Post by blackbowl68 on Dec 11, 2014 9:58:26 GMT -5
The R&B vocal group from Jersey City, NJ saw two of its founding members pass within a week of each other. "Sonny" Bivins died this past Friday (Dec. 5) and "Blue" Lovett passed on Wednesday (Dec. 10).
When the group was signed to Columbia in 1973, each of these singers wrote songs that became breakthroughs for them. Bivins composed "There's No Me Without You," their first record to reach the Pop top 50 (#43, Aug. 1973). Lovett wrote the classic "Kiss And Say Goodbye," their first & only #1 pop AND soul single in 1976. It was also only the second record in history to certified platinum.
As is common with many long lasting vocal groups, the Manhattans split into two separate units. Each was lead by one of this week's passing members. The official ownership of the name is still being contested.
When the group was signed to Columbia in 1973, each of these singers wrote songs that became breakthroughs for them. Bivins composed "There's No Me Without You," their first record to reach the Pop top 50 (#43, Aug. 1973). Lovett wrote the classic "Kiss And Say Goodbye," their first & only #1 pop AND soul single in 1976. It was also only the second record in history to certified platinum.
As is common with many long lasting vocal groups, the Manhattans split into two separate units. Each was lead by one of this week's passing members. The official ownership of the name is still being contested.
