Cheryl Bentyne (singer)
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Cheryl Bentyne is a Grammy-winning singer best-known as a member of the vocal quartet The Manhattan Transfer.
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[edit] Biography
Born into a musical family on January 17, 1954 in Mount Vernon, Washington, Bentyne started singing at age 13. At the encouragement of her mother she joined her father's Dixieland and swing band, performing weekends at the local Elks Lodge and honing both her skills onstage as well as a jazz and swing-style soprano. Following graduation from Mount Vernon High School, Bentyne enrolled at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon. After studying theatre and music there for a time, she later moved south to Seattle. While in the Seattle area, she joined the New Deal Rhythm Band as the only female and singer, playing in clubs locally as well as in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe. After four years with the New Deal Rhythm Band, she set her eyes on a career in L.A.
[edit] The Manhattan Transfer
Bentyne left Washington for Los Angeles, found someone to manage her, and started playing the local clubs. It was there in 1978 that she learned of an upcoming audition for a group she had listened to and loved, The Manhattan Transfer. A day after her audition with the group, Bentyne was working at her daytime waitressing job when her manager contacted her by phone and informed her she was now a member of The Manhattan Transfer. Bentyne joined the group as the replacement for soprano Laurel Massé, who had been seriously injured in an automobile accident. Her professional recording debut was on the group's 1979 album, Extensions which won them the first of their Grammys for "Birdland", for "Best Jazz Fusion Performance". To date, the group has won a total of 10 Grammy Awards.
Bentyne later shared another Grammy with Bobby McFerrin for "Another Night in Tunisia” from the albumVocalese, and received her own Grammy Award as the composer/writer of "Sassy".
[edit] Solo career
While still a member of The Manhattan Transfer, Bentyne first ventured out as a solo act with her appearance on bassist Rob Wasserman’s Duets album. The following year she recorded "Back in Business", with Lorraine Feather and fellow Transfer member Janis Siegel in 1990 on the Dick Tracy film soundtrack. One year later in 1991, Bentyne collaborated with trumpeter/composer Mark Isham in the soundtrack to the 1991 Alan Rudolph film, Mortal Thoughts. Then, in 1992, Bentyne released her long-awaited debut solo album Something Cool.
[edit] Current career
Bentyne is still performing and recording with The Manhattan Transfer while maintaining her solo career. In 2000, Bentyne recorded and released an album from her musical revue based on the music and wit of Cole Porter, Dreaming of Mister Porter. Her 2004 Talk of the Town album featured pianist Kenny Barron, saxophonist David “Fathead” Newman, flugelhornist Chuck Mangione, percussionist Don Alias and drummer Lewis Nash. Bentyne's 2005 album, Let Me Off Uptown, is a tribute to Anita O’Day.
