Manhattan Transfer vocalist Tim Hauser dies

Vocal jazz group Manhattan Transfer have released a statement on their Facebook page announcing the death of member Tim Hauser.

Hauser was 72. He was a co-founder in 1969 and member of the band through several different line-ups. Notable members have included Alan Paul
Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne and Laurel Massé. The band came up during a surge of jazz nostalgia during the 1970s and recorded a string of infectious, commercial, jazz steeped hits and standards, with tight vocal harmonies.

"Tim was the visionary behind the Manhattan Transfer," said the band, Cheryl Bentyne, Alan Paul and Janis Siegel, in the statement. "We spent more than 40 years together singing and making music, traveling the world, and sharing so many special moments throughout our lives."

Hauser had been in doo-wop groups, folk groups, and even in a short-lived quintet named The Manhattan Transfer, but as the sounds of jazz, R&B, pop, rock ‘n’ roll, salsa and swing poured out of brownstones, Hauser now dreamt of four-part harmonies without limits.

They scored a British number 1 top 40 hit in 1977 with the most simplistic of songs ‘Chanson D'Amour’ but are also very well known for ‘The Spice Of Life’ and Jazz FM favourite ‘Soul Food To Go’. Another memorable milestone was a their collaboration with Bobby McFerrin and Jon Hendricks on a fully a cappella version of 'A(nother) Night In Tunisia'.

The Manhattan Transfer - (from left to right) Cheryl Bentyne, Tim Hauser, Janis Siegel, Alan Paul