The Manhattans w/Gerald Alston & Blue Lovett | May 24th-27th, 2012
Gerald Alston and Blue Lovett
May 24 – 27, 2012FROM: The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98121
CONTACT: Rachael Millikan, 206-441-9729, [email protected]
RE: Performance at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
COST: $30.50
The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley present soulful R&B legends, The Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston and Blue Lovett, for four soul-filled nights! Band members are Gerald Alston (lead singer), Winfred Lovett (bass singer), Troy May (background singer), David Tyson (background singer), Charles Butler (drums), Coly Younger (keyboards), Howard Robbins (keyboards), Jason Simon (bass guitar), and Mark Bowers (guitar). Set times on Thursday & Sunday at 7:30pm & Friday & Saturday at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. Doors open at 6pm on Thursday &javascript:void(0);amp; 5:30pm Friday – Sunday.
The Grammy winning Manhattans are one of those classic R&B vocal groups who have achieved career longevity by adapting their style to fit changing times. Formed in the 60’s as a doo wop-influenced quintet, the Manhattans reinvented themselves as sweet smooth soul balladeers during the 70’s. In doing so, they somehow overcame the death of lead singer George Smith, and with new frontman Gerald Alston become more popular than ever, landing an across-the-board number one hit in 1976 with Kiss and Say Goodbye. Under the leadership of Winfred “Blue” Lovett (who also composed some of the group’s biggest hits), the Manhattans survived as a viable chart act well into the 80’s, over two decades after their formation.
Making the top 10 on the R&B charts many times. It was the Blue Lovett composition Kiss and Say Goodbye, which was released as a single almost a full year later that sent them into true stardom. The tune became the second platinum single in history (after Johnnie Taylor’s Disco Lady) and their first number one hit in the spring of 1976, not just on the R&B charts, but on the pop side as well. They continued impressing listeners with more top ten hits including I Kinda Miss You, It Feels So Good to Be Loved So Bad, We NeverDanced to a Love Song and Am I losing You. Their momentum slowed over the next couple of years, but they came back strong in 1980 with Shining Star – not a cover of the Earth, Wind and Fire hit, but a co-write by their new producer Leo Graham. Shining Star reached the top five on both pop and R&B charts, went gold and won a Grammy.
For more information visit www.kissandsaygoodbye.com
UPCOMING SHOWS
Pearl Django CD Release Party May 29 – 30
Shemekia Copeland May 31 – June 3
Freddy Cole Quartet June 5 – 6