Criado em 1964 na cidade de Nova Jersey, o quinteto Manhattans, formado por George Smith (que morreu em 1970, sendo substituído por Gerald Alston), Winnie Lovett, Kenny Kelly, Ernest Bivens e Richard Taylor, estreou em disco um ano depois, com a balada "I Wanna Be (Your Everything)".
Em 1975, eles assinaram contrato com a Columbia, iniciando ali a sua melhor fase. O primeiro grande hit da carreira dos Manhattans veio em 1976, com Kiss and Say Goodbye. Quatro anos depois, o grupo fez outro grande sucesso: "Shining Star". Em 1983, os Manhattans gravaram mais uma balada que se tornaria clássica, "Forever by Your Side". Foi o último hit do grupo, que continua em atividade, apresentando-se principalmente no circuito dos casinos de Las Vegas.
Elementos:
Gerald Alston (1970–1988, 2007–presente)
Winfred "Blue" Lovett (1962–1990, 2007–presente)
Troy May (2007–presente)
David Tyson (2007–presente)
Ex-elementos:
George "Smitty" Smith (1962–1970)
Edward "Sonny" Bivins (1962–2007)
Kenny "Wally" Kelley (1962–1990)
Richard "Ricky" Taylor (1962–1976)
Roger Harris (1988–1991)
Alvin Pazant (1990–2007)
Harsey Hemphill (1990–2007)
Charles Hardy (1990–2007)
Wade Taylor (1991)
Lee Williams (1991–2007)
Discografia:
Álbuns:
1966: Dedicated to You (Carnival) - R&B #19
1970: With These Hands (Deluxe)
1972: A Million to One (Deluxe) - R&B #35
1973: There's No Me Without You (Columbia) - EUA #150, R&B #19
1974: Summertime in the City (CBS)
1975: That's How Much I Love You (Columbia) - EUA #160, R&B #59
1976: The Manhattans (Columbia) - EUA #16, R&B #6, RU #37
1977: It Feels So Good (Columbia) - EUA #68, R&B #12
1978: There's No Good in Goodbye (Columbia) - EUA #78, R&B #18
1979: Love Talk (Columbia) - EUA #141, R&B #20
1980: After Midnight (Columbia) - EUA #24, R&B #4
1980: Greatest Hits - EUA #87, R&B #18
1981: Black Tie (Columbia) - EUA #86, R&B #21
1983: Forever by Your Side (Columbia) - EUA #104, R&B #17
1985: Too Hot to Stop It (Columbia) - EUA #171, R&B #44
1986: Back to Basics (Columbia)
1989: Sweet Talk (Valley Vue)
1995: The Best of the Manhattans: Kiss and Say Goodbye (Columbia/Legacy)
1999: Live from South Africa (Classic World)
2001: Even Now (Beemark)
2007: Reachin' For the Sky (KRB Music)
2008: Men Cry Too (S-D-E-G)
Singles:
1965: "Follow Your Heart" - EUA #92, R&B #20
1965: "Searchin' For My Baby" - EUA #20
1966: "Baby I Need You" - EUA #96, R&B #22
1966: "Can I" - R&B #23
1967: "When We're Made As One" - R&B #31
1968: "I Call It Love" - EUA #96, R&B #24
1970: "If My Heart Could Speak" - EUA #98
1972: "One Live To Live" - R&B #3
1973: "There's No Me Without You" - EUA #43, R&B #3
1973: "You'd Better Believe It" - EUA #77, R&B #18
1974: "Summertime In The City" - R&B #45
1974: "Wish That Your Were Mine" - R&B #17
1975: "Don't Take Your Love From Me" - EUA #37, R&B #7
1975: "Hurt" - US #97, R&B #10, RU #4 (re-lançado em 1976)
1976: "I Kinda Miss You" - EUA #46, R&B #7
1976: "Kiss and Say Goodbye" - EUA #1, R&B #1, RU #4
1977: "It's You" - UK #43
1977: "It Feels So Good to Be Loved So Bad" - EUA #66, R&B #6
1977: "We Never Danced to a Love Song" - EUA #93, R&B #10
1978: "Am I Losing You" - R&B #6
1978: "Everybody Has A Dream" - R&B #65
1979: "Here Comes That Hurt Again" - R&B #29
1979: "The Way We Were/Memories" - R&B #33
1980: "Girl of My Dream" - R&B #30
1980: "I'll Never Find Another (Find Another Like You)" - R&B #12
1980: "Shining Star" - EUA #5, R&B #4, RU #45
1981: "Just One Moment Away" - R&B #19
1981: "Let Your Love Come Down" - R&B #77
1982: "Honey, Honey" - R&B #25
1983: "Crazy" - EUA #72, R&B #4, RU #63
1983: "Forever By Your Side" - R&B #30
1985: "Don't Say No" - R&B #60
1985: "You Send Me" - EUA #81, R&B #20
1986: "Where Did We Go Wrong" - R&B #42
1987: "All I Need Is Your Love" - R&B #41
1989: "Sweet Talk" - R&B #67
1989: "Why You Wanna Love Me Like That" - R&B #62
1990: "I Won't Stop" - R&B #79