Founder, Singer Of Grammy-Winning Manhattan Transfer Dies At 72
NEW YORK (CBSLA.com/AP) — Tim Hauser, the founder and singer of the Grammy-winning vocal troupe The Manhattan Transfer, died Thursday from cardiac arrest, band representative JoAnn Geffen said Friday. He was 72.
Manhattan Transfer, who released their debut album in the early 1970s, launched hits such as "Operator" and "The Boy from New York City." They went on to win multiple pop and jazz Grammy Awards. Their critically acclaimed album, 1985's "Vocalese," earned a whopping 12 Grammy nominations.
Alan Paul, Janis Siegel and Cheryl Bentyne, who joined in 1978 and replaced Laurel Masse, rounded out the foursome.
"Tim was the visionary behind The Manhattan Transfer," they said in a statement. "It's incomprehensible to think of this world without him."
Hauser first formed an incarnation of the group, also called Manhattan Transfer in 1969 with Erin Dickins, Marty Nelson, Gene Pistilli and Pat Rosali. They disbanded and Hauser met some of the band's new members while he worked as a taxi driver in New York City. He met a conga player while driving who introduced him to Siegel, and he also met Masse while driving.
In 1975, in the midst of their heyday, they had a four-week TV variety summer series on CBS. They also developed a huge cult following for fusing jazz, swing, pop, R&B and blues. The group were frequent guests on all the major talk and variety shows of the era.
The group also enjoyed major success in Europe and also were popular in Japan.
Hauser was born in Troy, New York. He is survived by his wife Barb Sennet Hauser, his son Basie and his daughter Lily.
Manhattan Transfer will continue their upcoming tour despite Hauser's death. Their next show is Oct. 23 in Manchester, N.H.
For move about Hauser and Manhattan Transfer, visit their official site.
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