Articles and Reviews - Archives 46

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August 13, 2009 The Hartford Courant"The Riddle Of Barry Manilow: Performer Expected He'd Be An Arranger Working Behind The Scenes" by Eric R. Danton
You know him best for the hits, including "Copacabana" and "Mandy," and Barry Manilow is grateful, particularly because he never aspired to be a performer.

"I wanted to be an arranger, actually," he says by phone from Los Angeles, before starting a tour that comes to Mohegan Sun Saturday. "I wanted to be Nelson Riddle, the guy that was behind talented singers, and then I could go home and not shave. It didn't wind up that way, but in my heart, I always consider myself a musician. On my passport, where it says 'occupation,' I have 'musician'." He's earned the title, producing and arranging many of the songs that made Bette Midler famous, and working over the years with the likes of Dionne Warwick, Mel Tormé, Nancy Wilson and various finalists on "American Idol."

Manilow, 66, a New York native who graduated from the Juilliard School, got started in the music business by writing and singing commercial jingles and working as an arranger for Ed Sullivan's production company before he began performing in the late '60s. His breakthrough came in the '70s, aided by Midler's allowing him to perform during intermission on her "Divine Miss M" tour and frequent appearances with Dick Clark on "American Bandstand" and "New Year's Rockin' Eve." Manilow's second album, 1974's "Barry Manilow II," marked the beginning of his fame, and the single "Mandy" was the first in a string of hits that continued for nearly a decade.

Eventually, Manilow needed a break. "That came after about 10 years of enormous hit records that I either somehow stumbled into as a writer, or records that Clive Davis found for me that I produced and arranged. That was a wild 10 years — wild 10 years — from '74 to '84, but it got to the point where I felt like I had to do one for me," he says.

That one was "2:00 AM Paradise Café," a record with a '50s jazz-club vibe that Manilow cites as one of his crowning achievements, not least because he and his band recorded the entire thing in a single take. "I had written it not as a suite, but I wanted the listener to feel like they were in a nightclub so it all blended together. So I said, 'Let's start at the top and go to the end,' and we did one take, and that was the album," Manilow says. "I love that album to this very moment; it's one of my proudest areas of writing."

Although the hits came with a quickness, it took a long time before Manilow felt like he knew what he was doing on stage. In fact, he says, only recently has he felt as though he's gotten good at performing. "I think I've gotten it down: I kind of understand how to perform these days," he says. "You know, I was learning on the job. The audiences were really kind to me. The critics weren't, but the audiences were always kind to me, and they knew there was talent up there, this young guy. I didn't know what the hell I was doing, but they let me learn on the job. Over the last five, six, 10 years, I'm feeling much more comfortable."

Along with headlining at the Las Vegas Hilton since February 2005 and frequent concert tours (his show at Mohegan is billed as "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits...and then some"), Manilow pops up occasionally to offer advice to the aspiring stars on "American Idol." Though he says many of the contestants have talent, he's not as keen on a lot of the latter-day material they're singing. "What they wind up doing is vocal acrobatics and not paying any attention to the heart of the song, because the songwriting is all about grooves," he says. "So these young people really needed some guidance. I hope I gave them some, but even if I did, they are left with contemporary songwriting that doesn't allow them to do the kind of thing I grew up wanting to do. They stand there trying to make sense out of lyrics that don't make any sense."

"American Idol" finalists aren't the only people Manilow is seeking to help. Known for his philanthropic bent, his Manilow Fund for Health and Hope directs money to local charities selected by his fans. "Out of the blue, these small organizations in little towns get a check for $1,000, and it's like, 'Oh, my God.' But it comes from the fans themselves," he says.

His other recent initiative, the Manilow Music Project, is his bid to make sure children have access to music in school. He's urging his fans, and anyone else, to donate instruments to the band programs at their local schools. Last year, he donated $500,000 worth of instruments to middle and high schools near his home in the Coachella Valley in California. "I would love to make everybody aware that young people are going to go without learning music, and that just would be the worst thing," Manilow says. "I don't know what I would have done without music lessons."

BARRY MANILOW performs Saturday at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville. Tickets are $175 and $125 for the 8 p.m. show. Information: 860-862-7163 or www.mohegansun.com.

August 10, 2009 antiMusic.comBarry Manilow DVD Coming
Warner Music Entertainment is pleased to announce the first time UK DVD release of 'Barry Manilow: In Concert the Legendary 1978 Concert at the Greek Theatre' on September 14th. In 1978 Manilow was performing in the biggest outdoor amphitheatres in America on his marathon 'In Concert' tour, including a two week residency at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, playing to over 72,000 fans.

New on the scene and anxious to compete with the major television networks, HBO produced its first two-hour musical special, "Manilow: Live at the Greek Theatre." The powerhouse performance garnered a huge viewing audience and now, over thirty years later, Manilow's HBO special makes its long-awaited DVD debut. The digitally restored and re-mastered DVD is released to follow Manilow's performance at the BBC Proms in the Park in Hyde Park on Saturday 12th September. People were literally sitting in the trees," Manilow recalls of the event, "Words simply cannot describe the energy and incredible magic in the air that night."

August 9, 2009 The Republican - MassLive.com"Barry Manilow will bring his Las Vegas hits show to the Mohegan Sun Casino on Saturday night" by Keith J. O'Connor
If you've ever attended a concert and left disappointed because your favorite group or singer didn't perform the hits you were hoping to hear, that shouldn't be a problem on Saturday for those attending "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits ... and then some" at Mohegan Sun Arena. "It's a fantastic show with as many hits as I possibly can squeeze into the time allotted. How many people can say they have enough hits to squeeze into over a 90-minute performance? Isn't that amazing. And it's still unbelievable to me that I can say something like that," said Manilow in an interview with The Republican.

Manilow, who will be performing an exclusive rendition of his hit Las Vegas show, ranks as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time with more than 75 million records sold worldwide. The popular and talented musician said for many years he didn't do a hits show. "I was promoting my Sinatra album or my big band album, whatever the latest one was. But when I got to the Hilton in Las Vegas, I thought the audiences there would love to hear the hits, and I had never done that. So we put together a full evening of nothing but my single records over the years," said Manilow.

His career includes 25 consecutive Top 40 hits such as "Even Now," "This One's For You," "Weekend In New England," "I Write The Songs," "Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again" and "Copacabana (At The Copa)." In 1978, five of Manilow's albums were on the charts simultaneously - a record rivaled only by Frank Sinatra and Johnny Mathis.

When asked what he attributes his longevity in the music business to, the man "who writes the songs" was somewhat at a loss for words. "I don't know....I don't look up. I just make the most beautiful music I can make with the most heart that will make people feel good... and then I don't look up. And I hope people will respond to it. I don't know what the answer is," said the popular hitmeister. And when asked why he has such a devoted fan base, the artist was equally at a loss for words. "You have to ask them. I just do the best I can do," said Manilow.

Manilow's roots are in his native Brooklyn, where music was an integral part of his life. By the age of seven, he was taking according lessons and playing on a neighbor's piano. He chose a career in music while still in his teens, and attended New York College of Music and the Julliard School of Music while working in the mailroom at CBS. He subsequently became musical director for a CBS show named "Callback, which led to a lucrative sideline on New York's advertising jingle circuit.

In 1971, Manilow met Bette Midler and became her music director, arranger and pianist. The following year, Manilow singed with Bell Records to record his debut solo album. In 1974, Clive Davis found a new label, Arista, along with Columbia Pictures. Davis had the right to choose any artist on the Columbia Pictures-owned Bell Record label, and chose Manilow. The rest is history.

Most recently the legendary musician and entertainer released a "Greatest Songs" series performing the "Greatest Songs of the Fifties," "Greatest Songs of the Sixties," "Greatest Songs of the Seventies" and "Greatest Songs of the Eighties." When the Fifties album was released on Jan. 31, 2006, it became his first Number One debut on the Billboard 200 album chart and first Number One album since the 1977 [quadruple]-platinum double album "Barry Manilow/Live."

Currently working on a new album for which he recently completed making all of the basic demos, the music is reported to have a rockier edge to it. "It won't make your ears bleed, it's not that type of rock, but it's definitely different from anything else I've ever done," said Manilow. "It's really interesting and I don't know how people will respond to it, but frankly, at my age I have to keep doing stuff that scares me, otherwise I'll just get so [bored] that nobody will want to hear it," he added.

Believing that music can change a young person's life, Manilow recently created the Manilow Music Project as part of his Manilow Fund for Health and Hope. Answering the call of need at a time when arts and music progams in most schools is the first casualty in budget cuts, the Manilow Music project provided $500,000 worth of musical instruments, as well as sheet music and music stands to 21 local school in the Coachella Valley.

Event: Barry Manilow in concert; When: Saturday, 8 p.m.; Where: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Conn.; Cost: $175 and $125; For more info: Call (800) 745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com

August 4, 2009 Live Daily"Barry Manilow schedules shows around Vegas residency" by Tjames Madison
Barry Manilow has added a few arena and theater dates to his tour schedule, which continues to revolve primarily around his long-running Vegas residency. The singer and pop icon has added shows in Los Angeles (10/24) and Sacramento, CA (10/16), as well as two nights (12/17-18) in Rosemont, IL. Meanwhile, his Vegas run continues with three shows beginning this Thursday (8/6), then returns later this month for three additional dates.

Manilow's Vegas spectacular, dubbed "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits," is currently in its fifth year. Around three to nine dates are booked every month through December, most on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and tickets range from $96 to $225 plus service charges. The shows, which draw from Manilow's vast catalog of music, are different every night.

In 2006, the acclaimed singer/songwriter/producer started a series of popular music tributes with "Greatest Songs of the Fifties." The latest in the collection, "Greatest Songs of the Eighties," surfaced in November and features versions of chart-topping hits including Journey's "Open Arms," Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" and Phil Collins' "Against All Odds."

"I've gotta get back to writing my own stuff," the Grammy-winner told AP in a recent interview. "This has been a lot of fun, and it's great that it's always been successful, but I'm done." Manilow added that the material he's working on for his next effort is more rock-and-roll than anything he's done before. "If you dig into my earlier albums, you'll see that there are a lot of moments where I try to break the rules and go away from the adult-contemporary world, into some aggressive, guitar-driven songs," he told AP. "I really loved writing them, and I don't think I sound too bad on them."

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July 14, 2009 Broadway WorldPittsburgh CLO Presents Barry Manilow's Copacabana 7/21-8/2 At Benedum Center
"Her name was Lola..." and she's here in Pittsburgh CLO's production of Barry Manilow's Copacabana July 21 through August 2 at the Benedum Center in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District. Travel back in time with Lola, Tony and Rico when "music and passion were always in fashion." Inspired by Barry Manilow's Grammy® Award-winning hit song "Copacabana," this old-fashioned musical weaves a seductive story of love, jealousy and murder as told through the eyes of an aspiring songwriter. Complete with splashy production numbers and an original Latin-inspired score, Barry Manilow's Copacabana features more than a few surprises for even the biggest Barry Manilow fan...

"Copacabana," the song, was written in 1978 for Barry Manilow's "Even Now" album. It soared up the charts, and Barry Manilow entered the "Guinness Book of World Records" for having four songs in the Top 40 simultaneously. The single quickly went gold, and contributed to the album going triple platinum. The song earned Mr. Manilow his first Grammy® Award.

Several years later, Dick Clark approached "Copacabana's" writers, Barry Manilow, Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman, about adapting the tune into a musical film for television. It was the first time such a project was attempted since Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella." Starring Annette O'Toole, Barry Manilow, Estelle Getty and Joseph Bologna, the movie garnered great ratings and wonderful reviews and won an Emmy® Award.

Shortly thereafter, Caesar's Resorts in Atlantic City contacted the creative team about adapting the film for its show room - the caveat being it had to be less than 75 minutes long. Mr. Manilow, Mr. Sussman and Mr. Feldman proceeded to invent a new form: Vegas review meets Broadway show. It was wildly successful and received glowing reviews.

This prompted British producers to inquire about the possibility of expanding the show to a full-length, two-act, West End musical. Discarding much of the Atlantic City production, the creators added several more characters and sub-plots and doubled the size of the score. This production enjoyed a 4-month, pre-London tour, ran two seasons on London's West End and toured for more than a year thereafter.

This dynamic new musical kicked off a 40-week national tour June 15th, 2000, with its American premiere at the Pittsburgh CLO, followed by a run as part of the Dallas Summer Musical season. It then embarked on a tour that left a trail of yellow feathers and sequins through thirty North American cities including Boston, Philadelphia, New Haven, San Jose, Sacramento, Seattle and Denver among others.

The American premiere of Barry Manilow's Copacabana was produced by Pittsburgh CLO, Roger Shiffman, Anita Drobny & The Paradigm Group, Dallas Summer Musicals and American Musical Theatre of San Jose in association with Garry Kief, John Ashby and Stiletto Entertainment. Since then, there have been more than 100 productions of Barry Manilow's Copacabana on stage throughout the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, Europe and India.

Barry Manilow (Co-author Book and Music) is the undisputed #1 Adult Contemporary Artist of All Time and has triumphed in every facet of music, including performing, composing, arranging and producing. This Grammy®, Emmy® and Tony® Award winner's discography has yielded an unprecedented 38 Top 40 hits including classics such as "Copacabana," "I Write the Songs," "This One's For You," and "Weekend in New England" and his record sales exceed 58 million. Mr. Manilow's successful theatrical career ranges from his Tony® Award-winning Broadway debut in 1977 to an standing room only eight-week run on Broadway in 1989. The world premiere of his musical, Harmony (book and lyrics by Bruce Sussman), enjoyed a successful run at the La Jolla Playhouse. Since 2005, Mr. Manilow has called Las Vegas his home away from home where he performs to sell-out crowds. Following the huge success of Manilow: Music and Passion, Ultimate Manilow: The Hits opened in September 2008 at the Las Vegas Hilton to rave reviews. Most recently, Mr. Manilow created the Manilow Music Project as part of his Manilow Fund for Health and Hope (www.manilowfund.org) which encourages individuals to get involved in local schools by donating instruments or music.

Bruce Sussman (Co-author Book, Music & Lyrics) is the co-author of well over 150 published and recorded songs written for dozens of artists, films, television programs and stage musicals. The majority of these projects were written with his collaborator of more than 25 years, Barry Manilow. His impressive stage credits include authoring the book and/or lyrics for such shows as Harmony, Wendy Wasserstein's Miami, and Ted Tally's Coming Attractions (Obie Award and Pulitzer Prize finalist), and many of his songs have been featured in stage revues. Mr. Sussman's songs have been recorded by an array of artists including Mr. Manilow, Bette Midler and Michael Feinstein and these recordings have earned him a Grammy® Award and multiple Gold and Platinum records.

Jack Feldman (Co-author Book, Music & Lyrics) has written music and lyrics for theater, film, television and pop records. His vast number of works includes the lyrics for Disney's "Newsies" (music by Alan Menken), "Thumbelina," "Oliver & Company," "Tribute," "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" and "The Lion King II: Simba's Pride." He has written dozens of pop songs, including the Grammy® award-winning "Copacabana" and the top 10 hit "I Made It Through the Rain." For the theater, he wrote the score for Ted Tally's Coming Attractions, Wendy Wasserman's Isn't It Romantic and the score for the musical Miami, which he wrote with Mr. Sussman and Ms. Wasserstein.

Tickets for Barry Manilow's Copacabana start at just $18.50 and are available online at pittsburghCLO.org, by calling 412-456-6666 or at the Box Office at Theater Square. Groups of 10 or more may call 412-325-1582.

July 7, 2009 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"Manilow makes magic for fans" by Karen Carlin
Barry Manilow promised to bring the hits to Pittsburgh, and he delivered. Last night the singer/songwriter/musician turned the Mellon Arena into the Las Vegas Hilton (complete with showgirls) with his "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits" show.

While the audience enthusiastically waved glow sticks, Manilow kicked off the 90-minute concert with a feel-good medley of "It's a Miracle," "Daybreak," "Somewhere in the Night" and "This One's for You." He acknowledged the popularity and sheer number of songs in his catalog and thanked the fans for making it so. That was the first of many times he would recognize his fan base, and the crowd at the nearly full arena lapped it up.

The hits continued, from "Weekend in New England" to "Bandstand Boogie" to "Looks Like We Made It." He took a break from his own material only once, to perform "Islands in the Stream," the Dolly Parton-Kenny Rogers duet Manilow sings on "The Greatest Songs of the Eighties" compilation.

Manilow shared the spotlight a few times, including with opening act Brian Culbertson on trombone and Michael Lington on saxophone for "Brooklyn Blues" and with three other keyboard players who played tag pounding on the piano with Manilow on "New York City Rhythm."

With a tight band and talented backup singers, music was the focus, but the headliner offered some chit-chat -- joking about he and Barbra Steisand both charting with versions of "Memory" from "Cats" ("There's a correlation between the size of one's nose and the success of this song"), almost tearfully relating how his grandfather helped him discover his love of music and mentioning he may have written a commercial for Mellon Bank back in his jingle-writing days.

Just how far Manilow has come and changed over the past three decades hit home when he played in the background while screens on both sides and the back of the stage showed his performance of "Mandy" and "Could it Be Magic" from a 1975 episode of "Midnight Special."

No hits show would be complete without "I Write the Songs" and "Copacabana (At The Copa)," which evolved into a rap number and ended in a dance-move crotch grab (an homage to Michael Jackson, perhaps?). With a rousing "Let Freedom Ring," Manilow and friends sent the audience off feeling patriotic, awash in confetti and streamers.

Playlist
"It's a Miracle"/"Daybreak"/"Somewhere in the Night"/"This One's for You"
"The Old Songs" / "Ready to Take a Chance Again"
"Weekend in New England"
"Bandstand Boogie"
"Looks Like We Made It"
"Islands in the Stream"
"Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" / "Even Now"
"Brooklyn Blues"
"New York City Rhythm"
"Memory"
"I Made it Through the Rain"
"Can't Smile Without You"
"Ships"
"Mandy"/"Could it Be Magic"
"I Write the Songs"
"Copacabana (at the Copa)"
"Dancin' in the Streets/"It's a Miracle" reprise
"Let Freedom Ring"

June 30, 2009 ET OnlineBarry Manilow Reflects on Michael Jackson
Barry Manilow talks to ET about the "tremendous shock" of learning that Michael Jackson had died -- he also reflects on the King of Pop's "incredible talents" and the stories the two performers share.

"He will go down as one of history's greatest entertainers," Manilow tells ET. "I was very happy to be in the world when Michael Jackson was in the world."

Watch the video to hear more memories from Manilow including a story about the medley he performed for the pop star at the 1984 American Music Awards.

Manilow will perform at A Capitol Fourth Independence Day Concert on July 4.

[ Video: Barry Manilow Reflects on Michael Jackson ]
July 4, 2009 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review"Barry Manilow brings his 'Ultimate' show to Mellon Arena" by Alice T. Carter
For Barry Manilow, it's all about the music. "Music is a part of me," says Manilow. "I love arranging songs, singing songs, producing them." And many "fanilows" -- the term applied to his ardent followers -- agree.

"It's the music," says Barb Steinberg, the volunteer host of WYEP-FM's "The Sunday Mix," who has been a follower of Manilow since she was 13. "It's a combination of how he writes music, sings music, performs music. He brings the full performance with him. He's like family. His music is always there for me."

Catherine Dyson, a former Washington, PA, resident who now lives in Havana, FL, voices similar sentiments: "He is a musician first. If you get into his music and read his music, there is a message there," she says.

During July, fans have two opportunities to experience Manilow's work in Pittsburgh. On July 21, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera begins a two-week run of "Barry Manilow's Copacabana" at the Benedum Center. Manilow wrote both the script and the music for the musical that had its world premiere at Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera in 2000.

For most, the big excitement is Monday night's appearance by the man himself as Manilow gives a one-night performance of "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits ... and then some," at Mellon Arena, Uptown. It's the touring version of the show Manilow has been performing at the Las Vegas Hilton since last September.

He created its all-Manilow lineup from songs he has written, sung and popularized over a career of more than three decades. "The goal was to see if I could do a full show with every song a familiar one," he says. "I'm lucky I can actually fill up an evening of music and you will know every song."

With 62 albums to his credit and several Top 40 hits-turned-classics -- such as "I Write the Songs," "Mandy," This One's for You," "Can't Smile Without You," and "Copacabana," aka "At the Copa" -- choosing only enough songs for one evening requires some hard choices. "You can't just do the hits," Manilow says. If he did, it would probably be all right with fans like Kaaren Radecki of Dormont who will be attending her 10th Manilow concert on Monday.

A fan for 31 years, Radecki once carted home a life-size cardboard cut-out of Manilow from South Hills Village on the T. "His music has held up so long," she says. "I don't like rap, hip-hop and some of the stuff out there now, and I can understand the words. There is just something very appealing. It's music a person can connect with." She's also grown to like the person behind the music. "He's somebody you never hear about his getting arrested or going into rehab," she says.

Manilow is a private person who admits to being most at ease when creating music. "I feel most at home working with a bunch of guys in a studio or at a computer," he says. "I love being alone with my guys (in the studio). I love the creative process -- rehearsing and being creative."

Despite his love of privacy, Manilow recently went public to help support student musicians in his hometown of Palm Springs, Calif. After learning about the poor condition of the music instruments at Palm Springs High School, Manilow brought together some friends and corporate sponsors to form the Manilow Music Project. Last September, Manilow donated $500,000 in musical instruments, sheet music and equipment to 21 middle and high schools in the Palm Springs, Coachella Valley and Desert Sands Unified School Districts. "I feel like this takes care of this area," Manilow says. "I plan, when I go out of town, to look for (other) schools."

'Ultimate Manilow: The Hits ... and then some'; When: 7:30 p.m. Monday; Admission: $10.49-$125.99; Where: Mellon Arena, Uptown; Details: 800-745-3000, www.manilow.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

'Barry Manilow's Copacabana'; Produced by: Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera; When: July 21 through Aug. 2 with performances at 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays and 1 p.m. July 23; Admission: $18.50-$70.50; Where: Benedum Center, Downtown; Details: 412-456-6666.

July 1, 2009 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"Barry Manilow to focus on the hits for one-night stand at arena" by Karen Carlin
Disappointed you haven't made it to Las Vegas to see Barry Manilow at the Hilton? Cheer up -- Manilow is bringing his hits-filled Vegas show to the Mellon Arena Monday night. The singer/songwriter/musician was last in Pittsburgh for his "One Last Time" tour in 2004. He hasn't toured since then, but when he gets a few weeks off from the ongoing Vegas show, which has been running since 2005, he heads out for some quick gigs.

"I say, 'Come on, let's go out and visit the folks. As long as it's not a tour I'm OK doing these one-nighters in an arena here and there in cities that I love. Pittsburgh is one of them," Manilow said by phone from his home in Palm Springs, Calif. "They are just one-nighters. We have the show, we have the set, we have everybody in it. It's relatively simple to put one of these things up. It's just that I don't want to tour ever again. But one-nighters? I'm fine."

It may be for just one night, but the size of the show is substantial, requiring 11 truckloads of light and sound equipment, instruments and whatever else the musicians need. "It's not a nightclub production, I'll tell you that," Manilow said.

The concert also comes packed with something else: the songs that have made the Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner famous in the nearly 40 years since his debut album. "The audiences, they get younger, and even the older folks, they want to hear the hits. You know, no matter what I do, they want to hear the hits... Luckily enough, I have enough familiar songs in my catalog to fill up a full evening's worth of music," he said. "I see what they want. And I'm happy to give it to them."

The show will follow much the same format as the latest incarnation of the Vegas show, "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits." "It's based on all the hits, so we've got basically a show that does this. And in the middle of this show I can stick in cuts from my first album to 'Here at the Mayflower' to '2:00 a.m. Paradise Cafe.' But the basis of it is the hits."

Fans never tire of hearing such chestnuts as "Mandy," "Copacabana" and "I Write the Songs," and Manilow never tires of singing them. "I am honored. I am grateful. I am a very grateful man to be able to have an audience that still wants to hear these songs," he said.

One of those classics, "Copacabana," became a full-scale Broadway-style show co-produced by Pittsburgh CLO. "Barry Manilow's Copacabana" made its American debut at the Benedum Center in 2000, and Manilow was in town working closely with CLO executive producer Van Kaplan and the rest of the production team. "It was a beautiful production and a gorgeous theater," Manilow said. He knew from Kaplan that patrons have repeatedly voted for the show's return in annual polls, and CLO will bring "Copacabana" back to the Benedum July 21-Aug. 2. "I assume it will be a great show again," Manilow said.

In his most recent recordings, Manilow has departed from his own music, singing compilations of what he considers the greatest songs of the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s. "It was [producer] Clive Davis and myself making a list of the most well-known titles that we could think of for each decade. The challenge was that each song of each decade that we chose, we wanted them all to have been a No. 1 record, so that they were all terribly popular."

Manilow enjoyed recording the well-known tunes, but that doesn't mean the projects were easy. "On one hand it was great, an honor, honestly, to sing these very very famous, beautiful well-written songs. On the other hand it was a challenge to compete with the original. The closer they got to contemporary world, like the '80s, the more difficult it was for me to make a new record, because the records that were made were so famous... If I changed one little chord, it would hurt the memory of these songs."

Manilow has been putting together a new album of original music, a work in progress for the past two years. Two songs out of 16 have been recorded so far. "These original albums take a long time to do. It's easier for me to do the cover albums because I know how to do 'Arthur's Theme.' When you finish 'Arthur's Theme' you've got 'Arthur's Theme.' But when you start with an original song, you really don't know what you've got until you're done. And they take long... With my stuff I usually have a concept to them and it starts here and ends there and it's got a little story, so they take longer." He said the new album will be out "as soon as I can wrangle it together," within the next year, he guessed.

While working on his own music, Manilow is finding time to help a younger generation through the Manilow Music Project, which replaces shoddy musical instruments in high schools and middle schools in the Coachella Valley, where Manilow lives. "Yamaha and myself, a couple more publishing companies, we all chipped in and sent out 13 trucks on the same day, same morning, and delivered 13 trucks' worth of musical instruments, music stands, sheet music to all of the schools down here in the Coachella Valley," he said.

Twenty-two schools benefited from more than $500,000 worth of musical instruments. "It's a big passion of mine these days when I found out the condition of musical instruments and music classes all over the country. I'm doing as much as I can and whenever I can."

Barry Manilow; Where: Mellon Arena. When: 7:30 p.m. Monday; Tickets: $10.49-$125.99; 1-800-745-3000; For more on Manilow, his Vegas Hilton shows and the Manilow Music Project, go to http://www.manilow.com.

July 3, 2009 The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana)"Manilow ready for Capitol audience" by Jay Bobbin (Zap2It)
Among those celebrating this Independence Day is the music superstar countless fans can't smile without. Barry Manilow will be among the stars of "A Capitol Fourth," the holiday concert broadcast by PBS. Airing at 8 p.m. Saturday, the 29th annual edition also will feature Emmy winner Jimmy Smits hosting on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

Manilow has plenty of musical company for "A Capitol Fourth": legendary "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin. Natasha Bedingfield, Michael Feinstein, classical pianist Andrew von Oeyen and the cast of the Four Seasons-inspired stage hit "Jersey Boys." Erich Kunzel will return to conduct the National Symphony Orchestra.

"I know I'll be on the stage a lot," Manilow says. "I've got this song called 'Let Freedom Ring,' which I wrote with my collaborator, Bruce Sussman; I sang it at Bill Clinton's inauguration and a couple of other times. I'd love to do that. The biggest thrill, of course, will be working with an orchestra that size," Manilow adds. "I don't get the chance for that too often. I may have done only a bunch of shows in concert halls in my whole career, so I can't wait to hear my stuff played by a large orchestra."

Considering that career has spanned 35 years, and even longer with his earlier efforts as an arranger and accompanist, Manilow enjoys tackling anything new. Lately, he's enjoyed success with his albums of popular songs of the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s; since 2005, his live show has been a regular attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Manilow has found being a Vegas staple an experience unto itself. "All the strengths are there, and on the other hand, so are all the challenges," he says. "Having my own (performance) room, I know I can do anything I want to. Recently, I did 30 to 40 minutes of just (material from the album) 'Here at the Mayflower.' I said, 'This was really personal and important to me, and I hope you enjoy it.' "It went over really beautifully, and I can only do that in a room like that. I couldn't do that on the road. The challenges are conventions and tourists. Usually I'm spoiled; I get onstage and everybody yells and cheers, but that doesn't always happen in Vegas."

Still, that won't deter Manilow from dipping into his jazz-oriented "2:00 AM Paradise Cafe" and "Swing Street," among other specialized works, as long as he remains close to the Strip. "I'll see if the cement mixers convention likes it," he muses. "I've had so many different albums, so many different styles of music."

Happy to stay mainly in one place now, Manilow says, "We keep throwing in one-nighters (elsewhere) periodically, whether they're benefits or regular shows, and that's fun. I have some more coming up, but I don't want to tour anymore. That's the great part of being at the Hilton now: I don't have to live out of a suitcase. After 30 years, maybe even more, I still found myself ordering room service. It just got to be too much."

June 19, 2009 NJ.com"Barry Manilow to play PNC Bank Arts Center" by Jay Lustig
Barry Manilow does most of his performing in Las Vegas these days, with a semi-permanent show at the Hilton called "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits." He occasionally performs elsewhere too, and will present a show titled "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits ... and then some," at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, Aug. 14. Tickets, priced from $65.25 to $159.25, go on sale at 10 a.m. June 22; call (877) 598-8694 or visit livenation.com or manilow.com.
June 16, 2009 MyCentralJersey.com"Barry Manilow is coming to the Arts Center" by Chris Jordan
He is music and he writes the songs. He's also coming to the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.

Barry Manilow is set to perform his "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits...and Then Some" show on Friday, Aug. 14, at the Jersey Shore amphitheater. Tickets - $65.25 to $159.25 - go on sale 10 a.m. Monday, June 22, through www.livenation.com, www.Manilow.com, 877-598-8694 charge-by-phone and at the PNC Bank Arts Center box office.

The PNC Bank Arts Center is located at Exit 116 on the Garden State Parkway. More information is available by calling 732-203-2500 or by visiting www.artscenter.com.

Manilow's hits include "Mandy," "Even Now," "This One's for You," "Weekend in New England," "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again," "Copacabana (At the Copa)" and "I Write the Songs."

June 9, 2009 Hello MagazineBarry Manilow to perform at Proms In The Park
Veteran crooner Barry Manilow has announced his lone UK concert for this year. He'll take to the stage in London's Hyde Park on September 12 for the BBC Proms In The Park event. The 65-year-old Copacabana singer, whose other hits include "Mandy" and "I Write The Songs," will join Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins at the popular musical highlight, which will be hosted by TV favourite Terry Wogan. Barry's performance at the Proms In The Park – tickets for which cost £25 – has been dubbed "a real treat" for fans by Radio 2's Bob Shennan. The concert, which will be broadcast live on Radio 2, will also include performances by Icelandic tenor Garoar Thor Cortes and the BBC concert orchestra.
June 8, 2009 TheaterMania"Barry Manilow to Appear in London's BBC Proms in the Park" by Brian Scott Lipton
Grammy Award winner Barry Manilow will perform at BBC Proms in the Park in London's Hyde Park on September 12. The event will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2. The concert, to be hosted by Sir Terry Wogan, will also feature singers Katherine Jenkins and Garoar Thor Cortes, along with the BBC Concert Orchestra under the baton of Martin Yates. The concert culminates in a live video link-up with the Royal Albert Hall and a nationwide sing-along to traditional favorites including "Rule Britannia." In addition to his pop songs, Manilow has been represented on stage in the shows Harmony and Copacabana. His most recent CD, The Greatest Songs of the Eighties, was released last year. For more information, visit www.bbc.co.uk.
June 8, 2009 BBC NewsManilow to sing at BBC Proms
Veteran musician Barry Manilow has announced his only UK gig this year will be at the BBC Proms in the Park. The 65-year-old, best known for hits such as "Mandy" and "Copacabana," will join soprano singer Katherine Jenkins at the annual concert, in London's Hyde Park.

Now in its 14th year, the event on 12 September, hosted by Sir Terry Wogan, will be broadcast live on Radio 2. Radio 2 controller Bob Shennan said listeners will be in for a "real treat" to hear Manilow perform.

The event also sees performances from acclaimed Icelandic tenor sensation Garoar Thor Cortes and the BBC Concert Orchestra under the baton of Martin Yates. The concert culminates in a live video link-up with the Royal Albert Hall and a nationwide sing-along to traditional favourites including Jerusalem and Rule Britannia.

June 8, 2009 Rapid TalentBarry Manilow tops stellar line-up at BBC Proms In The Park
Music legend Barry Manilow is to join this year's BBC Proms In The Park – the annual extravaganza held in London's Hyde Park, and broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 – that allows music lovers to enjoy the magic and passion of the much-loved Last Night of the Proms. It is to be his only UK concert in 2009.

With worldwide record sales exceeding 75 million, his work as a singer, songwriter, arranger and producer has cemented Barry Manilow as a leading and much adored legend in the entertainment world. With hits such as "Mandy," "Can't Smile Without You" and "Copacabana," combined with his Las Vegas residencies selling out instantly, his success has become a benchmark in popular music.

Bob Shennan, Radio 2 Controller, says: "Everyone at Radio 2 is delighted that Barry Manilow will headline BBC Proms In The Park in September. Barry Manilow is one of the giants of world show business and the fans in the park and our Radio 2 listeners are in for a treat."

He joins a star-studded line-up that includes the award-winning mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, who performs at the London Proms In The Park concert for the very first time. The event also sees performances from acclaimed Icelandic tenor sensation Garoar Thor Cortes and the BBC Concert Orchestra under the baton of Martin Yates.

It culminates in a live video link-up with the Royal Albert Hall and a nationwide sing-along to traditional favourites including Jerusalem and Rule Britannia! with the help of the Royal Choral Society. As ever, crowds are encouraged to bring picnics and flags, to sing along and enjoy the music and fireworks.

Tribute bands to two of the world's best rock groups start the entertainment in the afternoon's warm-up events, which is hosted by Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce. The Counterfeit Stones entertain with their individual take on The Rolling Stones and Gary Mullen and The Works prepare audiences for the main event with the best of Queen. This year's Proms In The Park follows the success of last year's event, which featured Sharleen Spiteri, Jose Carreras and Lesley Garrett.

Barry Manilow fans across the UK will be able to tune into the Hyde Park concert and watch him live by pressing the red button during the Last Night Of The Proms on BBC Two. Viewers can also watch him on BBC iPlayer for seven days after the event, as part of the Hyde Park Prom.

Now an integral part of the UK's musical calendar, BBC Proms In The Park is hosted, for its 14th year, by Sir Terry Wogan, in Hyde Park. The event, supported by NS&I (National Savings & Investments), on Saturday 12 September 2009, is one of five major outdoor shows staged by the BBC in five locations across all four nations of the UK – Glasgow, County Down, Salford, Swansea and London – which bring the magic of the Last Night Of The Proms to many thousands of music lovers around the UK.

The expanding programme of BBC Big Screens takes Proms In The Park even further around the country including Bradford (Centenary Square), Bristol (Millennium Square), Cardiff (The Hayes), Derby (Market Place), Hull (Queen Victoria Square), Leeds (Millennium Square), Liverpool (Clayton Square), Manchester (Exchange Square), Middlesbrough (Centre Square), Norwich (Chapelfield Plain), Plymouth (Armada Way), Portsmouth (Guildhall Square), Rotherham (All Saints Square), Swansea (Castle Square), Swindon (Wharf Green),Waltham Forest (Walthamstow Town Square) and other UK cities where new screens are currently being commissioned.

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May 29, 2009 The Desert Sun"Barry Manilow to salute nation in July 4 show" by Maggie Downs
The man who writes the songs will be singing them during "A Capitol Fourth," on July 4 in Washington, D.C., a star-studded event that is arguably the biggest and best birthday bash in the country, it was announced Thursday. Manilow will open and close the concert with a medley of hits and patriotic classics, accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra and the Choral Arts Society of Washington, according to event promoter, Capitol Concerts of Washington, D.C.

The Palm Springs resident will be joined by Michael Feinstein, a regular at the McCallum Theatre. Additional performers include "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin, pop sensation Natasha Bedingfield, the award-winning cast of "Jersey Boys," and classical pianist Andrew von Oeyen. The event will be hosted by Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Jimmy Smits.

The concert will take place on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, capped off by a spectacular fireworks display. The show will be broadcast in high definition from 8 to 9:30 p.m. July 4 on PBS.

May 24, 2009 The Desert Sun"Manilow provides lifetime of memories" by Brian Ingelson
There are those who talk about helping and then there are those who actually do. We are so blessed in this community to have many to whom this applies. One of the Coachella Valley's luminaries stepped to the fore, again, and with little fanfare changed the lives of a group of students.

You might recall that in September, Barry Manilow kicked off the Manilow Music Project through encouraging individuals to get involved in local schools by donating instruments or music. He collected the needs from all of the middle and high schools in the Coachella Valley and donated $500,000 of instruments, stands and music.

His message was clear: "Anyone can do it, anyone. Just call your local elementary or high school and talk to the music director. See what they need. You can send them a set of drums or used trumpets that are in your basement, and that would make all the difference in the world to young kids. That is the key, helping the kids and making a difference in their lives and their future."

Providing the instruments was only the beginning. Members of the Palm Springs High School Jazz Band recently boarded a bus provided by Manilow for an overnight trip to Las Vegas, where the members had an opportunity to meet the singer, get a behind-the-scene glimpse on stage of the workings of a legendary concert performer and become an enthralled audience member. They shared his performance with more than 1,500 of Manilow's adoring fans. Manilow paid all the expenses.

Most of the students had never been to a live concert of the magnitude of the "Ultimate Manilow" show, and most had never stayed in a hotel of the caliber of the Las Vegas Hilton. To see the students interact with Manilow, for them to feel his genuine interest in their pursuit of music and for him to recognize them during his show and talk about his home in the Coachella Valley provided lifetime memories and an amazing sense of pride.

The Manilow Music Project is about ensuring that the music does not stop and that students continue to have the opportunity to learn about the art and language of music, allowing it to become a part of their soul. Manilow met and exceeded these goals with his gifts. From a very appreciative group of students, faculty, and parents, thank you, Barry, for keeping the music alive.

May 24, 2009 Showbiz Weekly"There's No Barry, Like Show Barry: Artist relives what made his career great" by Kiko Miyasato
It's quite impossible to stay in your seat when at a Barry Manilow concert. The vibe in the theater is nothing short of electrifying. With songs like "The Night That Tito Played" and the grand finale "Copacabana," fans delight in getting into the groove along with Manilow. The singer slows things down at times for heartfelt reunions with songs such as "Somewhere Down the Road" and "I Made it Through the Rain."

His ease onstage and genial showmanship add that personal touch to his performance. Manilow also throws back popular tunes from the '40s through the '80s. His renditions of songs like "Islands in the Stream" and "What the World Needs Now (Is Love)" remind fans of his versatility and relatability to many different genres and decades of music. They also share in Manilow's memories of his family, career, friendship, love and heartache, which makes for an even more intimate show.

And what show would be complete without "Mandy"? Clearly a crowd favorite, the theater fills with hundreds of voices singing along. The unique number has Manilow dueting with himself onscreen, from the program Midnight Special in 1975.

May 2009 24/7 MagazineUltimate Manilow: The Hits (Las Vegas Hilton)
As it's said, at least lyrically, Barry Manilow writes the songs that make the whole world sing. At the Las Vegas Hilton, he's been performing his world-famous songs since February 23, 2005; ULTIMATE MANILOW: The Hits is a sure-fire fan favorite.

He says himself that he does his best to squeeze in as many of the hits as he's been fortunate enough to have over the years during the show. From hits like "New York City Rhythm" to the ever-popular "Copacabana," Manilow streams a fun-filled, high energy performance for fans. He has the gift of connecting with his audience, showing the full scope of his heart and mind. Manilow takes audiences back through his memories of creating and singing the music that has made him so legendary.

"Barry Manilow's talent and catalog of his hits makes him an exceptional entertainer who has no peer," Rudy Prieto, CEO and General Manager of the Las Vegas Hilton. "While many performers rest on their laurels, Manilow continues to show that his creativity never stops."

With nearly fifty Top Forty Hit Songs, "ULTIMATE MANILOW: The Hits" at the Las Vegas Hilton is packed with Manilow's hits spanning his spectacular career. With worldwide sales of more than 75 million records, the success of Barry Manilow is a benchmark in popular music. His concerts sell out instantly. He is ranked as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time, according to R&R (Radio & Records) and Billboard magazines.

ULTIMATE MANILOW: The Hits is performed during two weeks a month. In May, the show will be performed on the 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 28th, 29th and 30th at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $95 to $225 plus tax and service charge. For tickets or more information, call (702) 732-5755 or visit online at www.lvhilton.com.

May 15, 2009 AdweekPop music legend honored for his early career as a jingle composer
LAS VEGAS "I learned the most about music working in the jingle industry. It was the best music college I could ever imagine."

That's what Barry Manilow said Thursday at the 50th anniversary CLIO Awards in Las Vegas, where the legendary pop composer and entertainer was presented with an Honorary CLIO celebrating his early career as a jingle writer.

Manilow's commercial work for Band-Aid might be his most famous. Indeed, his bouncy tune for the brand became indelibly stuck in the minds of a generation.

"I wrote it in one pass," Manilow revealed in an exclusive video interview as he explains how he honed his mega-hit song-craft by creating brief but unforgettable ad melodies.

[ CLIO Video: Barry Manilow ]
May 16, 2009 The Desert SunManilow's greatest advertising hits earn him Clio accolade
The prestigious Clio Awards competition gave our face something to smile about (a former Stridex jingle written by Manilow) when it presented our hometown celebrity with an honorary award Thursday. The world's most recognized competition honors only the best for advertising, design and interactive.

Throughout the last 30-plus years, Manilow has contributed to campaigns for Band-Aid ("I am stuck on Band-Aid, and a Band-Aid's stuck on me"), State Farm ("Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there"), Stridex and a bathroom cleaner called Bowlene ("I've got the bathroom bowl blues").

Even with multiple Emmys, a Tony and an American Music Award, it looks like he made it again. We are so proud of you, Barry.

May 15, 2009 Press Release
(SOURCE: The Nielsen Company)
50th Anniversary CLIO Awards Announces 2009 Moving Image Awards & Design Awards Winners: Moving Image Awards recognizes Television/Cinema/Digital and Technique and Design Awards recognizes all Design
NEW YORK, May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The CLIO Awards, one of the world's most prestigious international advertising and design competitions honoring creative excellence and innovation in the industry, today announced the winners for the Moving Image Awards, which recognizes Television/Cinema/Digital and Technique, and the Design Awards, which recognizes all Design. The Moving Image Awards were held at The New Joint and the Design Awards were held at AGO, the legendary Vegas eatery owned by Hollywood icon Robert De Niro and restaurateur Agostino Sciandri, in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas on May 14.

In honor of the monumental 50th Anniversary CLIO Awards, the 3-day CLIO festival featured decade-themed award shows. The Moving Image Awards celebrated the 1970s and 1980s with a video montage remembering the television advertisements that were made popular during those two decades. During the show, Barry Manilow received an Honorary CLIO Award for his production of some of the most famous advertising jingles of all time for companies such as State Farm, Band-Aid, Tab and Stridex. Manilow also performed a live onstage medley of his 1970s advertising jingles...

About The CLIO Awards: The CLIO Awards is one of the world's most recognized awards competition for advertising, design and interactive. Celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2009, the CLIO Awards has maintained its original commitment to celebrate and reward creative excellence, honoring a powerful form of communication and its impact on modern culture. At the same time, the CLIO Awards remains focused on evolving with the industry in order to acknowledge the most current, breakthrough work. To this day, CLIO's iconic statue is the most widely recognized and coveted symbol of the industry's creative accomplishments. The CLIO Awards are produced by Nielsen Business Media, a part of The Nielsen Company, a global information and media company.

About The Nielsen Company: The Nielsen Company is a global information and media company with leading market positions in marketing and consumer information, television and other media measurement, online intelligence, mobile measurement, trade shows and business publications (Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek). The privately held company is active in more than 100 countries, with headquarters in New York, USA. For more information, please visit www.nielsen.com.

May 13, 2009 ET OnlineBarry Manilow to Play Special Shows for Fans
Singing legend Barry Manilow is performing fan favorites in a special weekend concert series.

In celebration of the Barry Manilow International Fan Club Convention, Manilow will perform songs from his renowned album Here At the Mayflower from May 22-24.

The concerts will be held at the Las Vegas Hilton.

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