Winfred "Blue" Lovett, the distinctive bass singer and principal songwriter for the legendary group, The Manhattans, has died at age 74, just a few days after the death of group co-founder Sonny Bivins. Their death brings sad news to fans of one of the greatest soul music vocal groups of our time.

 

https://www.soultracks.com/story-blue-lovett-dies

Edited December 10, 201410 yr by chalky

Sad, I interviewed Blue Lovett for Black Echoes c.1984. Had to go to his hotel in Newmarket. Lovely guy. At the time he was over at the USAF bases, and his daughter Desi was recording. Might have to play the X rated version of Kiss & Say goodbye Friday….it's Blue Lovett doing the x rated bit. 

One of the finest groups ever, their stuff on Carnival is as good as anything, loved their stuff after that but maybe not as potent after George "Smitty" Smith died in 1970, however, they still knocked out some great stuff. R.I.P. Winfred and Sonny

 

Kev

One of the finest groups ever, their stuff on Carnival is as good as anything, loved their stuff after that but maybe not as potent after George "Smitty" Smith died in 1970, however, they still knocked out some great stuff. R.I.P. Winfred and Sonny

 

Kev

 

Said it all for me Kev

 

R.I.P.

Fabulous vocals, seriously, who doesn't admire one of the finest vocal performances ever recorded, on the delightful 'kiss and say goodbye'

 

   If that's not Soul, then nothing is.    Sad news indeed 

 

 time to put the Manhattans LP on the turntable 

In all their glory

 

 

Kev

Had the pleasure of seeing them at of all places in Blackburn at the Cavendish club about 1977. Harmonies and dance routines as good as the Temptations. R.I.P and thanks for the memories.

Steve

Always a big fave of mine written by Blue Lovett and with Blue doing the lengthy rap intro

 

For me a sublime record all round and does for me what only a good soul record and a good woman can

 

One Life To Live

 

Edited December 10, 201410 yr by Dave Turner

So soon after Joe Evans. The backbone of one of soul's greatest labels is gone. But we will always have the tunes. 

 

R.I.P  Sonny and Blue

Hi!

 

The complete story and the discography at

 

https://www.soulexpress.net/manhattans_part1.htm

 

Blue himself said that he was born in 1940, although I've also seen the year 1936 in one writers register.

 

Best regards

Heikki

And Blue was a talented songwriter, producer and talent spotter, his name is on a lot of non-Manhattan Carnival records.

One of THE great groups.  Sublime harmonies and many of their tunes were covered in Jamaican music as they were looked upon as equals of the Temptations at al down there.