Gerald Alston
Gerald Alston is an acclaimed American soul and R&B singer best known as the longtime lead vocalist of The Manhattans. Born on November 8, 1951, in Henderson, North Carolina, he rose to fame with the group's multimillion-selling hits in the 1970s and 1980s. His powerful voice propelled classics like "Kiss and Say Goodbye" to the top of charts worldwide.
He grew up in a musical church environment as the nephew of gospel singer Johnny Fields from The Blind Boys of Alabama. As a teenager, he formed the New Imperials, performing both secular and gospel music, and later adapted their name to Gospel Jubilee for church gigs. He joined The Manhattans in 1970 following the death of their previous lead singer, George Smith.
Alston led The Manhattans to their greatest success, including the 1976 platinum single "Kiss and Say Goodbye," which hit No. 1 on U.S. Pop and R&B charts and topped charts in four countries. Other major hits under his tenure include "Shining Star" (a Grammy winner), "There's No Me Without You," and tracks like "One Life to Live" and "Hurt". The group notched 25 top 40 R&B singles and 12 Hot 100 hits between 1970 and 1988.
Leaving The Manhattans in 1988, Alston signed with Motown and released his self-titled debut album, which peaked at No. 18 on the R&B albums chart. Standout singles included "Take Me Where You Want To" (top 10 R&B), "Slow Motion," and "Getting Back into Love". He recorded five solo albums total, collaborated with artists like George Duke and Regina Belle, and lent his voice to Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" soundtrack plus commercials for Miller Beer and KFC.
Alston has continued performing, blending secular and gospel work, and earned induction into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. His enduring influence stems from smooth ballads that defined soul music eras. As of 2026, he remains active in music at age 74.
Gerald Alston
Written-By – Alan Stokes, James Varner, Stan Sheppard 5:35
A2 Stay A Little While
Written-By – James Varner, Stan Sheppard 5:21
A3 I Come Alive When I'm With You
Written-By – Gerald Alston, James Varner, Stan Sheppard 4:36
A4 Let's Try Love Again
Written-By – James Varner, Stan Sheppard 4:39
A5 Midnight Angel
Written-By – Gerald Alston, Gloria Sklerov 4:41
B1 You Laid Your Love On Me
Written-By – Gerald Alston, James Varner, Stan Sheppard 4:56
B2 I Can't Tell You Why
Written-By – Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmidt 4:09
B3 I've Waited All Night
Written-By – Gerald Alston, Royal Bayyan 5:10
B4 Activated
Written-By – James Varner, Stan Sheppard 5:19
B5 We've Only Just Begun
Written-By – Paul Williams, Roger Nichols 4:24
Label: Motown – MOT-6265
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Eighties Soul
Gerald Alston's self-titled 1988 album is a sophisticated Rhythm & Blues and Soul debut that marked his departure as the lead singer of The Manhattans to launch a solo career with the Motown label.
The album is noted for its polished, mature "adult soul" sound that retains the classic feeling Alston cultivated with The Manhattans, while incorporating an updated late-80s production style. It is a captivating blend of Funk, Soul, and Pop.
The record is a collection of strong ballads and bouncy, upbeat cuts, appealing to fans of classic soul and R&B. The selection of songs, including an Eagles remake, is seen as a strong showcase of his talent.
Production was handled by Stan Sheppard and James Varner, who also contributed backing vocals alongside singers like Julia and Maxine Waters. Noted session musicians such as Paul Jackson Jr. (guitar) and Paulinho Da Costa (percussion) also contributed.
Reviews generally praise the album's flow and strong tracklist, describing it as a magnificent and amazing listening experience.
The album was a commercial success, spending 33 weeks on the Billboard Soul/R&B albums chart and peaking at No. 18 on March 4, 1989.
The album features 10 core tracks, with expanded editions sometimes including bonus versions, three of which were R&B hit singles:
"Take Me Where You Want To" - The album's lead single, which became a top 10 R&B hit, peaking at No. 6 on the charts.
"I Can't Tell You Why" - A smooth cover of the Eagles classic, released as a single that reached No. 52 on the R&B chart.
"You Laid Your Love On Me" - Another charting single, peaking at No. 41.
Overall, the album is highly recommended by listeners as a "classic" and a "gem" with every song contributing to a highly pleasing listening experience. You can find more details about the album, including track listings, on Discogs or potentially purchase physical copies on sites like Amazon.