The Main Ingredient Begins with Family

by Angela Scott

While front man for the soul group "The Main Ingredient," Cuba Gooding evoked tale-true emotions in chart-topping hits such as “Everybody Plays the Fool” and “Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely.” Younger audiences hear Gooding’s soft tenor voice sampled on Alicia Keys' Billboard hit, “You Don’t Know My Name.”

An icon in black music for the past 40 years, Gooding is also the proud father of Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. The music legend returns to his musical roots with an album appropriately titled Begin With The Family on the independent Irie Records (www.irierecords.com). Gooding says offering his latest solo effort is a return to what’s most important – family.

“This album begins with the family, because that is what life does. Family influence is the beginning” Gooding declares. The father of four says he worked for the past three years on creating a CD that represents the beginning of a positive legacy for the family.

Gooding, a loyalist for family values finds the current state of the world in a troubling historical time, where an influx of ideas of what is best for humanity – political, racial and gender-driven is stripping children of their innocence.

“We have not just lived from millennium to millennium we have seen a change in what childhood is. Once you put a computer in front of a child, the entire humanity is at their fingertips,” Gooding states. “The knowledge of becoming a teenager at age 9 is capable,” warns Gooding. He says that children have access to realities nowadays that were not issues of older generations such as pornography. It takes strong parental supervision, according to Gooding, in order for children to cope with the amount of inappropriate issues presented through computers, TV, film and schoolyards.

Begin With The Family explores the evolution of relationships from first dates to marriage, to divorce to reconciliations. Of the 10 tracks, Gooding co-wrote six, offering a nice pick of soul-stirring songs produced by longtime collaborator Jason Smith, a member of the reggae group "Caribbean Pulse." Smith’s neo-soul production complements Gooding’s melodious voice. The title track, “Begin With The Family,” serves as an answer to America in this time of uncertainty, and represents a call to America to return to its roots of raising children with purpose and ambition that contributes to a better society. With a repetitive chorus that says, “When will you see, it begins with the family,” the lyrics are powerful and reveal the struggles many families face:

At first my family played the fool,
And we ignored the golden rule,
And we refused to get along with each other,
Love one another,
One day we woke up and we could see,
That there is power in unity.
It begins with the family!

Look for memorable songs celebrating the triumphs over relationship dilemmas in the tracks “Have I Told You,” “Never The Less,” “Finally,” and “I’m Sorry,” a powerful duet with "Caribbean Pulse" vocalist LaNiece McKay. A welcome surprise on Gooding’s new solo endeavor is the rhythmic updated version of “Everybody Plays the Fool,” which offers an inspirational twist to the ’70s hit, advising listeners the importance of having a relationship with God.

Begin With The Family is a definite “must hear” doing respite time between mommy and daddy. The songs offer not only discussion ideas on relational issues, but also provide concepts that parents should consider about raising their children.
Gooding says it best, “It’s imperative that you participate in dialogue that makes you a better parent,” and becoming a better parent Begins With The Family.


Angela D. Scott lives in the Los Angeles area and is the Special Sections Editor, L.A. Parent. This professional writer is a single mother of two daughters, Shani and Samara



October 6, 2004