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Tim Hauser
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Key Information

Timothy DuPron Hauser (December 12, 1941 – October 16, 2014) was a singer and founding member of the vocal group The Manhattan Transfer.[1] He won 10 Grammy Awards as a member of The Manhattan Transfer.

Early life

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Hauser was born in Troy, New York. When he was seven he moved with his family to the Jersey Shore, living in Wanamassa, Ocean Township, Monmouth County, and, later, in Asbury Park.[2] He graduated in 1959 from St. Rose High School (Belmar), where an award in his name has been given every year since 1989 to students who excel in theater arts.[3]

When he was fifteen, he began to sing professionally. He founded a doo-wop quartet named The Criterions.[4] For the Cecilia label the Criterions recorded two singles: "I Remain Truly Yours" and "Don't Say Goodbye". The group appeared on the Big Beat Show hosted by Alan Freed.[citation needed]

In 1959, Hauser entered Villanova University. With Tommy West and Jim Ruf, both from The Criterions, he formed the folk group the Troubadours Three. He was a member of the Villanova Singers and the Villanova Spires/Coventry Lads with classmate Jim Croce. He spent four years on the staff of college radio station WWVU. In 1963, he graduated from Villanova with a degree in economics. In 1964, Hauser served in the United States Air Force and the New Jersey Air National Guard.[citation needed]

In 1965, he began his career in marketing. From 1965 to 1966, he worked as a market research analyst with the advertising agency Sullivan, Stauffer, Colwell, and Bayles. His accounts included Pepsodent Toothpaste (Lever Bros.), Micrin Mouthwash (Johnson & Johnson), and Rise Shaving Cream (Carter Products). [citation needed]

From 1966 to 1968, he worked as manager of the Market Research Department for the Special Products Division of Nabisco. His accounts included cereal and pet food.[citation needed]

Music career

[edit]

In 1969, he formed the first version of The Manhattan Transfer with Gene Pistilli, Marty Nelson, Erin Dickins, and Pat Rosalia. The group had a jazz/R&B sound and recorded one album, Jukin' , for Capitol Records under manager Richard Flanzer. This version of the group dissolved after one album.

Hauser drove a cab to support himself while pursuing a music career. Through this job, he met Laurel Massé, a waitress and aspiring singer. He was again driving his cab when he picked up the conga player for the group Laurel Canyon who invited him to a party where he met Janis Siegel. With Massé they reformed The Manhattan Transfer. They needed a male singer, so they contacted Alan Paul. The four became The Manhattan Transfer on October 1, 1972.

After a car accident, Massé decided to leave the group and pursue a solo career, and in 1978 Cheryl Bentyne was hired to replace her. From then until Hauser's death, the line-up was mostly unchanged with only occasional substitutions due to illness. After his death, he was replaced by Trist Curless.

The Manhattan Transfer won the Downbeat and Playboy Readers' Polls every year in the 1980s for best vocal group. In 2007, they won the JazzTimes Readers' Poll for best vocal group. When Ahmet Ertegün founded the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he selected Hauser to serve on the voting committee, a position he held for three years (1986–1989). In 1993, Hauser was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the Berklee College of Music.[5]

Death

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Hauser died of cardiac arrest at the Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pennsylvania, on October 16, 2014, at the age of 72. He had been admitted to the hospital for pneumonia.[6][7]

References

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Tim Hauser

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Tim Hauser (December 12, 1941 – October 16, 2014) was an American singer best known as the founder and bass vocalist of the Grammy-winning group . Born in , Hauser grew up primarily on the shore, where he developed an early interest in music through high school glee club and groups. He began his professional career as a teenager, with the group The Criterions and producing "" for The Viscounts in 1959, and later pursued higher education, earning a BA in from in 1963. Hauser founded the original incarnation of The Manhattan Transfer in 1969, drawing inspiration from the 1925 novel by John Dos Passos, but the group achieved lasting success after its reformation on October 1, 1972, with Hauser recruiting singers Janis Siegel, Laurel Massé, and Alan Paul. Under his leadership, the quartet blended jazz, swing, doo-wop, and pop in four-part harmonies, releasing over 20 albums and earning widespread acclaim for revitalizing vocal group music in the 1970s and 1980s. Notable hits included the UK No. 1 single "Chanson d'Amour" in 1977 and the U.S. Top 10 hit "The Boy from New York City" in 1981, while albums such as Extensions (1979) and Vocalese (1985) showcased their innovative style, the latter receiving 12 Grammy nominations. The group's commercial and critical peak came in the 1980s, when they won 10 , including for best pop and performances on tracks like "Birdland" (1980), solidifying Hauser's role in bridging traditional vocal harmonies with contemporary . Hauser also pursued solo work, releasing the album Love Stories in 2007, and contributed as a producer for artists like Richie Cole and . He died of on October 16, 2014, in , at age 72, following a bout of while en route to a performance.

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

Tim Hauser was born Timothy DuPron Hauser on December 12, 1941, in . His father, F. Jackson Hauser, worked as an adjuster, while his mother, the former Theresa Butters, served as a school secretary before later starting her own business. The family, including Hauser and his sister Fayette, reflected the modest circumstances of a working-class household in the early 1940s. At the age of seven, in 1948, Hauser's family relocated from to the Jersey Shore, settling in Wanamassa, a neighborhood in Ocean Township, , near Asbury Park. This move immersed the young Hauser in the coastal environment of the region, where he spent his formative pre-teen years. The family's roots in this working-class community shaped his early experiences, providing a stable backdrop as he transitioned into local schooling.

Schooling and early musical interests

Tim Hauser attended St. Rose High School in , where he graduated in 1959. During his time there, he participated in the , which helped nurture his interest in vocal performance, and also played as an extracurricular activity. At age 15, Hauser formed the doo-wop group The Criterions with classmates including Tommy West and Jim Ruff, drawing inspiration from rhythm and blues acts like and . The group, a quintet that occasionally performed as a quartet, recorded two singles for the label in the late 1950s: "I Remain Truly Yours," which was a regional hit, and "Don't Say Goodbye." These early recordings marked Hauser's initial foray into professional music-making while still in high school. In 1959, Hauser enrolled at near , where he earned a in in 1963. While studying, he continued exploring music through campus groups, including the Villanova Singers and the Villanova Spires (also known as the Coventry Lads), where he sang alongside classmate . Additionally, Hauser, West, and Ruff reformed as the folk trio Troubadours Three, performing covers of contemporary folk songs and touring regionally during his college years. Hauser's early musical interests were shaped by and ensembles, particularly the close-harmony style of , as well as exposure to Broadway show tunes and pop standards through performances and campus activities at Villanova. These influences, combined with his high school roots in , laid the foundation for his later focus on vocal improvisation and group singing.

Early professional career

Military service

Following his graduation from Villanova University in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts in , Tim Hauser enlisted in the United States in 1964. His service occurred during the era but was non-combat in nature. Hauser's active duty was brief, after which he transitioned to the , where he continued part-time service while beginning his civilian career. This period, extending into the late 1960s, allowed him to balance military obligations with emerging professional opportunities in marketing.

Advertising and marketing roles

Following his military service in the United States Air Force and concurrent duties in the New Jersey Air National Guard, Tim Hauser entered the corporate world in advertising and marketing, roles that overlapped with his reserve commitments. From 1965 to 1966, Hauser served as a research analyst at the New York advertising firm Sullivan, Stauffer, Colwell & Bayles, where he managed client campaigns and conducted market research for major accounts. In 1967, he transitioned to (National Biscuit Company) as manager of the Department in the Special Products Division, overseeing promotion strategies for products such as cereals and pet foods. Hauser's from these positions, including skills in organization, , and promotion, informed his subsequent as the visionary force behind , where he applied similar expertise to guide the group's formation and operations.

Career with The Manhattan Transfer

Formation and development of the group

Tim Hauser founded in in 1969, drawing the group's name from ' 1925 novel , which evoked the city's vibrant, multifaceted energy. The initial lineup was a quintet consisting of Hauser, Gene Pistilli, Erin Dickins, Marty Nelson, and Pat Rosalia, blending harmonies with rock and R&B influences reflective of the era's underground scene. This configuration performed in prominent New York clubs such as , Trude Heller's, and Reno Sweeney, building a local following through their eclectic covers and original material. These early gigs led to a with , culminating in the release of their debut Jukin' in 1971, which featured a mix of pop, , and novelty tunes but achieved limited commercial success. Internal creative differences and lineup instability prompted the group's disbandment by 1973, marking the end of its original incarnation. Undeterred, Hauser began reforming the ensemble in 1972, recruiting soprano —whom he met by chance as a taxi passenger—along with Janis and , transitioning to a more streamlined quartet format. Under Hauser's leadership, the reformed group honed a sophisticated jazz-pop fusion style, incorporating and close harmonies that distinguished them from their earlier rock-leaning sound. Relocating to in the mid-1970s provided access to broader opportunities on the West Coast music scene, including high-profile club residencies that solidified their evolution. As the driving force, Hauser managed arrangements, secured bookings, and steered creative direction, drawing on his prior experience and business acumen to guide the group's expansion through the decade.

Major achievements and awards

Under Hauser's leadership as founder and bass vocalist, achieved significant recognition, culminating in 10 over their career. These included wins for the 1979 album Extensions, such as Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or Instrumental, for "Birdland," where Hauser provided key vocals. In 1981, the group made history as the first vocal ensemble to win in both pop and jazz categories in the same year, securing Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "" and Best Jazz Performance by a Duo or Group for "Until I Met You (Corner Pocket)." The 1985 album earned two further Grammys: Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group, and Best Vocal Arrangement for "Another Night in Tunisia," with Hauser contributing vocals and helping shape the project's innovative arrangements that blended and lyrics over instrumentals. The group dominated polls throughout the 1980s, winning the Readers' Poll and Jazz Poll for Best Vocal Group every year from 1980 to 1990, reflecting their broad appeal across jazz and pop audiences. This sustained acclaim extended into the 2000s, with a win in the JazzTimes Readers' Poll for Best Vocal Group in 2007. Hauser's influence extended beyond performance; from 1986 to 1989, he served on the original voting committee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, selected by founder , where he helped shape the recognition of vocal and genre-blending acts. In 1993, awarded him an honorary Doctor of Music degree, alongside bandmates , , and , honoring his contributions to innovation. Hauser remained with for over 40 years, from its 1972 reformation through extensive world tours and collaborations that fused harmonies, , and pop sensibilities, including final performances shortly before his death in 2014.

Later years and legacy

Personal life

Tim Hauser had three marriages. His first was to Lorna Marie Fenenbock, and his second, from 1988 to 2011, was to , with whom he had two children: a son named Basie (after Count Basie) and a daughter named Lily. In 2012, Hauser married Barbara "Barb" Sennet, becoming his third wife. Hauser resided in Southern California since the late 1970s, primarily in the area, where he lived with his family during the height of The Manhattan Transfer's success. Outside of music, Hauser pursued several personal interests, including collecting and restoring classic automobiles, playing , and following . He was an avid record collector, amassing a vast collection starting in 1957 that focused on and recordings, which he often drew upon for inspiration. Hauser also demonstrated a passion for preserving traditions, expressing delight in the group's influence on aspiring singers and academic programs at universities. In his later years, Hauser occasionally mentored young vocalists, sharing his expertise in and history to support emerging talents in the genre. His early experience in and provided practical skills that he applied to personally managing aspects of his family's affairs and business ventures, such as developing and selling his own pasta sauce .

Death and posthumous recognition

In October 2014, Tim Hauser developed while preparing for a performance in , leading to his hospitalization shortly thereafter. He passed away on October 16, 2014, at the age of 72, from at Robert Packer Hospital in . Following his death, fellow member paid tribute to Hauser in JazzTimes, describing how he had transformed her life by inviting her to join the group in 1972 and embark on a shared musical journey. The group honored Hauser by continuing their tour schedule, with performances dedicated to his memory, as singer noted that carrying on was what he would have wanted. Obituaries in major outlets, including and , highlighted Hauser's visionary role in reviving through the group's innovative blend of genres and harmonies. Hauser's legacy endures as the architect of the modern vocal jazz revival, with The Manhattan Transfer's harmonious style influencing subsequent ensembles such as , whose members cited the quartet as a key inspiration for their own sound. The group continued releasing music in the years after his death, including the 2018 album and the 2022 50th anniversary collection Fifty, ensuring Hauser's foundational contributions remained central to their repertoire and impact on . The Manhattan Transfer released their final studio album Fifty in 2022 before embarking on a farewell tour, concluding with their last performance on December 5, 2023, at in , where surviving members paid tribute to Hauser's enduring influence.

References

  1. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/arts/music/tim-hauser-the-founder-of-the-manhattan-transfer-dies-at-72.html
  2. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/19/tim-hauser
  3. https://manhattantransfer.net/tim-hauser/
  4. https://musicvf.com/the+boy+from+new+york+city+by+manhattan+transfer+43721.html
  5. https://classicurbanharmony.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Criterions-Article.pdf
  6. https://www.singers.com/performers/Tim-Hauser/
  7. https://www.discogs.com/release/8372398-The-Criterions-I-Remain-Truly-Yours-You-Just-You-
  8. https://somethingelsereviews.com/2014/10/19/manhattan-transfers-tim-hauser-10-essential-performances/
  9. https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-tim-hauser-20141018-story.html
  10. http://iradiophilly.com/phone/conversation.php?idConversation=4096
  11. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nu-jazz-conversations-wit_b_4534671
  12. https://www.last.fm/music/Tim%2BHauser/%2Bwiki
  13. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/137351902/tim-hauser
  14. https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/tim-hauser-singer-who-founded-and-led-manhattan-transfer-best-known-in-britain-for-their-no-1-chanson-d-amour-9859592.html
  15. https://adage.com/article/adage-encyclopedia/lintas-worldwide-lowe-lintas-partners-worldwide/98751/
  16. https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2014/10/tim_hauser_dead_manhattan_transfer.html
  17. https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/tim-hauser-founder-of-the-grammy-winning-vocal-group-manhattan-transfer-dies-at-72/2014/10/18/1a7696ea-56d9-11e4-ba4b-f6333e2c0453_story.html
  18. https://musiclinernotes.wordpress.com/2010/07/14/the-manhattan-transfer/
  19. https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/the-manhattan-transfer
  20. https://www.discogs.com/release/3557775-The-Manhattan-Transfer-And-Gene-Pistilli-Jukin
  21. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/tim-hauser-dead-manhattan-transfer-741861/
  22. https://www.fidelity-magazine.com/the-manhattan-transfer/
  23. https://www.dailynews.com/2022/10/28/manhattan-transfer-discuss-farewell-tour-after-five-decades-of-four-part-harmonies/
  24. https://manhattantransfer.net/about/
  25. https://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/manhattan-transfer
  26. https://www.fredonia.edu/news/share-christmas-four-freshmen-king-concert-hall
  27. https://drrock.com/artist/tim-hauser/
  28. https://archives.berklee.edu/berklee-college-music-commencement-and-convocation-speeches-1986-2002
  29. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0369565/bio/
  30. https://georgehahn.com/the-handsomely-turned-out-groom/
  31. https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/north-america-travel/us-travel/new-york-city/tim-hauser-3v5vb0b3stn
  32. https://www.bangordailynews.com/2014/10/19/obituaries/tim-hauser-founder-of-vocal-group-manhattan-transfer-dies-at-72/
  33. https://stpetecatalyst.com/the-manhattan-transfer-still-making-a-joyful-noise-50-years-on/
  34. https://jazztimes.com/features/tributes-and-obituaries/farewell-tim-hauser/
  35. https://concord.com/artist/the-manhattan-transfer/
  36. https://www.nndb.com/people/090/000400884/
  37. https://www.cleveland.com/music/2015/02/manhattan_transfer_soldiers_on.html
  38. https://www.whrb.org/archive/anders-edenroth/
  39. https://manhattantransfer.net/discography/the-junction/
  40. https://www.allmusic.com/album/fifty-mw0003776550
  41. https://variety.com/2023/music/news/manhattan-transfer-final-concert-walt-disney-concert-hall-farewell-interview-1235842969/
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