The Manhattan Transfer – 50th anniversary

The Manhattan Transfer is undoubtedly one of the world’s most iconic vocal groups. With songs like Operator, Chanson D’Amour and Birdland, they have won over audiences and charts on every continent. On 22 November, the quartet will perform at Konserthuset Stockholm together with their band: Yaron Gershovsky piano, Hervé Jeanne bass, Pete McCann guitar and Ross Pederson drums.

In 1981 the Manhattan Transfer became the first group ever to win Grammy Awards in both the pop and jazz categories. In 1985, the album Vocalese had the second-most Grammy nominations after Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

The group formed when Tim Hauser worked as a taxi driver in New York. He wanted to form a vocal group that could master a variety of styles and create a unique American pop sound. In his taxi, he met future bandmates Laurel Massé, Janis Siegel and Alan Paul, and formed The Manhattan Transfer on 1 October 1972.

It was the launch of a phenomenal career spanning fifty years of success. Throughout the course of their incredible career, the group has released 19 singles and 29 albums, and their music has been heard on numerous movies and TV shows. They have also won several Grammy Awards, and in conjunction with their 50-year anniversary, they are releasing a new album accompanied by a symphony orchestra, as well as a historic five-CD box set. 

The Manhattan Transfer consists of Cheryl Bentyne, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel and Trist Curless. With sold-out tours around the world and record sales in the millions, they continue to make unique and extraordinary melodic, jazz-influenced music for new and old audiences spanning generations.