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The Manhattans

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For the Native American people sometimes erroneously referred to as "Manhattans", see Wecquaesgeek.

The Manhattans
The Manhattans in 1972 (L-to-R): Richard "Ricky" Taylor, Gerald Alston, Kenneth "Wally" Kelly, Ed "Sonny" Bivins, Winfred "Blue" Lovett
The Manhattans in 1972 (L-to-R): Richard "Ricky" Taylor, Gerald Alston, Kenneth "Wally" Kelly, Ed "Sonny" Bivins, Winfred "Blue" Lovett
Background information
OriginJersey City, New Jersey, United States
GenresRhythm and blues, Philadelphia soul, soul
Years active1962–present
LabelsCarnival Records, Columbia/CBS, Sony, King Records
MembersThe Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston:
Gerald Alston
Troy May
Lawrence “Weas” Newton
The Manhattans of Sonny Bivins:
Charles Hardy
Harsey Hemphill
Keni Jackson
Kirk Hill Jr.
Past membersRichard "Ricky" Taylor
George "Smitty" Smith
Kenneth "Wally" Kelly
Edward "Sonny" Bivins
Winfred "Blue" Lovett
Roger Harris
Alvin Pazant
Wade Taylor
Lee Williams
David Tyson
Dwight Fields

The Manhattans are an American R&B vocal group. Their songs "Kiss and Say Goodbye", recorded in 1976, and 1980's "Shining Star", both sold millions of copies.[1] The Manhattans have recorded 45 hits on the Billboard R&B Chart, including twelve top-10 R&B hits in the United States, starting in 1965.[2] Sixteen of their songs have reached the Billboard Hot 100, including two top 10s and a number-one hit with their song "Kiss and Say Goodbye". They also charted eight U.S. R&B top 20 Albums, three of which were RIAA certified gold. The Manhattans were inducted into The Atlantic City Walk of Fame in September of 2024.[3]

Early history

[edit]

The Manhattans, originally from Jersey City, New Jersey, formed in 1962[4] with members George "Smitty" Smith (December 28, 1939 – December 16, 1970), Edward "Sonny" Bivins (January 15, 1936[5] – December 3, 2014), Winfred "Blue" Lovett (November 16, 1936 – December 9, 2014),[6][7] Kenny "Wally" Kelly (January 9, 1941 – February 17, 2015), and Richard "Ricky" Taylor (1940 – December 7, 1987). Bivins, Lovett, and Kelly graduated from Lincoln High School, while Taylor and Smith graduated from Snyder High School.[8] All five enlisted in the armed forces and came together as a group following their discharges from their respective branches.

The group's first single was "For the Very First Time", released in 1964 by Carnival Records.[4] The Manhattans continued recording successfully with songs written by various members of the group. In 1968, the group received the "Most Promising Group" award by NATRA (the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers). In 1969, the group moved to the De Luxe record label, a subsidiary of King Records, and subsequently embarked on a college tour. While playing at Kittrell College in North Carolina, the group met another group, the New Imperials, featuring Gerald Alston, nephew of The Shirelles' lead singer, Shirley Alston-Reeves. They were so impressed with Alston that they asked him to join the group, but he declined.

Misfortune hit the group late in 1970 when Smith fell ill. The value of this dynamic lead singer can neither be undervalued nor forgotten, with songs such as "I'm the One Love Forgot" and others that first established the group's popularity. With Smith unable to perform, the group began to search for a new lead. First they attempted to woo The Cymbals' lead, Lee Williams, but he was unwilling to leave his current group. The group then renewed their request to Gerald Alston (born November 8, 1951), who accepted and took over the lead spot.[4] Smith died of a brain tumor on December 16, 1970, 12 days before his 31st birthday.[4]

The Manhattans continued recording throughout the 1970s with Alston singing lead vocals. They struck chart gold in 1973 with the Bivins-written song "There's No Me Without You". Then their biggest song was their March 1976 release "Kiss and Say Goodbye",[4] written by Blue Lovett and arranged/co-produced with the group by the Philadelphia-based record producer Bobby Martin, a former member of the MFSB band of session musicians. The song quickly became a number-1 chart-topper on both the US Billboard Pop and R&B charts.[4] It also became the second ever single to go platinum, after the RIAA introduced that certification level in 1976.[9] Taylor left in 1976 to concentrate on his conversion to Islam.[4] He died in 1987 after a long illness.[4]

The group continued as a quartet, and found further success in March 1980 with the release of "Shining Star", which reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 4 on the R&B Chart.[4] Produced and co-written by the Chicago-based record producer, Leo Graham, it received a Grammy Award the following spring.

In 1983, The Manhattans released the album Forever by Your Side, by Columbia Records, which had two singles that year. The first was the song "Crazy", the great success of this album, peaked at number 4 on the R&B chart. The second single was the title track "Forever by Your Side", which had moderate success in the United States, peaked at number 30 on the R&B chart, but has become a great success and a romantic classic in Brazil two years later, when it was included as part of the soundtrack of a soap opera in the country. The success led to a Portuguese version the following year, called "Pra Sempre Vou Te Amar", which also was successful in Brazil, and has been recorded by several Brazilian artists. Another highlight of this album Forever by Your Side was the song "Just the Lonely Talking Again", written by the American singer and songwriter Sam Dees, which was originally recorded by The Manhattans for this 1983 album and was later re-recorded by Whitney Houston on her second studio album, Whitney, in 1987.

The group celebrated its 20th anniversary in 1985 with the release of Too Hot to Stop It. It included the Evans/Smith-penned "When We're Made as One", originally recorded in 1966 but covered in an a cappella, doo wop style to emphasize the group's doo wop roots. The album was also dedicated to George Smith.

The group continued until 1988. That year, Alston left to record as a solo artist, scoring with several major R&B hits in the late 1980s and early 1990s for Motown. Roger Harris was recruited as the new lead singer for the group, which moved to the new label, Valley Vue, when their Columbia recording contract expired.

Later history

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The group's largest shake-up was in December 1990, when Blue Lovett left the group, upon his doctor's request, for health reasons. Kenny Kelly left to return to college to pursue his PhD. Bivins continued along with lead singer Roger Harris who had replaced Gerald Alston in 1988–89 along with new members. He recruited new members Charles Hardy and Harsey Hemphill, who in October 1990 had auditioned for Bivins but didn't come aboard until after Lovett and Kelly left at the end of 1990. In early 1991 Bivins added Alvin Pazant, bringing the group back to a quintet. Harris proved to be only a short-term lead, and in April 1991 he was replaced by Wade Taylor. Taylor was replaced in July 1991 when Bivins recruited Lee Williams, the person whom they had originally wanted to replace George Smith.

In the 2000s, there were two versions of The Manhattans. One version featured original founding member Bivins, plus Hardy, Hemphill, Pazant and Williams. They released the CD Manhattans Now in 1994. In 1996, the group formed their own full-service music corporation company called Manhattan Entertainment Inc. In 2003 and 2007, they were featured artists in two theater plays, Girl He Aint Worth It and The Chicken Shack. In June 2013, the group released a single called "Just for Tonite" written by Bivins and Pazant and produced and arranged by Leroy Burgess. In 2015, Lee Williams retired and was replaced by Keni Jackson as the new lead singer. And they still continue to perform, with the same line up in 2018.

The other version of The Manhattans featured original member Blue Lovett, plus Gerald Alston, the lead singer on the group's biggest hits. Other members include Troy May and David Tyson (died 2022), brother of The Temptations' Ron Tyson. In the past, the group also featured Eban Brown, who later spent 18 years as lead vocalist for The Stylistics. This group has also released some CDs, including Even Now. This version of the group was featured in two PBS specials and performed at casinos and theaters across the United States. Alston appeared on Wu-Tang Clan's album, 8 Diagrams, on the song "Stick Me for My Riches" in 2007.

Edward "Sonny" Bivins, founding member of the Manhattans, died on December 3, 2014, at the age of 78. He sang on every Manhattans hit since the group's inception, and wrote many of their hit songs. He led the Manhattans up until his death.[10]

Winfred "Blue" Lovett, the group's original bass singer and songwriter, died on December 9, 2014, at the age of 78.[6] His bass voice was heard on many Manhattans hits, including the spoken word intro to "Kiss and Say Goodbye". He was replaced by Gerald Alston's cousin, Dwight Fields in The Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston till his death on August 26, 2016.

Kenneth "Wally" Kelly, the last surviving original member of the group, died on February 17, 2015, at the age of 74.[11]

Lead singer Gerald Alston is the only member alive of the group's heyday lineup.

David Tyson, a member of The Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston died of an illness on February 17, 2022, at the age of 62.

On September 23, 2024 The National R&B Music Society inducted The Manhattans into The Atlantic City Walk of Fame. Gerald Alston, Edward "Sonny" Bivins, Winfred "Blue" Lovett, Kenneth Kelly, Richard Taylor and George Smith were the indutees. Gerald Alston was in attendance to accept the honor. Blue Lovett's widow Anna, and daughter, and Sonny Bivins son Mark, and daughter Pamela were also in attendance. [12][13][14]


Discography

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Studio albums

[edit]
Year Album Peak chart positions Certifications Record label
US
[15] 		US
R&B
[15] 		AUS
[16] 		CAN
[17] 		NLD
[18] 		UK
[19]
1966 Dedicated to You — 19 — — — — Carnival
1967 For You and Yours — — — — — —
1970 With These Hands — — — — — — De Luxe
1972 A Million to One — 35 — — — —
1973 There's No Me Without You 150 19 — — — — Columbia
1974 That's How Much I Love You 160 59 — — — —
1976 The Manhattans 16 6 39 11 3 37
1977 It Feels So Good 68 12 — 78 — —
1978 There's No Good in Goodbye 78 18 — — — —
1979 Love Talk 141 20 — — — —
1980 After Midnight 24 4 — 77 — —
1981 Black Tie 86 21 — — — —
1983 Forever by Your Side 104 17 — — — —
1985 Too Hot to Stop It 171 44 — — — —
1986 Back to Basics — — — — — —
1989 Sweet Talk — — — — — — Valley Vue
1994 Now — — — — — — Hektoen
2001 ...Even Now... — 83 — — — — Beemark
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

[edit]
  • Live from South Africa (1999, Classic World)

Compilation albums

[edit]
Year Album Peak chart positions Record label
US
[15] 		US
R&B
[15] 		NLD
[18]
1980 Greatest Hits 87 18 — Columbia
1990 Dedicated to You: Golden Classics, Part 1 — — — Collectables
Sing for You & Yours: Golden Classics, Part 2 — — —
1995 The Best of the Manhattans: Kiss and Say Goodbye — — — Columbia/Legacy
2000 Love Songs — — 72
2002 Super Hits — — —
I'm the One That Love Forgot — — — Collectables
2008 Sweet Talking Soul 1965–1990 — — — Shout! Factory
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

[edit]
Year Single Peak chart Positions Certifications Album
US
[15] 		US
R&B
[15] 		US
A/C
[15] 		AUS
[16] 		CAN
[17] 		NLD
[18] 		NZ
[21] 		UK
[19]
1964 "For the Very First Time" — — — — — — — — Sing for You and Yours
"There Goes a Fool" — — — — — — — —
1965 "I Wanna Be (Your Everything)" 68 12 — — 42 — — —
"Searchin' for My Baby" (A-side) 135 20 — — — — — — Dedicated to You
"I'm the One That Love Forgot" (B-side) 135 — — — — — — —
"Follow Your Heart" 92 20 — — — — — —
1966 "Baby I Need You" 96 22 — — — — — —
"Can I" — 23 — — — — — —
"I Bet'cha (Couldn't Love Me)" 128 23 — — — — — — Sing for You and Yours
"It's That Time of the Year" — — — — — — — —
1967 "All I Need Is Your Love" — — — — — — — —
"When We're Made as One" — 31 — — — — — —
"I Call It Love" 96 24 — — — — — —
1968 "I Don't Wanna Go" — — — — — — — — —
"'Til You Come Back to Me" — — — — — — — —
1969 "The Picture Became Quite Clear" — — — — — — — —
1970 "It's Gonna Take a Lot to Bring Me Back" — 36 — — — — — — With These Hands
"If My Heart Could Speak" 98 30 — — — — — —
"From Atlanta to Goodbye" 113 48 — — — — — — —
1971 "Let Them Talk" — — — — — — — —
"I Can't Stand for You to Leave Me" — — — — — — — — A Million to One
1972 "A Million to One" (A-side) 114 47 — — — — — —
"Cry If You Wanna Cry" (B-side) — 48 — — — — — —
"One Life to Live" 102 3 — — — — — —
1973 "Back Up" 107 19 — — — — — —
"Rainbow Week" — — — — — — — — —
"There's No Me Without You" 43 3 — — — — — — There's No Me Without You
"Do You Ever" — 40 — — — — — — A Million to One
"You'd Better Believe It" 77 18 — — — — — — There's No Me Without You
"Wish That You Were Mine" — 19 — — — — — —
1974 "Summertime in the City" — 45 — — — — — — That's How Much I Love You
"Don't Take Your Love" 37 7 — — 65 — — —
1975 "Hurt" 97 10 — — 90 12 22 4 The Manhattans
1976 "Kiss and Say Goodbye" 1 1 12 4 7 1 1 4
"I Kinda Miss You" 46 7 — — 45 — — 59[A] It Feels So Good
1977 "It Feels So Good to be Loved So Bad" 66 6 — — 78 — — —
"It's You" — — — — — — — 43
"We Never Danced to a Love Song" 93 10 — — 83 — — —
1978 "Am I Losing You" 101 6 — — 96 — — — There's No Good in Goodbye
"Everybody Has a Dream" — 65 — — — — — —
1979 "Here Comes the Hurt Again" — 29 — — — — — — Love Talk
"The Way We Were" / "Memories" (medley) — 33 — — — — — —
1980 "Shining Star" 5 4 21 67 6 — 2 45 After Midnight
"Girl of My Dream" — 30 — — — — — —
"I'll Never Find Another (Find Another Like You)" 109 12 — — — — — — Greatest Hits
1981 "Do You Really Mean Goodbye?" — — — — — — — —
"Just One Moment Away" — 19 — — — — — — Black Tie
"Let Your Love Come Down" — 77 — — — — — —
1982 "Honey, Honey" — 25 — — — — — —
1983 "Crazy" 72 4 — — — — — 63 Forever by Your Side
"Forever by Your Side" — 30 — — — — — —
1985 "You Send Me" 81 20 8 — — — 48 — Too Hot to Stop It
"Don't Say No" — 60 — — — — — —
1986 "Where Did We Go Wrong?" (with Regina Belle) — 42 — — — — — — Back to Basics
1987 "All I Need" — 41 — — — — — —
1989 "Sweet Talk" — 67 — — — — — — Sweet Talk
"Why You Wanna Love Me Like That" — 62 — — — — — —
1990 "I Won't Stop" — 79 — — — — — —
2001 "Nites Like This" — — — — — — — — ...Even Now...
2013 "Just for Tonite" — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

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  1. ^ Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".

References

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  1. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 346. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ^ Joe Whitburn, Billboard's R&B Charts 1942–2004, Billboard (2004).
  3. ^ "The National Rhythm & Blues Music Society Inc. presents The Manhattans Atlantic City Walk of Fame Unveiling Ceremony - Shore Local Newsmagazine". shorelocalnews.com. September 18, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 164. ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
  5. ^ "The Manhattans Story Part 1". Soulexpress.net. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Memorial for Winfred 'Blue' Lovett". Soulful Detroit.com. January 3, 2015.
  7. ^ "Respect 2014". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  8. ^ McMillian, Stephen (January 31, 2014). "Manhattans, legendary group with Jersey City roots, to be spotlighted in TV documentary". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  9. ^ RIAA. "THE MANHATTANS – KISS & SAY GOODBYE". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  10. ^ "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2014 July To December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  11. ^ "R.I.P. Kenneth 'Wally' Kelly of the Manhattans". Soul Tracks. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  12. ^ "The National Rhythm & Blues Music Society Inc. presents The Manhattans Atlantic City Walk of Fame Unveiling Ceremony - Shore Local Newsmagazine". shorelocalnews.com. September 18, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  13. ^ "14th Black Tie Gala & Awards Ceremony & The Manhattans". www.atlanticcitynj.com. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  14. ^ "AC Walk of Fame". rnbmusicsociety1. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g "US Charts > The Manhattans". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  16. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  17. ^ a b "CAN Charts > The Manhattans". RPM. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  18. ^ a b c "NLD Charts > The Manhattans". MegaCharts. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  19. ^ a b "UK Charts > The Manhattans". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  20. ^ a b c d e "American certifications – The Manhattans". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  21. ^ "NZ Charts > The Manhattans". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  22. ^ "The Manhattans: Hurt". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  23. ^ "The Manhattans: Kiss and Say Goodbye". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  24. ^ "Canadian certifications – The Manhattans". Music Canada. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
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