Lawrence Brown, original member of the 'Blue Notes'

PHILADELPHIA - Lawrence Lloyd Brown, an original member of the rhythm-and-blues group Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, has died. He was 63.

A Philadelphia funeral home said that Mr. Brown died April 6 of a respiratory condition. He was still performing with the Blue Notes until January, when he became ill while singing at a show in Chester, Pa.

Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes are known for such songs as "I Miss You," "If You Don't Know Me by Now," "The Love I Lost," "Bad Luck," and "Wake up Everybody."

Despite frequent changes in personnel, including Teddy Pendergrass becoming the group's lead singer in the 1970s, Mr. Brown remained the second tenor.