With Manhattan Transfer, Cheryl Bentyne's Life Sings

----------------------------------------------------------------- Concert preview

The Manhattan Transfer, 7 p.m. Sunday, Chateau Ste. Michelle; $25, 628-0888. -----------------------------------------------------------------

Every time the Manhattan Transfer comes to town, it's a homecoming for Cheryl Bentyne.

The Mount Vernon native was a well-known Seattle singer when ManTran tapped her to join in 1978, replacing original member Laurel Masse, who left to pursue a solo career.

"My dad is still there," Bentyne said from her home in Los Angeles. "My best friends are all in Seattle, and we keep in touch."

Just then our conversation was interrupted by a baby's cry. It was Zoe, Bentyne's first child, born in March. Her husband, Corey Allen, who has done vocal arrangements for the group, came to the rescue.

Zoe is already a seasoned traveler, Bentyne said, having accompanied the group on its recent European tour.

"It was a lot easier than I thought it would be," she explained. "You just do it. You just take a day at a time."

It helped, she was quick to add, that there was also a nanny along.

Bentyne was quite pregnant with Zoe when the group did a Christmas tour in December.

"I was pretty chunky," she confessed, with a laugh. "My voice went down like an octave. We just cracked up about it every night. I was like Larry Hooper from `The Lawrence Welk Show.' "

ManTran is touring in support of "Tonin'," its latest LP, a lively collection of covers featuring guest stars on nearly every cut.

"It was exciting," Bentyne said. "We were working with the best people.

"I went to New York to work with Laura Nyro (on `La-La Means I Love You'). It was so humbling. I was in awe.

"And Chaka Khan (`Hot Fun in the Summertime')! She just blew the roof off. Ruth Brown in the studio (`The Thrill Is Gone,' also with B.B. King), it was to die for. She made up that story part on the spot. She's such an actress. We just let the tape roll. It was so fun."

Other songs include "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" with Bette Midler, "Dream Lover" with James Taylor, "Save the Last Dance for Me" with Ben E. King, "Let's Hang On" with Frankie Valli and "I Second That Emotion" with Smokey Robinson.

One of the disc's best showcases for Bentyne is an a cappella version of "God Only Knows," the old Beach Boys hit.

"I brought that to the table," she said. "This is a classic, I argued, something we can add to. I'm so glad they agreed."

Bentyne said the group sings only a few songs from "Tonin' " in the show. "They're just not the same without the guest artists," she explained. "Besides, we have such a big repertoire now it's ridiculous." She said the quartet is backed by a six-piece group, "the best band we've ever had."

Although the Sunday show is the last of the current leg of the tour, it will start up again soon, with TV appearances, major interviews, even a day pushing records on "The Home Shopping Network."

How has life been as a Manhattan Transfer?

Bentyne paused. "Here I am on a sunny day in my beautiful back yard, with my husband and our baby and our house, and it all came from singing, which I love to do, which I would do for nothing. It's an incredible way to make a living. I am very blessed."