Radio One Remembers Raymond “Mo Betta Man” Woods

Story by WolDCNews.com
Written by Pharoh Martin

It is with great sadness that I inform you that a longtime Radio One family member has transitioned. Raymond Woods, also known as the "Mo Betta Man" died today at Veterans Hospital in Washington, D.C. He was 74.

Raymond Woods was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1940. Woods grew up in Washington, D.C., where he graduated from McKinley Tech High School. Enlisting in the U.S. Marines, he served in An Hoa, Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for his actions in combat in May 1969. He also received numerous citations including six Presidential Unit Citations, One Matrious Combat Promotion while participating in six operations against insurgents of communist Viet Cong. It was during his service in Vietnam that his fellow Marines gave him the name of The More Better Man. Returning to civilian life he took a position at the U.S. Government Printing Office.

"Mo Betta Man’s" love for rhythm and blues music of the 1950’s and 60’s led him to seek a job at WOL. In September of 1982 he went on the air at WOL, beginning with just two hours per week. Listener response to The More Better Man and his music brought quick expansion to his airtime. "Mo Betta Man" did the overnight shift; evening and in 1986 he moved to midday. He would remain there for six years.

In conjunction with the oldies he played on WOL, "Mo Betta Man" sponsored dances, parties and shows that featured the music of the fifties and sixties. Some of the performers that he brought back in his live show included Major Lance, Marv Johnson and Baby Washington. His most ambitious show to date was the big Doo-Wop stage show in May of 1992 when he brought down five legendary vocal groups from New York City.

Mo Betta Man continued to recognize and honor Vietnam veterans and for ten or more years organized a veteran’s march from the WOL studio to the Veterans Memorial on Veterans Day. He was such a proud soldier and he transitioned on the day of his march.

Mo Betta Man was noted for his contributions to music and radio in a profile in the July 1995 issue of Discoveries, a national magazine for record collectors. Baltimore got its first taste of The More Better Man in 1993 when WOL began simulating his show on WOLB.

Since April of 1995 Mo Betta Man has been entertaining nighttime audiences in Washington with his own unique brand of talk radio.

We don’t have any additional information at this time regarding funeral services.