Lawrence LLoyd Brown Sr., member of the Blue Notes

LAWRENCE LLOYD Brown Sr., an original member of the legendary Blue Notes, the Philly-based R&B group orignally known as Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, died Sunday of a respiratory condition. He was 63 and lived in North Philadelphia.

Lawrence was still performing with the group until January, when he became ill while singing at the Harrah's casino, in Chester.

He was one of those singers who seemed born to entertain. He started singing and dancing as a child, when he and other friends would sing on the street in his old neighborood around Woodstock and Norris streets, and at school functions.

It seemed inevitable that he and his pals would put together a group to perform at talent shows and clubs. Their original aggregation, formed in 1957, was called The Bingos.

A year later, Lawrence and his lifelong friend, Bernard Wilson, formed the Chordsteppers. They were noted for their smooth sound and fancy footwork, and began performing for larger audiences in the city and elsewhere.

Lawrence was the choreographer who kept the group jumping, a role he continued as the group changed names and direction.

The group became the Charlemagnes and, in 1954, the Blue Notes. It was then that Harold Melvin became the lead singer and the group was renamed Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.

Probably its most famous member was Teddy Pendergrass, who was brought on in 1970 as a drummer in the group's backup band. He soon graduated to lead singer and performed through most of the '70s on some of the Blue Notes' most popular hits.

Some of their songs were "I Miss You," "If You Don't Know Me by Now," "The Love I Lost," "Bad Luck" and "Wake up Eveybody."

After recording with a number of labels, they were taken on by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff on the Philadelphia International label.

Pendergrass quit the group in 1976 after his effort to change the name to Teddy Pendergass & the Blue Notes failed. He enjoyed a successful solo career until he was paralyzed in an auto accident in 1982.

Melvin died in 1997.

Despite frequent changes in personnel, Lawrence Brown remained the second tenor.

"Lawrence's dreams as a performer truly became reality," his family said in an obituary. "Although he will be sorely missed, this talented, funny, life-loving man will live on in the hearts of all those who knew and loved him - and the magic that inspired him."

He is survived by his wife of 42 1/2 years, Patricia Parks, and a son, Lawrence Lloyd Brown Jr.

Services: 8 p.m. Monday at True Gospel Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, 1601 Mifflin St. Friends may call at 6 p.m. Burial will be in Mt. Lawn Cemetery. *