Rhythm and Blues Musician. A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, McPherson was the original lead singer of the music group "The Main Ingredient". Known for his vocal abilities McPherson received several awards between 1961 and 1963, while he served in the United States Army. The group formed in Harlem, New York, in 1964, and besides McPherson, the members included Luther Simmons, Jr. and Tony Silvester. The group at first called themselves, 'Trio' and released several unsuccessful recordings, before they joined the writing team of Leiber & Stoller. Making there first recordings on the Red Bird Record Label, the group soon changed there name to, 'The Insiders,' and then finally to, 'The Main Ingredient,' when they began recording for the RCA Record Label in 1966. After little success the group hooked up with a producer named Bert De Coteaux who helped direct there career right up into the 1970s. In 1970 the trio released there first Top 30 hit, 'You've Been My Inspirartion,' and the hits soon continued, with the Top 20 hit, 'I'm So Proud,' and the Top Ten hit, 'Spinning Around (I Must Be Falling In Love).' This was soon followed by the recording of, 'Black Seeds Keep On Growing,' a black power anthem. On July 3, 1971, tragedy struck the group when McPherson died from the effects of leukemia, at the age of 29. Although the group were stunned and deeply saddened by the passing of McPherson, the group soon replaced him with Cuba Gooding Sr. (the father of actor Cuba Gooding Jr.). Gooding had previously filled in for McPherson a few times before and had also sang on some the group's recordings. In 1972, the group released there classic recording of, 'Everybody Plays The Fool.' The song went onto sell over a million copies, and reached number two and three on the R&B charts. The group continued there success throughout the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and the 2000s, releasing several more albums and recordings, including, 'Just Don't Want To Be Lonely,' 'Happiness Is Just Around The Bend,' 'Rolling Down A Mountainside,' 'Evening Of Love,' 'Do Me Right,' and 'Pure Magic,' in 2001, among many others.