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| February 11, 2010 | GMTV | Barry Manilow in Las Vegas: Win a three night Las Vegas break with tickets to see Barry Manilow |
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| To celebrate Barry Manilow's new studio album, The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time (available now), GMTV are giving one lucky winner and companion a pair of tickets to see Manilow's new show, opening March 5th, at the exclusive Paris Las Vegas Hotel! The Grammy®, Tony® and Emmy® award-winning artist will perform music from his forthcoming album, which features covers of classic love songs including "The Look Of Love" and "Love Me Tender." Barry will, of course, perform his classic hits too, including "Copacabana" and "Mandy"! The prize includes two return flights and three nights' accommodation for two at Paris Las Vegas - a spectacular resort complete with casino, great restaurants, spa and golf course. The hotel also features the amazing Eiffel Tower ride, where visitors take an elevator up a replica of the French landmark to enjoy breathtaking views of the Nevada landscape. The winner will also be entitled to a dinner for two at The Eiffel Tower Restaurant plus a spa experience at Paris Spa By Mandara. For your chance to win this prize, click here. |
| February 12, 2010 | The Philippine Star | "Great singer, great songs" by Baby A. Gil |
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| Barry Manilow has a new album. It is called "The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time" and every cut can certainly lay claim to the title ... You will find lots to like about this CD. One is that this set is a better collection than any of his previous ones. This is not just because of the line-up but of the way these are presented. Barry, who played the piano in some cuts, helped arrange all the songs. And then he sings with the big orchestra with lots of strings which sounds just like in the motion picture scores of old. This is how we have always thought that these songs should be performed for maximum effect, like in a movie. And Barry got the atmosphere, so right. Now if you want to indulge in some romantic daydreaming this Valentine’s Day weekend at home, this is the album for you. So bring out the popcorn and curl up on the couch. Another thing is the material Barry chose to include. There are the usual oldie stuff of love songs albums like "Love Is Here To Stay," "I Only Have Eyes For You" and "Where Do I Begin? (Theme from Love Story)." But there are also some seldom-heard beauties like "Nevertheless," "It Could Happen To You" and "How Deep Is The Ocean." All of these songs are classic examples of the finest songwriting efforts of the past 100 years. Think of the brothers George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Francis Lai, Dorothy Fields, Harry Warren, Kalmar and Ruby, Jimmy Van Heusen, Paul Williams and others. They are all represented here. Then there is the reason why I said songwriting of the past 100 years. This is because for the first time in years, there is an album that includes the barbershop quartet favorite "When You Were Sweet Sixteen." It was written by James Thornton in 1898. That means it is now 112 years old. I remember listening as a child to the Norman Luboff Choir version of this song along with "I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen" and "Down By The Old Millstream." I also heard one by Perry Como. It is really old but thanks to the power of a beautiful song, I am sure you will agree that "When You Were Sweet Sixteen" here does not sound any older than the other cuts. Besides, can you think of anything more romantic than being loved as when you were only sweet 16. And then there is Barry. I wonder if you ever these past few years imagined you could hear Barry sounding better than ever. After all, the guy is over 60 years old and has been singing since the ‘70s. He should be singing the downhill way by this time, so says the law of averages. But he is not and he is simply great in this album. I first thought that it must be the songs. These, after all, are what I have always believed he was born to sing. Maybe the arrangements or the orchestra helped or the mix. But all that happens again and again is I come down to the bottom line. The fact is Barry is in top form vocally. That is the only reason there is. This must be because of all the singing he has been doing in Las Vegas lately, which is also the reason why he has not gone on tour and returned to the Philippines. I’d love to have him in town singing these old songs. But whatever the reason, the fact is this CD is not only about "The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time" but also about Barry Manilow, great singer. Also featured as great love songs in the album are "The Look Of Love," "I Can’t Give You Anything But Love," "The Twelfth Of Never," "We’ve Only Just Begun," "Love Me Tender," and "You Made Me Love You." And don’t you forget it, a love song is a Valentine all the time. |
| February 4, 2010 | KABC-TV | Barry Manilow to be honored by LACHSA |
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| Barry Manilow is being honored by the L.A. County High School for the Arts, a school he has supported for a long time. In April, LACHSA will honor Manilow for his contributions at the school's 25th anniversary celebration (April 17, 2010 - 7:30pm - Ahmanson Theatre). The celebration will feature performances by Manilow, other celebrity entertainers, famous alumni and award-winning student ensembles. Alumnus Josh Groban and opera legend Marilyn Horne will make special presentations for two of the Honorees. A gala reception will follow in the Grand Hall of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Tickets to the event are available to the public at all different prices. To get more information about the event and tickets you call (213) 225-7584, or go to the Arts High Foundation Web site. |
| January 24, 2010 | New York Times | "BARRY MANILOW: The Greatest Love Songs of All Time (Arista)" by Stephen Holden |
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| Musical chicken soup for anxious hearts: that is the reliable pop panacea that Barry Manilow has been dispensing for nearly 40 years. His voice, at 66, is still boyishly eager and conveys the same soothing message: “I am your friend through thick and thin.” It is convincing enough to have made him as critically indestructible as Johnny Mathis, a singer whose voice projects a more ethereal version of the same reassurance. Their longtime popularity attests to a persistence of a belief in true love and happy endings, despite all evidence to the contrary. “The Greatest Love Songs of All Time” is pure Manilow schmaltz, a hearty, all-purpose musical tranquilizer for grandparents and children alike. The tasteful, unfussy arrangements on songs like “Love Is Here to Stay,” “I Only Have Eyes for You” and “How Deep Is the Ocean?” are considerably better than those heard on most traditional pop albums. “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love” sounds much like Mr. Manilow’s 1978 hit “Can’t Smile Without You,” but with a softer beat. Mr. Manilow is a melody man who respects the mostly great tunes enough to sing them with only minor variations from the notes as written. Some arrangements are light pop-swing with horns and strings (“You Made Me Love You,” “It Could Happen to You”). “I Only Have Eyes for You” refers to earlier versions by the Flamingos and Art Garfunkel. “The Twelfth of Never” pays homage to Mr. Mathis’s 1957 hit rendition. Mr. Manilow’s friendly “Love Me Tender” strips away the groaning sexual subtext associated with Elvis Presley. The closing number, “When You Were Sweet Sixteen” (1898), ties it all together. His disinterest in subtext and his rhythmic timidity are what keeps Mr. Manilow from being Frank Sinatra. Inside his dream world there are no mood swings. A friendly, nostalgic bonhomie prevails. Mr. Manilow begins a residency at the Paris Las Vegas on March 5; parislasvegas.com. |
| January 14, 2010 | Las Vegas Sun | "Barry Manilow to preview new Paris show at Keep Memory Alive gala" by Robin Leach |
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| Six days before Barry Manilow launches his new two-year contract on the Strip, the superstar entertainer will give a sneak preview of the songs and music at the annual Keep Memory Alive gala. The celebrated music legend will perform Feb. 27 for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health fundraiser at the Bellagio. The first of his annual 78 performances at the Paris begins March 5. Manilow follows last year's one-night-only reunion of Siegfried & Roy at Keep Memory Alive. KMA Chairman Larry Ruvo made the announcement yesterday at a downtown secret summit of hotel owners and executives with Cleveland Clinic doctors who unveiled plans for Las Vegas to become a "medical mecca" similar to Houston. "We are deeply touched and appreciative of Manilow's incredible generosity at this crucial time," Ruvo said. "He has personally donated all of the costs associated with the performance. What a fantastic way to arrive on the Strip, which has been his dream for so many years. His kindness helps us fulfill our dreams, too." Star chefs Wolfgang Puck and Thomas Keller are teaming up this year for the gala. Other celebrities, including The Sopranos star Steve Schirripa and comedian Brad Garrett, have agreed to join auctioneer Christian Kolberg and Las Vegas Sun celebrity and entertainment reporter Robin Leach, who will be hosting the event. In addition to his own foundation, The Manilow Fund for Health and Hope, other work includes The Prince's Trust, United Way, The Starlight Foundation and several leading organizations for AIDS prevention and research. He is the national spokesman for The Foundation Fighting Blindness and a member of the Music Center of Los Angeles. He also created the Manilow Music Project as part of his Manilow Fund for Health and Hope to help head off budget cuts to arts and music programs in schools. His foundation gave $500,000 in musical instruments, sheet music and music stands to 21 schools in California's Coachella Valley. When he opens here at the Paris days after the KMA gala, he has promised to make music donations to Las Vegas Valley schools and already has begun identifying schools and programs with those needs. "Just call your local schools and ask them what they need," Manilow said. "Get 'em a new set of drums! Anyone can make a difference. Music changes a young person's life." Manilow wrapped his [five]-year run at the Las Hilton last month. He performed to sell-out crowds beginning in 2005 with his Manilow: Music & Passion and then expanded it to Ultimate Manilow: The Hits in September 2008. In addition to the preview of his all-new production, Manilow will feature material from his new album "The Greatest Love Songs of All Time," which will be released Jan. [26]. He will unveil the album live on QVC on a satellite feed Tuesday from the Paris. During the special QSessions Live broadcast, the Grammy-, Tony- and Emmy-winning artist will perform a selection of songs from the album and give viewers an inside look at the inspiration behind the collection. Manilow also will offer shoppers the opportunity to purchase a week before the album release a five-track bonus disc of songs he put together especially for QVC viewers. Teaming up once again with longtime collaborator and Arista Records founder Clive Davis, now chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment, the album features Manilow's interpretations and arrangements of classic love songs, including "Love Is Here to Stay," "The Look of Love" and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." Manilow's 2006 QVC appearance marked the highest single-day sales by a music artist in QVC's history, and he still holds the record as the highest single-hour music sales event in QVC's 23-year history. "I unabashedly can say that this CD is the most beautiful album I've ever made," Manilow said. "Everyone involved in creating this one was committed to making the most romantic album possible. It's a real beauty. I've always loved this style of music. Given the opportunity to make an album of songs like these was an honor and a rich creative experience for me. I hope the songwriters would have been proud of how we treated their masterpieces. The final cut of the CD is very special. It's a song called 'When You Were Sweet Sixteen.' In my research, I found that this song was the very first pop love song ever written. It was written in 1898, and many versions of it have been done. When you hear it, I think you'll understand why it still holds up over a hundred years later." As the founder and president of Arista Records for its first 25 years, Clive was a perennial collaborator with Manilow on virtually all of his recordings. They first worked together on "Mandy," Manilow's debut No. 1 single, after he became the first performer signed by Clive when Arista was launched in 1974. Although it was back in June 2002 that he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside Michael Jackson, Randy Newman and Sting, Manilow still says the highlight of his long and successful career will be headlining on the Las Vegas Strip. "I am delighted to be in Vegas," he said. "That was always my dream, and now I am very happy with the show we will be opening at the Paris. It is a pleasure to share its magic in advance with the supporters of Keep Memory Alive." |
| January 12, 2010 | Press Release
SOURCE: QVC, Inc. | Barry Manilow Debuts GREATEST LOVE SONGS on QVC: Legendary Performer to Debut THE GREATEST LOVE SONGS OF ALL TIME With Special QVC Performance Live from Paris Hotel in Las Vegas |
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| J'adore Paree! Live from Paris Las Vegas, Barry Manilow is scheduled to return to QVC on Tuesday, January 19 at 9 PM (ET) to unveil his much-anticipated new album, THE GREATEST LOVE SONGS OF ALL TIME (Arista). During the special QVC Presents QSessions Live broadcast, the Grammy-, Tony-, and Emmy Award-winning artist will perform a selection of songs from the new album while offering viewers an inside look at the inspiration behind the collection. Manilow will also offer shoppers the opportunity to purchase a five-track bonus disc of songs he put together especially for QVC viewers, a week before street date. "Barry Manilow continues to be a favorite among our viewers," said Rich Yoegel, director of merchandising for QVC. "Performing his brand-new songs live from Las Vegas, this show promises to be one that no one will want to miss." Teaming up, once again, with longtime collaborator and Arista Records founder Clive Davis (now Chief Creative Officer, Sony Music Entertainment), Manilow's THE GREATEST LOVE SONGS OF ALL TIME features his loving interpretations and arrangements of classic love songs, including "Love is Here To Stay," "The Look of Love," and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." Manilow, whose 2006 QVC appearance marked the highest single-day sales by a musical artist in QVC history, also continues to hold the record as the highest single-hour music sales event in QVC's 23 years. THE GREATEST LOVE SONGS OF ALL TIME will be available starting January 19 through QVC at 800.345.1515 or www.QVC.com, while supplies last. About Barry Manilow The Greatest Love Songs of All Time is Barry Manilow's follow-up to the mega-bestselling series of "Decades" albums that he masterminded with Clive Davis. The series began in January 2006 with The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties, which entered the Billboard 200 album chart at #1, and was certified RIAA platinum. The Greatest Songs Of The Sixties (October 2006) entered at #2. When the RIAA platinum The Greatest Songs Of The Seventies entered at #4 (September 2007), Barry Manilow was distinguished as the only artist to chart three Top 5 debuts during 2006-2007. The most recent entry in the series, The Greatest Songs Of The Eighties, was released November 2008. Beyond the sensational "Decades" series, Arista is the home to Manilow's biggest hits including "Mandy," "It's a Miracle," "Could It Be Magic," "I Write the Songs," "Looks Like We Made It," "Can't Smile Without You," "Copacabana (At the Copa)," "Somewhere In the Night," "Ships," "I Made It Through the Rain," and many, many more. With worldwide record sales exceeding 80 million, Barry Manilow is ranked as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time, according to R&R (Radio & Records); with no less than 25 consecutive top 40 hits to his credit between 1975 and 1983, on the Billboard Hot 100. Manilow has worked on over 40 albums over the course of his career as a singer, songwriter, arranger and producer. About QVC QVC, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Interactive Group (Nasdaq: LINTA), is one of the largest multimedia retailers in the world. QVC is committed to providing its customers with thousands of the most innovative and contemporary beauty, fashion, jewelry and home products. Its programming is distributed to more than 167 million homes worldwide. The company's Web site, QVC.com, is ranked among the top general merchant Internet sites. With subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, and launching in Italy in 2010, West Chester, Pa.-based QVC has shipped more than a billion packages in its 23-year history. QVC, Q, and the Q Ribbon Logo are registered service marks of ER Marks, Inc. |
| January 13, 2010 | RTT News | Barry Manilow Returns To QVC |
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| Barry Manilow will make his triumphant return to the QVC network on Tuesday, January 19. QVC's QSessions Live will broadcast the 66-year-old crooner performing songs from his new album, The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time, live from the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. "Barry Manilow continues to be a favorite among our viewers," said Rich Yoegel, director of merchandising for QVC. "Performing his brand-new songs live from Las Vegas, this show promises to be one that no one will want to miss." The Greatest Love Songs of All Time includes the tracks "Love is Here to Stay," "The Look of Love" and "I Can't Give You Anything but Love." Manilow will also offer shoppers the opportunity to purchase a five-track bonus disc of songs one week before the album hits stores. The singer put the disc together especially for QVC viewers. In 2006, Manilow's QVC appearance marked the highest single-day sales by a musical artist in QVC history. He continues to hold the record. |
| December 20, 2009 | The Desert Sun | "Barry Manilow's generosity the mark of a true superstar" by Fred Saunders |
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| What elevates a superstar above the everyday, powerful and extolled performer? What separates the legendary from the merely famous? In a year marred by Wall Street greed, beggarly banks, and investment scoundrels, the best, most-obvious answer might just be generosity. This holiday season, Animal Samaritans was fortunate enough to be one of the charities to benefit from Barry Manilow's A Gift of Love concert series at the McCallum Theatre. With worldwide music sales of more than 75 million and hits spanning over four decades, it's clear Barry Manilow has nothing to prove. So why did he do it? I suspect it's because at the core of his music — his gift — is a compassionate heart. Anyone with a pulse knows times are tight. Many local nonprofit organizations are cutting staff and services in an effort to simply stay afloat. Even then, we know some won't make it. According to The Desert Sun, Barry's concert series raised close to $500,000 for 25 Coachella Valley charities. Barry, if you're listening, thank you, thank you, you've made a meaningful difference. The more than $22,000 you raised for Animal Samaritans alone is greatly appreciated. Without such kindness many of our programs would cease. Our no-kill Animal Shelter is a prime example. No one makes a profit by housing, feeding and providing free vet care to homeless animals. Animal shelters are notorious money rains. Our humane education program, which provides services in both English and Spanish to more than 20,000 local school children each year, is another non-revenue generating cost center. In our Animal Assisted Therapy Program we pair suitable therapy dogs and cats with disabled children, hospital patients, and nursing home residents. It's alive and well because of charitable giving. For the second year in a row, we've given more than $100,000 back to the community in the form of free animal spay and neuter services to senior pet owners, and for the reduction of feral cat colonies. What's more, we are near completion on our new, state-of-the-art veterinary clinic — and the loan must be repaid. Again, charitable contributions play a pivotal role in our success. Many communities have famous actors, athletes and musicians living among them, but here in our desert we have a genuine superstar. Barry Manilow's compassion and generosity reminds us that not all icons are self-absorbed, and that, as strange as it sounds in this day and age, some stars love helping others even more than money or fame. |
| December 20, 2009 | USA Weekend | "5 Christmas songs (that make the whole world sing!): Barry Manilow shares why he loves this season so much; Plus, the top adult-contemporary recording artist of all time picks his favorite holiday tunes" by Brian Truitt |
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| Growing up in a poor household in Brooklyn, N.Y., Barry Manilow never had a bunch of gifts waiting to be unwrapped around his family's aluminum Christmas tree that was adorned with blue tinsel and ornaments. There was no need for them: For him, the real presents were the Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and other big-band Christmas albums that his stepfather would bring home around the holiday season. To this day, those two aspects -- family and great tunes -- remain Manilow's Christmas traditions. "I love the season because it's the only time of the year when everybody stops yelling at each other for a couple of weeks," says Manilow, who begins a headlining stint at the Paris Las Vegas hotel March 5. "Things calm down, people are all concerned about giving, charity and spirituality, and it's just a lovely time of the year." Manilow, the top adult-contemporary artist of all time, has shown his love for the Christmas tunes his Irish stepdad and Russian/Jewish mother enjoyed both on his records and in performance. He has released three holiday albums since 1990 -- the most recent is October's "In the Swing of Christmas" -- and his "Happy Holiday!" DVD came out last month. In the spirit of the season, Manilow gives us his five holiday favorites: The Christmas Waltz
"Frosted windowpanes" and "painted candy canes" set the scene for this musical Christmas card from the big city, and they come alive thanks to the sweet croon of Frank Sinatra. "One of the most beautiful Christmas songs ever written, done by the greatest male singer of all time," Manilow says. The Christmas Song
Perhaps no yuletide-ready song is as vividly wintry as this Mel Torme track, with chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose and folks dressed up like Eskimos. It has been sung -- many times, many ways -- but none as popular as Nat King Cole's 1946 recording, which became "the definitive version of this romantic song." Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
It's one of the most performed holiday songs, but many people don't realize there have been several different versions. Sinatra made it a seasonal classic in the late 1950s, but Ol' Blue Eyes had tweaked the original -- made famous by Judy Garland in the 1944 movie musical "Meet Me in St. Louis" -- to make the lyrics a little less melancholy. Yet it's Garland's take that Manilow thinks is "the greatest rendition of this holiday song ever." Silver Bells
Silver Bells first appeared in the Bob Hope film "The Lemon Drop Kid" in 1951, and even though Bing Crosby's early-'50s version with Carol Richards is the standard, this popular tune has been covered by everybody from the animated Alvin and the Chipmunks to Kenny Rogers to Twisted Sister to Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth. Manilow recorded his own take -- singing all of the harmonies himself -- on his recent album "In the Swing of Christmas." "I had a ball doing all 21 voices on this holiday classic," he says. Happy Holiday/White Christmas
Bing Crosby debuted Irving Berlin's White Christmas in December 1941, and over the years it has become one of the most beloved songs of all time -- Christmas or otherwise. For Manilow's second seasonal album, 2002's "A Christmas Gift of Love," the crooner doubled the Christmas spirit by pairing White Christmas with another Berlin classic, "Happy Holiday." "It's the most joyful rendition of these great Irving Berlin songs I could come up with," he says. "I dare you not to smile." |
| December 18, 2009 | Chicago Sun-Times | "Barry Manilow delivers a Christmas-cabana" by Miriam Di Nunzio |
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| The late, great impresario Ed Sullivan would have summed up Barry Manilow’s holiday tour as only Sullivan could: “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got a really big shew tonight.” Truth be told, Manilow, who opened a three-night concert gig at the Rosemont Theatre on Thursday night, has been doing really big shows for most of his four-decade career: The kitschy, campy, pull-out-all-the-stops arena tours of his ’80s heyday; the big, bold, brassy scaled-back theater tours of the ’90s; the Las Vegas showroom extravaganza of the new millennium (first at the off-Strip Las Vegas Hilton, and starting in March at the Strip-centric Paris Resort & Casino). Rolling Stone years ago called Manilow “the showman of our generation.” They were on to something. The holiday show/greatest hits hybrid that Manilow presented at the Rosemont, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and four backup singers, boasted everything from Christmas trees and twinkling lights to Santa Claus and tiny caroling moppets (the Evanston Children’s Choir on this night), even a shower of confetti “snow” ... Was it everything you’d expect from a Manilow show? You bet. A heaping helping of pure, unadulterated feel-good, wish-this-show-could-go-on-for-two-hours-more entertainment from the master showman. Looking very holiday-ish and dapper in a Christmas-red jacket, black pants and black shirt, the 66-year-old entertainer kicked things off with his signature duo of “Happy Holidays”/“White Christmas.” “Consider me your skinny, Jewish Santa Claus!” he proclaimed ... Manilow peppered the warm-and-fuzzy holiday tunes with a smattering of his greatest hits, including a medley of “Daybreak,” “Somewhere in the Night” “This One’s for You.” As the evening progressed, Irving Berlin’s “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” and Joni Mitchell’s “River” held court with “Weekend in New England” and “Copacabana.” When Manilow settled in at the grand piano and set in motion a gorgeous rendition of “Mandy” it reminded us of what he was capable of. His passion for every note, and the musicians who bring them to life, has been evident on every album he’s released since that song hit the charts. He was absolutely in his element throughout the concert as the orchestra delivered everything from jazz and pop to swing and big band. The tight 70-minute show went along at a brisk pace, and ended [with] “Because of Christmas” ... Manilow’s legacy to pop music will be way more than the camp of “Copacabana” [or] “Can’t Smile Without You.” It goes way deeper than that. “That’s why I write the hits, because I want the stuff I care deeply about to get out there,” Manilow said in a 1983 Playgirl interview. “The stuff” for him is and always has been the music. Listen to the gorgeous strains of “Even Now,” (one of the most beautiful ballads you’ll ever hear) and the anguish of the lyrics that come through as hauntingly as the notes that carry them. And who else could craft a willowy pop song around Chopin’s Prelude in C Minor (the mega-hit “Could it Be Magic”) and get away with it? And what of Manilow the composer? He’s in the Songwriters Hall of Fame — right alongside the likes of Leonard Bernstein, Cole Porter, Kurt Weil, Stephen Sondheim, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Irving Berlin and Joni Mitchell. In a 2004 interview, after Manilow made a guest appearance on “American Idol,” I asked him if he was “cool again.” “I’ve always been cool,” he replied with a chuckle... BARRY MANILOW; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday night; Rosemont Theater, 5400 N. River; Tickets: $10.37-$259.62; Call: (800) 745-3000; www.ticketmaster.com |
| December 15, 2009 | The Desert Sun | "Barry Manilow's McCallum Theatre concerts raise $464,750 for charities" by Bruce Fessier |
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| Barry Manilow's five-night “A Gift Of Love” has translated into a season full of Christmas presents for local charities. The series of benefit concerts last week at the McCallum Theatre raised $464,750 for 25 Coachella Valley charities, Manilow's manager, Garry Kief, announced Monday. That's just less than Manilow's goal of $500,000 for local charities. But McCallum board chairman Harold Matzner, who helped advertise the five concerts, called the fundraising total “amazing.” “These are good people, Garry Kief and Barry Manilow,” he said. “They've got no agenda except to help people. That's a lot of work, a lot of energy, a lot of commitment, a lot of planning. Five shows and they were outstanding shows. They did a terrific job.” The concerts sold out all five nights, including two weekend shows that faced some of the toughest entertainment competition of the season. Each charity received a different amount of money because concertgoers were allowed to designate a portion of the $750 and $1,000 premium tickets to the charities of their choice. Manilow's Music Project received the most money with $25,000 to be used to provide instruments for Coachella Valley students. The Desert AIDS Project received $24,000, Temple Isaiah received $23,000, and Animal Samaritans got $22,250. Manilow said in a statement, “At this time of the year, I couldn't be happier to give back to this community that I love so much.” |
| December 12, 2009 | The Desert Sun | Man, oh man, oh Manilow |
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| Palm Springs should be proud to have Barry Manilow as a resident. His “Gift of Love” concert, presented five times at the McCallum Theatre to raise money for 25 local charities, was a smashing success — theatrically and, we're confident, financially. The best-selling adult contemporary artist of all time performed with a 56-piece orchestra. He did “I Am Your Child” with students from Palm Springs High School. And he sang “Because It's Christmas” with the All Valley Choir, composed of singers from throughout the valley. Manilow established himself as the desert's leading musical philanthropist last year when he launched the Manilow Music Project to donate $500,000 to music programs in our three local school districts. The goal of the Gift of Love concerts was also to raise $500,000. We won't know until at least Monday how close he came. The singer donated a tree to the ninth annual Christmas Tree Lane fundraiser for ACT for MS held in Indian Wells. Lee Ames of La Quinta had the winning bid at $2,100 and donated the tree to Gilda's Club in Cathedral City, which provides support services to those with cancer and their families. Goodwill all around. Manilow's generosity goes beyond the Coachella Valley. Every Friday night for the next two years, 10 people may pay an extra $1,000 to meet Barry before the show and sit in the front row at the Paris Las Vegas. Proceeds will help buy instruments for Las Vegas middle- and high-school kids. The seven Palm Springs High School students — six on stringed instruments and one on oboe — rehearsed with Manilow for 10 days before the concert, said band director Brian Ingleson. They received standing ovations at every concert. “When you're dealing with a legend like Barry, these kids are getting a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said. The Coachella Valley has long been blessed with generous stars from show business. Manilow ranks in the top echelon. |
| December 12, 2009 | The Desert Sun | "Manilow's 'Gift' a magical treat for the valley" by Louisa Castrodale |
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| The ancient Greeks were fascinated by the studies of astronomy and music. The felt that they were two sides of the same coin. Astronomy was seen as the study of observable, permanent, external objects, and music was seen as the study of invisible, hidden, internal objects. Music has the way of finding those invisible moving parts inside of our hearts and souls, and helping us to find the balance inside of us. Which brings me to Barry Manilow. I was fortunate enough to attend one of his benefit concerts this weekend, titled, “A Gift Of Love.” The show was magnificently staged, complete with a large orchestra, glittering costumes, and Manilow in fine voice. Before I knew it, he was singing “I Write The Songs” and I was 10 years old again, playing and singing that song on the piano for my late father, choking up on the memory. And then, there was “Copacabana” and I was standing in the aisles, waving my light stick and dancing with my friends, like a teenager at the disco once again. Our kids on stage with the star - Finally, there was the moment he brought out students from Palm Springs High School with him, and the played, “I Am Your Child.” The tears flowed unabashedly for me, as I watched the same young students on the stage of the McCallum, that I had witnessed rehearsing just a few days earlier in their band room. One of them, I have known since she was very young and there she was on stage! Manilow is right. All of them are our children! I am sure that Barry Manilow has so many choices and requests available to him when it comes to donating his time and money, yet he has decided to give it to children. In doing so, he has become our “warrior” of sorts. Why do I use that particular reference? Because he is fighting for something righteous and worthwhile, and he speaks for those who don't have a voice. Fighting the good fight for us - When Barry Manilow stands up and says to the world, “Hey, we need to pay attention to music programs,” people listen. He is fighting the good fight for us, and it does my heart good. He knows something about why music matters... To Barry Manilow, I offer my deepest gratitude. I know it's not much, in return for all that you've done, but I do it anyway, on behalf of all of the students and arts educators that have benefited from your generosity. Thank you for being one of the artists who work with the insides, to see if we can get those big invisible pieces inside of ourselves lined up, so that we can be healthy, happy and well. God bless you and happy holidays! |
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