The Manhattan Transfer Celebrates 50th Anniversary with New Album and Final World Tour

Episode 270,   Dec 10, 2022, 09:23 PM

The legendary quartet, The Manhattan Transfer, is celebrating its golden anniversary after 50 years of captivating audiences with its dynamic performances and unforgettable vocal harmonies.

In honor of five decades, the 10-time Grammy award-winning group released Fifty, an album revisiting their biggest hits with new arrangements and timeless favorites from George and Ira Gershwin and The Beach Boys.

In addition to the 10-track set, the foursome consisting Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne and Trist Curless, has also embarked on its final cross-continental tour. Their global expedition includes stops in the US, Europe, the UK, Japan, and Australasia, with dates continuing through 2023.

The Manhattan Transfer has had an incredible career over many years, releasing 19 singles and 29 albums with music featured in major films and television shows.

In 1981, they became the first group to win Grammys in both pop and jazz categories in the same year, and in 1998 they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

They’ve also recorded with an impressive array of artists, including Tony Bennett, Bette Midler, Smokey Robinson, Laura Nyro, Phil Collins, B.B. King, Chaka Khan, James Taylor, and Frankie Valli.

Since their inception on October 1, 1972, The Manhattan Transfer has endured changing times and replaced two original members, Laurel Massé and Tim Hauser. However, the current members, Janis, Alan, Cheryl, and Trist, have stayed true to the integrity and artistry left by founding member Hauser, who passed away in 2014.

We had the pleasure of speaking to them at our LifeMinute studio, where they told us about the new album, the final tour, and how they have managed to make it in the biz while still capturing the ears of so many after 50 years.

This is a LifeMinute with The Manhattan Transfer.