Kevin Goins shared*** FAREWELL, TIM HAUSER.....Received word from Billy Vera of this great music mans passing today (October 16th) at the age of 72, after a long illness. His name should be familiar to yall. Mr. Hauser was the founder and leader of THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER, the quartet who brought us some of the finest vocal jazz/pop through the years. Born in Central New York State and raised on the Jersey shore, Tims venture into music started in the 1950s when he was a member of the Criterions (they cut two singles during that time). After serving in the US Air Force (the 1960s), Tim worked in marketing for an ad firm and launched the first incarnation of the Manhattan Transfer in 1969 (cutting the album, Jukin for Capitol Records). That lineup disbanded and he worked as a cab driver in NYC before reforming the group in 1972 - this time with Janis Siegel, Alan Paul and (later) Cheryl Bentyne. After signing with Atlantic Records, the tunes that became hits and Grammy winners came rolling out of the studio - Birdland, Operator, Tuxedo Junction, Twilight Zone, Trickle Trickle, Spice Of Life, The Boy From New York City, Mystery (they cut the original version of the Rod Temperton tune), Soul Food To Go, Offbeat Of Avenues, Airegin, (Thats) Killer Joe, Their albums - Mecca For Moderns, Extensions, Vocalese, Brasil, Bodies and Souls - just to name a few. On a personal note, I met Mr. Hauser in 1991 while shopping at the now-defunct Downstairs Records Shop in Manhattan (my ex-roommate from college, Rey Dejesus, was working there at the time). After complimenting him on the groups Offbeat of Avenues album, he turned me on to the music and 45s released via the Detroit-based Fortune Records - particularly the works of Andre Williams and the Five Dollars (Bacon Fat, Going Down To Tijuana). Seven years later, that introduction came in handy when I interviewed Mr. Williams for a liner note project (a belated thank you for the tip, Tim). The Manhattan Transfer were planning on recording a new album produced by Bobby Eli when Tims illness had delayed the project. To Mr. Hauser - thank you for leading a fine quartet over the years. You will be missed. Click the link and take a trip up ROUTE 66 with Tim on the lead... youtube/watch?v=mQwb4SpNuKo
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 14:04:26 +0000
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