The Manhattans

Achieving remarkable endurance through stylistic evolution, the Manhattans exemplified those enduring R&B vocal ensembles that sustained long careers by reshaping their sound to match evolving tastes. Originating in the 1960s as a doo-wop-tinged R&B five-piece, the quintet shifted during the 1970s into gentle, polished soul balladeers. They navigated this transition despite losing original lead singer George Smith, and under replacement frontman Gerald Alston they reached unprecedented popularity, securing a chart-topping crossover smash in 1976 via "Kiss and Say Goodbye." Guided by Winfred "Blue" Lovett—who penned several of their signature successes—the Manhattans remained active on the charts deep into the 1980s, more than twenty years after forming.

The ensemble assembled not in Manhattan but in nearby Jersey City, New Jersey, during 1962. Centered on lead vocalist George "Smitty" Smith and bass singer (who occasionally took leads) Winfred "Blue" Lovett, the founding lineup also featured Kenny Kelley, Richard Taylor, and Edward "Sonny" Bivins, the last of whom sometimes collaborated on songs with the skilled songwriter Lovett. Landing a deal in 1964 with Newark’s Carnival imprint, they partnered with producer Joe Evans and notched their debut success in early 1965 with "I Wanna Be (Your Everything)," a number 12 R&B entry that showcased their ballad expertise from the outset. That track launched a run of eight Carnival singles extending through 1967. Though none dominated the marketplace, most climbed into the R&B Top 30 and continue to attract vocal-group soul collectors thanks to their heartfelt harmonies, Smith’s passionate deliveries, and resistance to pop compromises.

Joining DeLuxe in 1969, the Manhattans released multiple singles across 1970. Smith’s illness that year prompted the temporary addition of Phil Terrell. Following Smith’s death in 1971, Gerald Alston assumed lead duties, introducing a smoother, pop-leaning vocal style that quickly surfaced when Lovett’s "One Life to Live" surged to the R&B Top Five in late 1972—their first substantial breakthrough. The next year they moved to Columbia, where their initial release, "There’s No Me Without You" (penned by Sonny Bivins), matched that peak by reaching number three. Now collaborating with producer Bobby Martin, their output aligned with the lush, string-heavy aesthetic of mid-1970s soul. Additional R&B Top Ten entries arrived via 1974’s "Don’t Take Your Love" and 1975’s "Hurt," yet their greatest triumph lay ahead.

During early 1975 they captured Lovett’s composition "Kiss and Say Goodbye," issued nearly twelve months later. It became only the second platinum-certified single ever (following Johnnie Taylor’s "Disco Lady") and their maiden number one in spring 1976, topping both R&B and pop lists—an extraordinary crossover given that no prior single had climbed past number 37 on the pop side. Although duplicating that broad appeal proved challenging, they delivered a sequence of R&B Top Ten singles—"I Kinda Miss You," "It Feels So Good to Be Loved So Bad," "We Never Danced to a Love Song," and "Am I Losing You"—that extended into early 1978 and established them as fixtures on the emerging quiet storm format. Chart momentum eased briefly, but 1980 brought a strong return with "Shining Star," a Leo Graham co-write (distinct from the Earth, Wind & Fire classic). The track reached the Top Five on both pop and R&B surveys, earned gold status, and captured a Grammy.

Their final major success arrived with 1983’s "Crazy," marking their last R&B Top Five appearance, while 1985’s cover of Sam Cooke’s "You Send Me" closed out their Top 40 tenure. Richard Taylor departed that year, leaving the group as a quartet; he passed away in December 1987. Gerald Alston launched a solo Motown career in 1988, prompting the Manhattans’ exit from Columbia and a subsequent album on the independent Valley Vue imprint before they disbanded. Alston and Lovett reconvened in 1993; joined by newcomers Troy May and David Tyson, they maintained an active touring schedule into the new millennium, issuing occasional independent releases. In 2021 they delivered the album The Legacy Continues—one of David Tyson’s final projects before his death on February 17, 2022.