The Weekly Column

The Pulse of Entertainment: The Manhattans Featuring Gerald Alston Headline 2020 Soul Train Cruise

Gerald Alston (center in picture) is lead vocalist on such Manhattan classic hits as "Shinning Star," "Kiss & Say Goodbye" and "There's No Me Without You" and he intends to ignite the legacy flames caused by The Manhattans Featuring Gerald Alston with a headlining gig on the 2020 Soul Train Cruise January 18 - 25, 2019 to the Caribbean, a new album and new hit singles. Gerald is the last living legitimate member of the American Music Award nominated group that started in 1962 in New Jersey by George Smith and classmate Richard Taylor, and Edward Bivins, Winfred Lovett and their classmate Kenny Kelly. At the time Alston was lead singer for the Gospel group Gerald Alston and the New Imperials. In 1970 Gerald was approached, for the second time, to join the group after founder and lead singer George Smitty died of a brain tumor - this time Gerald accepted.

"I met The Manhattans just after graduating high school in 1970," Gerald explained. "I had a group called Gerald Alston and the Imperials - a Gospel group. I started college and the professor called me and asked if The Manhattans could use my equipment. I said yes. As I was setting up the equipment I was singing and they came in with their manager and heard me sing - a God send. They asked me to open their show that night. They took my name and number. So when a member had a seizure they took me with them and the rest is history."

Alston has been with the group for 49 of its 57 years, departing momentarily to record five solo albums (10 singles) on Motown Records. His lead vocals on The Manhattan hits were groundbreaking. The single "There's No Me Without You," written by Bivins, was the 2nd single to ever go platinum and it happen right after R.I.A.A. introduced the status in 1976. "Shinning Star" gave them their first #1 Billboard hit, garnering also a Grammy Award win and it reach platinum status in sales as well. The group accumulated 45 Billboard Chart topping singles, 12 reached the Billboard Top 10 Chart and 16 reached Billboard's Top 100 Chart.
Gerald is a preacher's son, born November 8th in North Carolina. He is the nephew of Johnny Field, noted as one of the best male tenors of all time and Shirley Alston-Reeves lead singer of the Grammy Hall of Famers The Shirelles ("Tonights the Night"). The Manhattans Featuring Gerald Alston joins the headlining roster on the 2020 Soul Train Cruise that include The Jacksons, The Isley Brothers, Johnny Gill, Cameo, Peabo Bryson, War, Atlantic Starr, Regina Belle, Karyn White and Herald Melvin and the Blue Notes. Special performs include the Barry White Tribute Featuring Jourdon Carroll and the Grover Washington Love Tribute featuring Grammy winning Jason Miles.
"This is not my first year," Gerald said about the Soul Train Cruise. "I did it a year before last. It's a wonderful cruise...being there with the younger generation. They respect and listen to your music...it's a wonderful feeling. We will be introducing out new single ‘Get It Ready'." www.GeraldAlstonMusic.com www.StarVistaLive.com

SYNDICATED COLUMN: Eunice Moseley, has an estimated weekly readership of over ¼ million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations Strategist and Business Management Consultant at Freelance Associates, and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENT: "Uplifting Minds II," a Free Entertainment Conference held annually in Baltimore (Saturday April 20, 2019), in partnership with Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times and Los Angeles (November 9, 2019/Los Angeles Convention Center). Offering an Entertainment Business panel and a talent showcase and competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) with over $15,000 valued in prizes for each category. www.UpliftingMinds2.com.