Tim Hauser, founder and lead vocalist of the Grammy-winning vocal troupe The Manhattan Transfer, passed away Thursday after suffering from cardiac arrest, band representative JoAnn Geffen announced Friday.

He was 72.

Born in 1941, Hauser was working on odd jobs to earn money while still pursuing his musical career. He was working as a taxicab driver while working on forming Manhattan Transfer in 1969, together with Erin Dickins, Marty Nelson, and Pat Rosalia. Their first album, Jukin', debuted in 1971, launching popular songs, such as "Operator" and "The Boy from New York City." They grabbed pop and jazz Grammy Awards and their critically acclaimed album, Vocalese, released in 1985, earned raves and 12 Grammy nominations.

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All in all, the group won 10 Grammy Awards, and many Gold and Platinum records. They also won the Downbeat and Playboy readers polls every year in the 1980s for best vocal group. In 2007, JazzTimes Readers Poll awarded them with the best vocal group award.

Alan Paul, Janis Siegel and Cheryl Bentyne - who joined in 1978 and replaced Laurel Masse - rounded out the foursome.

"Tim was the visionary behind The Manhattan Transfer," the troupe issued a statement.

"It's incomprehensible to think of this world without him," the statement continued.

After the original band members left the group, Hauser managed to recruit new band members while working as a taxi driver in New York City.

He even got to know a conga player while driving. He eventually met Siegel and Masse.

Hauser was born in Troy, New York. His wife Barb Sennet Hauser, his son Basie and his daughter Lily survive him.

Manhattan Transfer will keep on their touring schedule despite Hauser's death. They are slated to perform on Oct. 23 in Manchester, New Hampshire.

TagsManhattan Transfer, Tim Hauser