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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMANHATTANS, TheSweet soul vocal group formed '64 in Jersey City, doing well for over 20 years with traditional good singing based on doo-wop. Original lineup: George 'Smitty' Smith, lead vocals (d '70); Winfred 'Blue' Lovett, bass and recitations (b 16 Nov. '43); Edward 'Sonny' Bivens, tenor (b 15 Jan. '42); Kenneth Kelley, tenor (b 9 Jan. '43); Richard Taylor, baritone. Lovett, Blivens and Taylor also write songs; Lovett wrote their first hit, 'I Wanna Be (Your Everything)' '65 (top 20 R&B chart, also reached pop Hot 100); they continued with more top 30 R&B hits on the Newark-based Carnival label; they recorded for King subsidiary Deluxe and 'If My Heart Could Speak' '70 was top 30 soul, as the black chart was called by then, and Hot 100 pop; Smith died of meningitis '70, replaced by Gerald Alston (b 8 Nov. '42). They signed with Columbia '72; first top 40 pop crossover was 'Don't Take Your Love' '75, but by then their albums were reaching the national top 200 (There's No Me Without You '73, That's How Much I Love You '75); 'Kiss And Say Goodbye' '76 was no. 1 both soul and pop charts, pulling LP The Manhattans into the top 20 of the album chart. It Feels So Good, There's No Good In Goodbye and Love Talk '77--9 were successful albums; 'Shining Star' '80 was their third big pop hit at no. 5 and LP After Midnight reached no 24. Black Tie '81, Forever By Your Side '83, Too Hot To Stop It '85 continued to please fans; revival of Sam Cooke's 'You Send Me' '85 was top 20 black hit, Hot 100 pop. Sweet Talk was on a Valley Vue CD; early Carnival classics compiled on two Collectables CDs: Dedicated To You and For You And Yours. |