official cause of death has been listed as Hypertensive and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease – hardening of the arteries. The disease can lead to to heart attacks and strokes.
Gooding is best known as the lead singer for the group The Main Ingredient with their R&B hits “Everybody Plays the Fool” and “Just Don’t Want to be Lonely.” He is also the father of Academy Award winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr.
After leaving The Main Ingredient, Gooding embarked on a solo career; releasing a couple of albums, but later returned to the group as their lead singer.
Gooding appeared in a few video productions – “Children of the Struggle”, “Gedo”, “Roscoe’s House of Chicken n Waffles” and “Destination Fame”. He was filming “The Regiment” at the time of his death where he was also the producer. Gooding’s song “Dance All Night” was a part of the soundtrack for “Thank God It’s Friday”. As himself Gooding has appeared in documentaries, several episodes of “Soul Train”, and other variety shows.
The son of a taxi driver, Cuba Gooding Sr is a first generation American, who was born in New York City on April 27, 1944.
He is survived by his second wife (third marriage) Shirley, children – Cuba Jr, Omar, April, and Tommy, and grandchildren – Spencer, Mason, and Piper.
photo credit: By Philkon Phil Konstantin – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4861786