News

Actions

Reports: Cuba Gooding Sr., soul singer and father of Oscar winner, found dead

Posted at 4:44 PM, Apr 20, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-20 20:21:01-04

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Cuba Gooding Sr., a popular soul singer and father of Cuba Gooding Jr., was found dead in Los Angeles County Thursday. He was 72-years-old.

He would have turned 73 next week.

Gooding Sr. was reportedly found in his car in Woodland Hills in the 22100 block of Ventura Boulevard. Firefighters responded to the scene shortly before 1 p.m., but were not able to resuscitate Gooding Sr., Los  Angeles's ABC-affiliate ABC7 said.

Police are currently investigating. An official cause of death has not been released.

Gooding Sr. is best known as the lead singer of the 1970s group "The Main Ingredient." He sang some of the most notable hits including "Everybody Plays the Fool" and "Just Don't Want to be Lonely." 

He and his wife, Shirley, had four children together before splitting up in 1974. They remarried in 1995. Two of their children, Cuba Jr. and Omar, went on to become actors.

Mark Saunders is a 10News digital producer. Follow him on Twitter at @10NewsSaunders.