The Manhattan Transfer
American vocal group with eleven Grammy Awards across multiple styles.
The Manhattan Transfer was an American vocal group founded in 1969 in New York City. They performed genres including jazz, swing, rhythm and blues, pop, and standards, and won eleven Grammy Awards. The group underwent several incarnations, with each rendition having different styles, and officially retired in 2023.
- formed
- 1969
- origin
- New York City
- field
- Vocal group
- genres
- Jazz, swing, rhythm and blues, pop, standards
- grammy_awards
- 11
- notable_members
- Tim Hauser, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne
- final_lineup
- Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne, Trist Curless
Lore & Background
The Manhattan Transfer was formed in 1969 by Tim Hauser, named after the novel by John Dos Passos. The first rendition consisted of Hauser, Erin Dickins, Marty Nelson, Pat Rosalia, and Gene Pistilli, performing a mostly a cappella-tinged style. They made one album, Jukin' (Capitol, 1971), which looked at jazz, rock, and country, but were not picked up for a second album and broke up in 1973.
A second version formed in 1972 after Hauser met Laurel Massé while he was a cab driver, and later Janis Siegel. Session drummer Roy Markowitz introduced Alan Paul, a cast member of the Broadway band of Grease. This quartet adopted a vocal jazz approach and signed with Atlantic Records, releasing their debut album in 1975. The group hosted a four-week variety series on CBS-TV in August 1975.
In 1978, Laurel Massé was badly injured in a car crash and left the group, replaced by Cheryl Bentyne. This third formation, which performed electronic-styled pop, soul, funk, and rhythmic music, achieved commercial success in the 1980s. The group made music history in 1981 by becoming the first group to win Grammy awards for both popular and jazz categories in the same year. Since the 1990s, the lineup of Hauser, Paul, Siegel, and Bentyne continued, performing mostly cool and smooth jazz. Following Hauser's death, Trist Curless became a permanent member in October 2014. The group officially retired in 2023.
Reader's Guide
The Manhattan Transfer's significance lies in their versatility across jazz, pop, and swing, and their record of eleven Grammy Awards. They were the first group to win Grammys in both popular and jazz categories in the same year (1981). Their 1985 album Vocalese received twelve Grammy nominations, second only to Michael Jackson's Thriller at the time. The group's ability to adapt through multiple incarnations—from a cappella to vocal jazz to electronic pop—demonstrated their enduring appeal. Their cover of 'Birdland' won a Grammy for Best Jazz Fusion Performance, and Janis Siegel won for Best Vocal Arrangement. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998. Their legacy includes a wide-ranging discography that spans decades, from Jukin' (1971) to The Chick Corea Songbook (2009), and they influenced vocal harmony groups across genres.
Did You Know?
- The group was named after the novel by John Dos Passos.
- Laurel Massé left the group in 1978 after being badly injured in a car crash.
- In 1981, the Manhattan Transfer became the first group to win Grammy awards for both popular and jazz categories in the same year.
- The group's album Vocalese (1985) received twelve Grammy nominations, tying with Michael Jackson's Thriller for the most nominations in a single year at that time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Manhattan Transfer?
They were an American a cappella vocal ensemble that originated in New York City in 1969. The group built its reputation on intricate, multi-part harmonies that blended jazz, swing, R&B, pop, and classic standards into a single performance.
Who were the most notable members of The Manhattan Transfer?
Standout voices across the group's history included Tim Hauser, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, and Cheryl Bentyne. Each singer brought a distinct timbre, and the shifting lineups meant the ensemble's sound evolved noticeably with every new iteration.
How many Grammy Awards did The Manhattan Transfer win?
The group accumulated eleven Grammy Awards over the course of its career. Those honors recognized recordings across jazz, pop, and standards, reflecting the breadth of their musical output.
What made The Manhattan Transfer's sound distinctive?
Rather than relying on instruments, they layered four (sometimes more) vocal parts into dense, rhythmic arrangements that could mimic a full band. Their ability to shift between swing, soul, and pop within a single track set them apart from other vocal groups of their era.
Did The Manhattan Transfer ever retire?
Yes—the group called it officially finished in 2023, bringing a close to more than five decades of touring and recording. That final chapter wrapped up a long run that saw multiple lineup changes and stylistic reinventions since the original New York formation.
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