Barry Manilow not only writes the songs, he makes sure kids can too. The singer-songwriter visited tornado ravaged Joplin, Missouri, Thursday and donated $300,000 in musical instruments to the town's schools through his non-profit Manilow Music Project. "I know firsthand how invaluable music can be to get you through life’s tough times," Manilow said in a statement. "It is an honor and a privilege to help these kids after such a disaster."
Signs like "Barry is our Man-ilow" and "Joplin has hope 'cause of Barry" ringed the Eagles football field for the presentation. Students, teachers and townspeople gathered to watch three truckloads of instruments arrive which included pianos, brass and string instruments. The donations will benefit not just the high school band, but also the pep club, the middle school, the choir and the orchestra according to Rick Castor, music director for Joplin High School.
The town is still feeling the effects of the tornado, which struck in May cutting a 13 mile path of destruction through the southwest Missouri city of 50,000 and killed at least 159 people. The National Weather Service calls it the single most deadly tornado to hit the U.S. in 60 years. More than half the students at Joplin High School were affected – losing loved ones, homes, and possessions.
Joplin High School's music library, the second oldest and one of the largest in the state and worth over $800,00, was destroyed. In addition to the $300,000 in instruments, Manilow's Music Project teamed up with local business Fitterling Dentistry to accept donations of gently used instruments and money to help rebuild the sheet music library. The drive netted $8320.00.
Manilow points to his own school music programs as being crucial to his growth as a musician. He established the MMP in 2008 (www.ManilowMusicProject.org) to bolster arts programs nationwide that have suffered due to budget cutbacks. Joplin is just one of many towns his non-profit has helped, but to the man who writes the songs, this felt personal, "It feels like family, I feel like I know everyone and I've never even been here," Manilow said.
Students and staff Friday were unpacking three truckloads of new musical instruments that singer Barry Manilow donated to tornado-ravaged schools in Joplin, Mo.
Manilow presented the instruments, valued at $300,000, to a gathering of Joplin music students on Thursday. The instruments will help replenish ones lost on May 22 when an EF-5 tornado swept through Joplin, destroying the high school and several other school buildings. "We are just thrilled, he is such a nice person," Rick Castor, director of the Joplin High School band, said Friday. "It was just like Christmas. We opened a few of the things last night and today."
The donation includes a concert grand piano that will be placed on the stage of the temporary, and then the new auditorium, Castor said. The schools also got six new upright pianos, along with brass, string and other instruments, to replace ones that were destroyed, he said.
The instruments come from the Manilow Music Project, which for six years has helped schools that suffered cuts to music programs. Manilow is also helping with a local drive to get used instruments donated to the Joplin schools and to raise money to replace sheet music lost in the tornado. The tornado killed 162 people. "I know first-hand how invaluable music can be to get you through life's tough times," Manilow said in a statement. "It is an honor and a privilege to help these kids after such a disaster."
Manilow, 68, had his biggest success in the 1970s but has remained a popular touring artist for years. Castor said his students had not heard of Manilow and were surprised when he told them he is among the top-selling singer-songwriters of all time. In speaking to the students Thursday, Manilow quipped that "back in the 1970s, I was Justin Bieber," according to The Joplin Globe.
JOPLIN, Mo. -- A music legend is helping make sure Joplin students have plenty of musical opportunities, even after the tornado on May 22 that destroyed $3.7 million worth of music program supplies. The Manilow Music Project, and singer Barry Manilow himself, made a stop in Joplin on Thursday morning.
It's been five months since the tornado, and the old Joplin High School still sits tattered and torn. All the suppplies for the music program were destroyed when the tornado hit, but students and staff are doing their best to move on. The visit from Manilow and the donation of $300,000 worth of musical instruments are a high note for the students of Joplin.
Manilow and the students certainly are not from the same generation. "Maybe you remember, 'At the Copa, Copacabana'? Nobody, huh," Barry Manilow said at the event at Jung Stadium.
But the singer and the students have something in common; they share a passion for music. "I know what music can do for young people, because I was one of them," Manilow said.
The donation of instruments from The Manilow Project will ensure that Joplin students have opportunity, even after disaster. "I had just gotten home from the graduation ceremony at MSSU and I got home and, five minutes later, the tornado hit," said 11th grader Nathan Parker.
Parker's home was leveled but he and his family were safe in a basement bathroom. "Sometimes it feels like it was just yesterday, and then, other times, it feels like it was several years ago," Parker said.
Reuniting with the band and playing his French horn was a comfort after all the chaos. "A lot of the kids, the only way they had any continuity was getting together for band camp, because they do become a family, and, by seeing each other all the time, it gives them an outlet," saif Joplin High School Band Director Rick Castor.
The music itself can also be therapeutic. "That's been my goal since I started my music: to make people feel better," said Manilow.
Manilow's donation is doing the same. "It's really nice," said Parker. "The kids are just thrilled to death, and they're so excited to see all the stuff," said Castor.
Though they've been through a lot, Joplin students are playing right on through. "It's still not the same, because the school is divided up now and we have to transport all our equipment every morning just to rehearse, but the kids aren't complaining. They've just done a phenomenal job," Castor said.
Some instruments arrived on Thursday, and the rest will continue to arrive and be distributed to their respective temporary school buildings, making sure the lives of Joplin kids are filled with music. Fitterling Dentistry in Joplin is also partnering with the Manilow Project to collect donated instruments and money to replace sheet music.
Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow has come through on his pledge to help schools in Joplin replace musical instruments lost in the tornado that devastated the town last spring. The Joplin Globe reports that hundreds of band, choir and orchestra students looked on Thursday as Manilow delivered $300,000 worth of musical instruments for the high school and middle school.
Manilow made the presentation inside a stadium on behalf of the Manilow Music Project, which works to highlight the importance of school music programs. The singer says he's happy to see the students who will benefit directly from his donation. The May 22 tornado killed more than 160 people and destroyed thousands of homes as well as businesses and schools in the southwestern Missouri city.
A legend in the music industry is helping bring relief to students affected by the Joplin, Missouri tornado. Barry Manilow's non-profit organization, the Manilow Music Project, has donated over $300,000 worth of musical instruments to Joplin High School.
Manilow also organized and sponsored a donation drive to get even more instruments into the hands of the students. It culminated Thursday afternoon, October 26th, with Barry Manilow on hand to help distribute the new and used items.
A famous face brings three semi-truck loads full of donations for the Joplin youth. Barry Manilow arrived at Junge Stadium today, presenting more than $300,000 in instruments to the school music program, including a grand piano. The donation comes as part of the Manilow Music Project, which helps public school music programs across the country
Manilow says he wanted to help the Joplin students because he knows how invaluable music can be during tough times. "I kept saying to myself 'how can I help - what can I possibly do?'" says Manilow. "We did know Margie down here and these were people I knew. So we came up with the instruments for the kids."
Margie and Mike Fitterling of Fitterling Dentistry in Joplin helped coordinate the visit. They had also set up an instrument drive leading up to today's event.
JOPLIN, Mo. - Barry Manilow presented Joplin schools with a $300,000 instrument donation on behalf of the Manilow Music Project Thursday morning in Junge Stadium. Manilow said he was happy to see the students of Joplin who will be directly impacted by his donation. "It makes me want to do this every morning if I could," Manilow said in an interview after the program.
Hundreds of Joplin band, choir and orchestra students attended the program where Manilow, Mayor Mike Woolston, Band Director Rick Castor, Superintendent C.J. Huff and Margie and Mike Fitterling, who helped coordinate the donation, spoke.
Joplin high-schoolers are getting some new tunes today, thanks to a man who knows a thing or two about music. Barry Manilow will be in Joplin today. His charity is delivering more than $300,000 worth of instruments, as well as sponsoring a fundraiser to provide further help to the band.
The Manilow Music Project is partnering with Fitterling Dentistry of Joplin to host today's instrument drive. "I know firsthand how invaluable music can be to get you through life's tough times. It is an honor and a privilege to help these kids after such a disaster," Manilow said in a statement released by his publicist.
Besides instruments, cash donations are also being accepted to help re-build the Joplin High School music department's library by purchasing new sheet music for the band, orchestra and vocal students.
About The Manilow Music Project (MMP) In 2008 in response to the needs of public schools and their severely depleted music programs, Barry Manilow gathered some friends and formed The Manilow Music Project as part of his non-profit, Manilow Fund for Health and Hope. The mission statement of the Project highlights the importance of music programs in U.S. schools and donates instruments and materials to school music programs.
All the stars are out – Dev from Coronation Street, one of the Nolans, an actor who used to be in The Bill – and they’re up and dancing as Manilow runs through those peerless greatest hits. Go on, scoff if you must, but Manilow has produced some belters: "Mandy," "I Write the Songs," "Can’t Smile Without You" and camp classic "Copacabana."
If you can get through the cheesy links (he loves his British fans and he’s got a new album out, of course) and put up with Strictly’s Bruno Tonioli making it all about him, then this is an unbeatable way to end the week. All together now: "Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl..."
About this programme: The singer-songwriter is accompanied by his own orchestra as he performs many of his best-loved songs, including "Copacabana," "Mandy," "Could It Be Magic" and "I Write the Songs," for a celebrity audience. The New York-born entertainer, who worked in a record company's post room while learning his craft, also takes questions on his award-winning career.
Cast and crew: Host - Barry Manilow. Director - Jonathan Bullen. Executive Producer - Lee Connolly. Executive Producer - Fiona Clark. Producer - Sophie Waite.
Crooning legend Barry Manilow is donating a mammoth $300,000 (approximately £187,000) worth of musical instruments to school in Joplin, Missouri that was devastated by tornadoes earlier this year. In addition to the extraordinary gift, which will make a huge difference to music education at Joplin High School, The Manilow Music Project is also sponsoring an initiative to get even more instruments to the school.
Manilow, 68, is working closely with Fitterling Dentistry, a local community business, to help drive more instruments to the school. "I know first-hand how invaluable music can be to get you through life's tough times. It is an honour and a privilege to help these kids after such a disaster," he said. The Joplin tornado was one of Missouri's and America's deadliest tornados, the seventh deadliest tornado ever in US history.
Speaking to music-news.com, Fitterling Dentistry's Margie Fitterling said: "As a lifelong fan of Barry Manilow's music and humanitarian efforts, my husband and I are thrilled to work with the Manilow Music Project to help our community." Manilow is famous for songs such as "Mandy," "Can't Smile Without You," "Could It Be Magic" and his signature hit "Copacabana (At the Copa)."
Barry Manilow’s non-profit organization, the Manilow Music Project, is donating more than $300,000 in musical instruments to the tornado-torn community of Joplin, Mo., it was announced today. The Palm Springs resident also is spearheading an instrument drive to get more band instruments into the hands of Joplin High School students.
The Manilow Music Project’s business partner in Joplin, Fitterling Dentistry, will host the drive with Manilow on hand for a celebration of the delivery and distribution of the instruments on Thursday, Oct. 27. "I know firsthand how invaluable music can be to get you through life’s tough times," Manilow said in a statement. "It is an honor and a privilege to help these kids after such a disaster."
Monetary donations are also encouraged to help the the high school re-build the music department’s library after the tornado destroyed all of its sheet music. Checks can be made out to the JHS Music Department and mailed to Fitterling Dentistry at 4402 E. 32nd Street, Joplin, Mo. 64804.
Barry Manilow is to donate $300,000 (Gbp 185,000) worth of instruments to a high school in Missouri after learning the music department's equipment was largely destroyed by tornadoes earlier this year.
Tornadoes devastated Joplin in May, killing dozens of people and levelling many homes, and touched by the tragedy, the singer's non-profit organisation, the Manilow Music Project, has now donated funds and launched a community instrument drive to help the students and administrators at Joplin High School rebuild it's music department. He says, "I know firsthand how invaluable music can be to get you through life's tough times. It is an honour and a privilege to help these kids after such a disaster."
The Copacabana hitmaker will visit the school on Thursday (27 Oct 11) to hand over the donation.
Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow will visit Joplin next week to donate more than $300,000 in musical instruments toward those lost during the May 22 tornado. Manilow will make the presentation at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Junge Field on behalf of the Manilow Music Project. The organization’s mission is to highlight the importance of school music programs, and to donate instruments and other materials to them.
"We’re just thrilled to death," said Rick Castor, Joplin High School band director. "And we’re thrilled even more that he’s coming to do it himself." Castor said that instruments will help replace instruments still needed by the high school music department - such as concert baritones, gongs and pianos - as well as at East Middle School.
Castor said that the high school and middle school music students will be rehearsing Thursday morning for a joint performance that will close out the football season. The rehearsal will be followed by Manilow’s presentation. The presentation at Junge will be open only to invited guests. "The bands, choirs and orchestras will all be out there, so we’re praying for nice weather," he said.
The donation and visit by Manilow was made possible through a joint effort by the Manilow Music Project and Joplin’s Fitterling Dentistry, he said. Dr. Michael Fitterling and his wife, Margie, lost their dental practice at 2614 S. McCoy Ave. in the tornado. While the couple worked to get their office up and running again, Margie Fitterling said, they also wanted to do something to help the community. As longtime fans of Manilow, she said, they contacted the Manilow Music Project to see if it could lend a hand to the school district.
"We had found out that the high school’s music library was destroyed," she said. "Our kids were active in the music program. We figured that (Manilow’s program) would just write a check, put it in an envelope, stamp it and send it on its way." The size of the donation that will be made and the fact that he is coming himself to Joplin to make it, she said, is "amazing and overwhelming."
Representatives for the Manilow Music Project could not be reached on Friday. But in a press release, the singer said that he welcomed the chance to help Joplin’s music students. "I know firsthand how invaluable music can be to get you through life’s tough times. It is an honor and a privilege to help these kids after such a disaster."
After the most devastating Tornado in the United States in more than fifty years hit Joplin, Missouri this May, bringing hope and joy back to the community became vital. Legendary singer-songwriter Barry Manilow's non-profit organization, the Manilow Music Project is donating over $300,000 in musical instruments in addition to sponsoring an instrument drive to get even more instruments into the hands of the Joplin High School students. The Manilow Music Project is partnering with local community business Fitterling Dentistry, who will host the drive location in Joplin which will culminate with Barry Manilow onsite for an incredible celebratory delivery and distribution event in Joplin, MO on Thursday, October 27th.
"I know firsthand how invaluable music can be to get you through life's tough times. It is an honor and a privilege to help these kids after such a disaster," says Manilow.
New and gently used instruments can be dropped off at the Manilow Music Project donation truck at Fitterling Dentistry, located at 4402 East 32nd Street, Joplin, MO 64804, Monday – Thursday from 8AM – 5PM and on Friday from 8AM – 11AM through October 26th.
Due to the High School's additional loss of all sheet music in the tornado, monetary donations are also encouraged and will be accepted to help re-build the music department's library by purchasing new sheet music for the band, orchestra and vocal students. Checks can be made out to the JHS Music Department and dropped off or mailed to Fitterling Dentistry.
"As a lifelong fan of Barry Manilow's music and humanitarian efforts, my husband and I are thrilled to work with the Manilow Music Project to help our community," stated Margie Fitterling of Fitterling Dentistry.
Rick Castor, Music Director for Joplin High School concludes, "We feel very blessed to have an artist of Barry Manilow's stature committed to helping our students."
Formed in response to the needs of the local public schools and their severely depleted music programs, the Manilow Music Project highlights the importance of music programs in our schools and has donated millions in instruments and materials to school music programs across the country.
Grammy Award winner Barry Manilow, who as previously reported will be playing Radio City Music Hall February 10-12, has added a final show on Valentine's Day, February 14.
Manilow's Broadway credits include his Tony Award-winning Barry Manilow on Broadway and Barry Manilow at the Gershwin. He also contributed songs to Bette Midler's Clams on the Half Shell Revue and The Madwoman of Central Park West. In the West End, his music was featured in Barry Manilow's Copacabana - The Musical, which went on to tour the U.S., Australia and Asia.
Tickets for the added performance will go on sale to the general public on Monday, October 31 at 9am. For more information, visit www.radiocity.com.
MSG Entertainment and The Bowery Presents announced today that singer-songwriter Barry Manilow has added a final show on Valentine's Day at Radio City Music Hall, due to overwhelming demand. Barry Manilow's now four-night in New York City includes February 10, 11, 12, and 14, 2012. Tickets for the February 14th show will go on-sale on Monday, October 31 at 9AM. American Express cardmembers can get advance tickets beginning Monday, October 24 at 10AM through Sunday, October 30 at 10PM.
After having recorded six critically acclaimed albums of songs written by the greatest songwriters of all time - from Gershwin to Bacharach, as well as two Platinum Christmas albums, Barry Manilow returns at last to his true passion: songwriting. Inspired by the Andy Warhol quote, "In the future, everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes," this exciting guitar-driven pop album explores the perils and pinnacles of fame's double-edged sword. 15 MINUTES is a compilation of 16 original tracks written by Manilow and lyricist Enoch Anderson. Making a guest appearance on 15 MINUTES is young Nataly Dawn, lead singer of the white-hot group, Pomplamoose. Her rendition of "Letter From A Fan" is both innocent and eerie.
Tickets to all concert events at Radio City Music Hall are available beginning on the first day of sale through Ticketmaster Charge By Phone and all Ticketmaster Outlets, and beginning on the second day of the general public on sale at the Music Hall, MSG and Beacon Box Office. All tickets purchased for Radio City Music Hall events contain a Facility Charge and Ticketmaster purchases are subject to their service charge. The telephone number for the Radio City Music Hall Disabled Services department is (212) 465-6115. The Ticketmaster information and Ticketmaster phone charge is 1-866-858-0008. Tickets are also available online at www.radiocity.com.
Don’t be surprised if you hear a little "Copacabana" played by the Joplin High School marching band during halftime at the tornado-stricken school’s football games this season. The school’s band members have the man who made that song famous, Barry Manilow, to thank for getting them back on the field, with shiny new instruments in hand.
The iconic American singer is using his Manilow Music Project to refurbish the instruments, sheet music and more the band lost when the town of Joplin was ravaged by a tornado last May 22. The tornado, one of the deadliest in U.S. history, wiped out nearly one-third of the small Missouri town, and killed 162 of its residents. The storm hit Joplin High School particularly hard, tearing down buildings and wiping away nearly the school’s entire library of music and instruments.
Local Joplin residents Dr. Michael Fitterling and his wife, Margie, reached out to Manilow’s non-profit for help with the band’s fundraising drive, and the project responded with more than the school’s music department imagined - $300,000 worth of brand new instruments. The singer also stepped up to partner with Dr. Fitterling’s dentistry practice to host an instrument drive in Joplin, taking place now, where people can drop off new and gently used instruments, as well as cash donations to replenish the school’s music library.
The drive, to take place the week of October 24, will end in a thrill for Joplin’s newly formed band of "Fanilows," a special appearance by Manilow himself, in Joplin, to personally deliver the instruments to the students.
ITV has confirmed that it’s on-off special An Audience With Barry Manilow will air on Friday, 28 October 2011 on ITV1 and ITV1 HD.
With 80 million records sold worldwide, including "Mandy" and "Copacabana," the singer is one of most successful singer songwriters of our time and earlier this year released his latest album, "15 Minutes."
As well as performing some of his best known hits, the special sees Manilow answering questions from the audience about his life and career.
Manilow says: I’m so excited to have been asked to do "An Audience With..." The list of hosts that have appeared on "An Audience With..." reads like a who’s who of great talent. It’s an honour to have been asked to host the show."
A historic looking theatre. Thousands of red glow sticks are in the air. In the distance, a fan screams out with pure anticipation. A shadowy figure emerges and suddenly his name explodes in white letters behind him. He’s a bona fide music legend who owns the very stage he walks on this night. His eyes are sparkling, his arms extending as he reaches the chorus. He’s Barry Manilow, and Las Vegas is his town.
A certain few people are just born to entertain. Barry Manilow is one of those few. As he walks out onto the stage of the Paris Las Vegas Theatre (the most romantic destination in Las Vegas as both their ads and Manilow himself will tell you), every bit about him demands attention. From his gradiose poses to the trembling in his voice still evident when he sings the bridge of "Mandy," Manilow is the consummate showman.
This show on the 9th of October was likely somewhere between 4 and 5,000 for the record-shattering musician who started off as just another kid in Brooklyn. In fact he’s probably approaching the 1,000 mark since 2005 when he began his stay in Las Vegas. But there’s no sense of repetition in this concert.
He starts solo with a background of stars before a full band floats out from nowhere as he begins with what he does best – a medley of hits. It’s chorus after chorus in rapid succession, building and building until he finally takes a seat at the piano bench to take it down a notch. Now the lights have calmed down and the band retreated to the shadows, and it’s about this time when the power of his voice sets in. So powerful is the 68-year-old’s voice that it’s doubtful he even needs a microphone.
The type of singing that Manilow does takes an enormous amount of breath; it’s stunning to hear him hit huge notes – and then hold them. And hold them. And...hold them.
His unchanged ability is brought to the forefront when a young version of himself glides down on a large video screen. It’s one of his earliest live performances of "Mandy." As the two Manilows echo each other, it’s hard to decide which one brings the most chills.
There are many turns in his refreshingly unpredictable set. One minute there are the staples "Bandstand Boogie" and "New York City Rhythm," and then from way out of left field comes "Brooklyn Blues." If you thought you’d never get to hear the standout track from 1987′s over-the-top jazz-synth album, you were wrong. Manilow took to his piano to hammer out the synth parts and gave a vocal performance that was almost too convincing.
He also brought new songs from the just-released 15 Minutes album. The title track was pleasant, but it was the newly crafted ballad "Bring on Tomorrow" that brought down the house. Hearing the song live is a reassuring experience. The king of the ballads can still write 'em.
When taking a trip to Las Vegas, there are some sights you just can’t leave without seeing. There’s the Flamingo, the Palazzo, the Bellagio, the Monte Carlo, and of course, the Barry Manilow. Skipping a few of the casinos is acceptable, but skipping the Manilow is not. He embodies the spirit of entertainment, indulges himself and his fans in every note of singing and leaves audience wanting just a bit more. Out of many entertainers that have captivated the masses through time, out of many attractions in a city that offers it all, one of them emerges as absolutely unforgettable. Barry Manilow, this town is yours.
Music icon Barry Manilow may be 68, but he doesn't seem at all familiar with the word "retirement." The singer/songwriter currently has a running gig in Las Vegas, just released a new album, recently launched his own wine label, and is just as comfortable updating fans on Facebook as he is playing tunes on the piano for them. He's also begun lending his voice to something other than singing, working to raise awareness of a chronic heart disease called atrial fibrillation, which he was diagnosed with 15 years ago. The "Copacabana" crooner talked to omg! to share his thoughts on everything from "American Idol" to Twitter to how he's become an unlikely indie rocker.
omg!: Your career has spanned more than 40 years. What's been the biggest change you've seen in the music industry? Barry Manilow: It's a double-edged sword. Because what they've come up with -- these brilliant machines -- it's like heaven for a musician like me. I know all about ... Pro Tools and Digital Performer, and all the modules that you can get. I make my records all alone and then, after I'm done creating it, I go to the studio with real musicians. I love this way of writing music and, since I'm an arranger, I love arranging on my computer. The records that they're making these days are brilliant sounding records -- the rhythms, the sounds. However, what I miss is songwriting. I think the art of songwriting has taken a nosedive.
omg!: How so? BM: I think because all of the garage bands and all of the other stuff that is so tempting, is encouraging young people to make great sounding records, but it's not encouraging them to write great songs. Sometimes I say to them, "If you turned all of that stuff off, would you have a song? Could you just play that on your piano, or on your guitar? I'm not so sure." That's what I would miss. That's the change that I see.
omg!: You've been focused on raising awareness of atrial fibrillation. How did you discover you had the condition yourself? BM: It starts off very innocently, like your heart is skipping a beat, and everybody's had that. But then it felt different. There was something screwy about it. It kept getting faster and faster. It was totally random and it was out of control ... out of rhythm. I knew there was something wrong. It was the first time I actually paid attention to what was going on inside my body. I went to see [my doctor] and he knew exactly what it was ... I went on a regimen of medication and very quickly my heart went back into rhythm, and everything got better. I never talk about ... my personal life, my health, but they told me that two and a half million people have this condition, and many of them don't do anything about it. Well, if you let this condition go, you are playing with fire, because it could easily lead to heart damage, heart attack, a stroke. When they told me all this I said, "Okay, let me talk to people about this."
omg!: Facebook, yes. But Twitter? BM: I think it's just a little too intrusive for me.
omg!: What's next for you? BM: I've got a brand new album out called 15 Minutes, which is a very interesting and a different album for me. It's about fame. I took the title from Andy Warhol's phrase, "In the future, everybody will be famous for 15 minutes." These days we see these young people become famous overnight from "American Idol." And it's interesting for me because it's all guitar-driven. There's hardly any piano on it. It's a very, very edgy album. And, it's on my own label and it entered at number one on the Indie Chart. I'm an Indie rocker. How about that?
omg!: Speaking of "American Idol," you did the show three times. What'd you think? BM: I did it when there were about nine of the contestants left, and what I discovered is they all have something and they're all very ambitious. The people that I worked with from Jennifer Hudson to Daughtry, all those kids have something, but what they needed was guidance. And they can't do too much of that on "American Idol." The kids have to figure that one out for themselves, but if you've got enough talent, you can do it.
omg!: Do you feel like you've connected with a new generation of fans? BM: I do see loads of young people out there every night. Certainly there are [also fans] that have been with me for years. But there's a lot of young people out there, and you know, that might mean that they've discovered me through their families. I have discovered Facebook. I think that's a really good way of getting information out there. I don't do Twitter. I think it's just a little too intrusive for me.
omg!: I've got to ask. There was a story out a couple of months ago about you and your friend Suzanne Somers planning each other's funerals. Is that true? BM: Oh, we were just kidding around, you know? Because I've put together great shows. And she said, "You've got to produce my funeral."
Barry Manilow has partnered with Sanofi US to launch a national, multimedia educational campaign to help raise awareness about atrial fibrillation, a serious heart disease characterized by an irregular heartbeat.
The legendary singer revealed his struggle with the disease on September 13. "When I first experienced AFib more than 15 years ago, it was really scary -- it felt like a fish flopping around in my chest," said Manilow. "I thought I knew about all the risks, but it turns out I didn't, so I was really lucky I had such great doctors helping me manage it from the start."
The campaign, called Get Back in Rhythm, encourages people to educate themselves about the risks of AFib and to improve the health of those already affected by the disease.
Watch the video to see Barry's new PSA for the campaign.
Barry Manilow, musician and songwriter, has taken on a new title: philanthropist. He is using his fame for a good cause and spreading awareness for the many benefits of music education through his program, the Manilow Music Project.
Washington Post: Why have you devoted so much time to ensuring that other people have the opportunity to engage in music? Barry Manilow: When I realized that because of budget problems, they were cutting music and arts classes in schools around the country, I decided to help because maybe there is a budding Bacharach out there, and like me when I was young, they need the opportunity to learn. I created the Manilow Music Project. It sounds like a big organization, but really it's only a table full of friends trying our best to help schools around the country. We work with the generous Yamaha Corporation, Hal Leonard Publishing and raise money any way we can.
WP: Do you think music can make a difference in a child's success? BM: When I spoke to Los [Angeles] Superintendent Ray Cortinez about music in the schools, he told me that when they cut music classes, the students don't come back the next semester. That's how important music is to children. Every teacher I speak to tells me that with music classes, the students' grades go up, they interact with others and they become better human beings. Isn't that enough proof that music is more than just "play time"?
WP: How has music influenced your life? BM: Music is not what I do... it's who I am. It informs all of my choices. My family knew I was musical when I was very young, but because they had no money, they didn't know what to do with me. It was up to me when I grew up to make a decision to make music my career. But there was very little choice. Music was coing out of my ears. I could not not make music.
Superstar entertainer Barry Manilow has talked for the first time about his secret 15-year battle with a serious heart disease, and he’s launched a campaign to help 2.5 million other Americans suffering from AFib (atrial fibrillation). Our Paris headliner [is] kicking off Get Back in Rhythm as a national education campaign.
He told Fox News: "It’s very rare that I would ever talk about my health. But I discovered over 2.5 million other people have the same condition. It starts very innocently, and your heart starts to skip a beat. It doesn’t seem that dangerous, but then it grows to skip another beat, then another and another, and it goes way out of rhythm. It’s a dangerous condition and can go into heart disease, heart failure and a stroke. If people don’t call their doctor and stick to the medical plan, it’s playing with fire. Sometimes even the medicines don’t stop it. It can last for weeks. It’s pretty terrifying. They have to put you out and give you the electric shocks to shock the heart back into normal rhythm. I’ve had that done many times."
At 68, he says he has no plans to slow down his schedule and wants to produce a Broadway musical titled Harmony that he’s written, and collaborate with Sting. He joked: "This condition doesn’t care if I’m doing a show or if I have plans. It comes when it wants to. Dying would ruin my career."
The music industry has changed immensely since Barry Manilow started arranging songs for melodramas at CBS in 1964. And while the performing legend has embraced all that technology has to offer, he fears that today's pop stars no longer have the ability to write a decent tune.
"I’m very involved in the machinery and the technical ways of making music these days, and it is exciting for young people, writing music on their computers with loops and drum machines and making gorgeous, exciting sounding records. But what I miss is well-written songs with great ideas, wonderful lyrics, beautiful rhymes and wonderful melodies. I don’t hear that anymore, I feel very angry about that," Manilow told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column.
"People are making great records because of all the technical abilities, but what I try to do is turn all that stuff off. Do you have a song when you’re done? I tell these young people to turn off the drums and all that stuff, and ask themselves is there a melody and lyrics there? Can you just sing it there with a guitar or are you locked into all these machines? I don’t think they do. If there is one thing I miss in music these days it is great song writing. I think we’ve lost it."
And at "68 years young," the Grammy and Emmy-winning Manilow has no intention of slowing down on his whirlwind lifestyle. He even has at least a few career milestones left on the bucket list. "The one person who would come to mind (to collaborate with) is Sting; he is one of the greats. He is an idol of mine," Manilow continued. "I still have a million ideas. I’ve written a gorgeous Broadway musical called 'Harmony.' It’s a beautiful, beautiful piece and that would be a wonderful thing to see it actually up there on the stage. People always say, shouldn’t I be playing golf or something now? But I still have the same passion and drive I had when I started, I just love it and I'm a very grateful guy that there is still an audience out there, I feel like im starting over again every night. It feels like my first show, every album feels like my first album."
However, there have been many times in recent years when the music mogul questioned whether or not he could continue – and in 2008, a photo of him looking particularly gaunt raised a few eyebrows.
But it turns out that over the last fifteen years Manilow has been struggling with the serious heart disease atrial fibrillation (AFib), and has since joined forces with Sanofi US to kick-off "Get Back in Rhythm," a national education campaign to bring awareness to the problem and encourage the estimated 2.5 million Americans also suffering, to take necessary action. "First of all I never do this, I talk about my music and promote my albums and shows, and this is very rare that I would ever talk about my health and personal stuff like that. But the reason is I found out that over 2.5 million others have this condition, it starts very innocently and your heart starts to skip a beat. It doesn’t seem that dangerous, but with this condition your heart skips a beat then another one and another and it goes way out of rhythm," Manilow explained. "This is a dangerous condition that a lot of people have, it can go into heart disease, heart failure, a stroke, you really need to take care of this. But I was told a lot of people don’t call their doctor, and if they do they don’t stick with it. If you don’t stick with it and have someone help you, you are playing with fire."
And Manilow knows first-hand how dire the consequences could be. "The medicines do their job but even the medicines sometimes don’t stop it. It can last for weeks, it’s pretty terrifying. They have to put you out and give you the electric shocks to shock your heart back into normal rhythm; I've had that done many times. This condition doesn’t care if I'm doing a show or I have plans. It comes when it wants to," he added. "Dying would ruin my career."
As a music icon, no one knows the value of being in rhythm more than the legendary Barry Manilow. For more than 15 years, however, Manilow has continued his success while one critically important detail was out of rhythm—his heart. That's because he is one of the more than 2.5 million Americans living with atrial fibrillation or AFib.
AFib is a condition that causes your heart to race and beat out of rhythm. While some people with AFib may feel no symptoms, others may feel palpitations, shortness of breath, weakness and anxiety.
People often aren’t aware of many of the serious consequences of this disease, including permanent heart damage, heart attack, heart failure, stroke and death. In fact, many patients currently living with the disease may not know if their AFib management plan is addressing these important risks. "The first time it happened to me, I was actually driving home. I could feel something strange happening; I wasn't jogging, I was singing, I wasn't jumping around at the Copacabana," Manilow said.
With no risk factors and not knowing what was happening to him, he called his doctor to run some tests. "I went to him, and he explained that this condition is called atrial fibrillation. He put me on a regimen of medicine and all, and for a while it calmed down. Then it started up again, and they had to go further for me," Manilow said.
Dr. Marcus Wharton, director of cardiac electrophysiology at the Medical University of South Carolina, said Manilow isn’t alone with this problem. "The majority of people who get it are over the age of 65, but it can hit younger people as well," Wharton said. "The number of people suffering from atrial fibrillation is expected double or triple over the next 10 years as the baby boomer generation ages."
Manilow is now the patient spokesperson for Get Back in Rhythm, a national atrial fibrillation education campaign to encourage people to learn about the importance of managing the disease. "I know these episodes are scary. It starts out very innocent, your heart skips a beat. And then it goes further and your heart starts going faster, beats faster and faster and faster, until you know there's something wrong," Manilow explained. "It's out of whack, it's out of rhythm."
Wharton said approximately 25 percent of people [have] no symptoms at all and are not even aware that they suffer from atrial fibrillation. "It can cause a change in exercise tolerance, fatigue, and so people think they are just getting old. It is important to see your cardiologist if you have any of these symptoms," Wharton added.
Manilow said he is speaking out about his disease because of his fans. "I worry about you guys who are not calling your doctors, who are going through this and who are afraid to go to the doctor or don't like doctors," he said. "You can't let this go, cause you're playing with fire, cause this could go to heart attacks and strokes. You've got to take care of this."
Manilow reassured his 'Fanilows' that he is in great shape and feels well. "I still got my rhythm... I still got it."
To see if you are at risk for AFib, and to learn more about Barry Manilow’s story, log onto www.GetBackinRhythm.com
Las Vegas singer Barry Manilow says he has joined with the drug firm Sanofi in a campaign to raise awareness about the heart condition atrial fibrillation. "Get Back in Rhythm" is a national education campaign to raise awareness about atrial fibrillation and to encourage people to learn more about the risks of AFib and the importance of keeping the heart in rhythm.
"When I first experienced AFib more than 15 years ago, it was really scary -- it felt like a fish flopping around in my chest," Manilow said in a statement. "I thought I knew about all the risks, but it turns out I didn't, so I was really lucky I had such great doctors helping me manage it from the start."
About 2.5 million U.S. adults have atrial fibrillation -- a serious heart disease that causes the heart to race and beat out of rhythm and can lead to permanent heart damage, heart attack, heart failure, stroke and death. "At first, I kept my AFib private because I didn't want to acknowledge there was something wrong with my heart," Manilow admitted. "But now I realize a lot of my fans and so many others could be affected, so I want to do all I can to help them take it seriously, understand all the risks of AFib and seek the best care. The bottom line is AFib needs more awareness. Patients need more education."
Many may not recognize the symptoms or the health risks associated with it atrial fibrillation and Manilow encourages those affected to visit www.GetBackInRhythm.com.
The 68-year-old singer Barry Manilow revealed about his suffering from A-fib (atrial fibrillation), a heart disease where the rhythm of the heart gets disturbed, thereby increasing the vulnerability to heart attacks.
Manilow has been suffering from the condition since 15 years and has decided to join an educative movement, Get Back In Rhythm, in order to spread awareness and information about the disease. He understood the importance of having complete knowledge about the disease as earlier he was also unaware about the disease and the negative consequences from the disease that could occur. He was also supporting the Sanofi-aventis in order to motivate the victims of the disease to access the treatment.
Sanofi has revealed that around 2.5 million of population in America suffered the condition and the number of cases being expected to rise up to 12 million by 2050. As per Manilow, "When I first experienced A-Fib more than 15 years ago, it was really scary — it felt like a fish flopping around in my chest."
Manilow [is performing] in Washington DC's Warner Theatre and [providing] information about the disease. Manilow states that educating people about the condition was the need of the hour, as going heart out of rhythm was a serious problem.
Singing legend Barry Manilow has revealed that he has been in a 15 year battle with a serious heart disease. Talking about his condition for the first time, Manilow said that he has suffered from a condition commonly known as A-fib, which causes his heart to beat out of rhythm and can lead to heart attacks or strokes
The 68 year old said, "When I first experienced A-fib more than 15 years ago, it was really scary. It felt like a fish flopping in my chest. I thought I knew all about the risks but it turns out I didn’t so I was really lucky I had such great doctors."
Manilow has now signed up to a new initiative to educate on the disease called Get Back In Rhythm. "The bottom line is AFib needs more awareness. Patients need more education. No one should settle for a life out rhythm."
Iconic crooner Barry Manilow has revealed that he has been battling a heart condition called atrial fibrillation (AFib) for the last fifteen years. The disease causes the heart to beat out of rhythm with the possibility of permanent damage, strokes and heart failure.
His announcement came as part of a campaign in which he is participating with the company Sanofi US to raise awareness of AFib. Get Back in Rhythm includes a website (GetBackinRhythm.com) where sufferers and those who think they may have the disease can go to test their knowledge and get additional information.
Manilow said of his diagnosis "When I first experienced AFib more than 15 years ago, it was really scary -- it felt like a fish flopping around in my chest. I thought I knew about all the risks, but it turns out I didn't, so I was really lucky I had such great doctors helping me manage it from the start. "At first, I kept my AFib private because I didn't want to acknowledge there was something wrong with my heart. But now I realize a lot of my fans and so many others could be affected, so I want to do all I can to help them take it seriously, understand all the risks of AFib and seek the best care. The bottom line is AFib needs more awareness. Patients need more education. No one should settle for a life out of rhythm." The public service announcement for the campaign:
Barry Manilow soared to the top of his craft early in his career with catchy melodies, winning showmanship and a voice that reminds us of the friendly fellow next door. At the top of his game 40 years later, he draws throngs wherever he performs. Washington fans will revel in the range of emotions his music taps as the recipient of more than a dozen major awards fills Warner Theatre with songs of passion, friendship and human frailties. And there will be a bonus: selections from "15 Minutes," his first original album in 10 years. The title alludes to the 15 minutes of fame Andy Warhol predicted everyone would enjoy in life.
The concept, Manilow explained, was thoughtfully created over a two year period. His music, and lyrics by Enoch Anderson, envision a life haunted by the dream of fame. Their songs trace its pursuit by talented people besotted by fame's trappings but unable to cope with them. The title song is driven by a guitar headed for glory. "Work the Room" and "Bring on Tomorrow" exude hope. "Now It's For Real" and "He's a Star" represent the pinnacle.
But when triumph is followed by a downward spiral, the despair is captured in "Who Needs You" and "Winner Go Down." Once the moment of self-acceptance is reached in "Train Wreck," the victim realizes that fame can be recaptured by hard work. In many cases, it is. "Everything's Gonna Be All Right" is the exhilarating finale in which Manilow's syncopated vocal line vies with an inverse choral counterpoint. Sheer musical genius!
"Enoch and I have worked together for many years," Manilow said. "We started with an idea, a story and a situation the character was in. We were writing about a fictitious character who goes through all the stages of fame, gets it, then blows it and begins again. You see this happen so often in today's pop culture to entertainers like Britney Spears. Once I get the idea for a song from a lyric, I begin writing. The hardest song to write is a love song because there are only so many ways to say 'I love you.' "While writing '15 Minutes,' we focused on the story we were telling. Until I finished composing the music, I hadn't realized that I had actually gone through all those phases."
As one of the biggest draws in Las Vegas for many years, Manilow enters the stage with the pleasant thought that he is coming out to greet his great friends and have a party. Throughout each performance, the humor he first exhibited when singing in commercials so many years ago pairs perfectly with his memorable melodies. "I have enough beautiful songs to fill the Warner Theatre show many times over," he said. "With a wonderful orchestra behind me, I know it will be a great party."
Onstage: An Evening with Barry Manilow. Where: Warner Theatre. When: 8 p.m. Wednesday. Info: $161.99 to $266.99; 800-745-3000; ticketmaster.com.
Sanofi US has teamed up with crooner Barry Manilow in kicking off a national awareness campaign for atrial fibrillation (AFib) called "Get Back in Rhythm."
AFib – a condition that causes the heart to race off its natural rhythm, the result of which can lead to heart attack, stroke and, in some cases, death – currently affects about 2.5 million Americans, with that number expected to grow to 12 million by 2050, according to a release. The objective of the "Get Back in Rhythm" campaign is to raise awareness about the risks of AFib and the importance of keeping the heart in cadence.
"When I first experienced AFib more than 15 years ago, it was really scary - it felt like a fish flopping around in my chest," said Manilow, recalling his own experience with the condition in a statement. "I thought I know about all the risks, but it turns out I didn't, so I was really lucky I had such great doctors helping me manage it from the start."
Diagnosis for AFib can be tricky, and patients of the condition often do not recognize the symptoms before serious health issues occur. Manilow encourages AFib patients to take a Rhythm IQ quiz at GetBackInRhythm.com, which also provides information on risks of the disease and a printable guide for patients to bring with them on HCP visits.
In addition to the website and printed materials, this campaign will include a public service announcement featuring Manilow, which will debut this evening at the singer's concert at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C.
"I thought I understood the dangers of AFib pretty well, but it turns out I didn't," said Manilow in a promotional video for the campaign. "Logon to GetBackInRhythm.com, and learn more about all the risks of AFib, because I feel better when my heart and my music are in rhythm."
NEW YORK - Singer and atrial fibrillation patient Barry Manilow has joined Sanofi's national education campaign designed to raise awareness about atrial fibrillation.
The Get Back in Rhythm campaign aims to improve the health and well-being of those affected by the condition by encouraging them to learn more about the risks and talk with their healthcare provider about how to maintain a normal heart rhythm and manage the disease.
The campaign is supported by a website, GetBackInRhythm.com. On the site, visitors can test their knowledge with the Rhythm IQ quiz, learn more about all the risks of the disease and print a guide that can help make the most of visits with healthcare providers. Additionally, campaign also will include a public service announcement featuring Manilow to help raise awareness about the disease.
NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Music icon Barry Manilow today revealed his long struggle to manage a serious heart disease called atrial fibrillation (AFib). He has joined with Sanofi US to kick-off Get Back in Rhythm, a national education campaign to raise awareness about AFib, and to encourage people to learn more about all the risks of AFib and the importance of keeping the heart in rhythm.
Today, approximately 2.5 million Americans have AFib and that number is expected to grow to 12 million by 2050. A serious heart disease that causes the heart to race and beat out of rhythm, AFib can lead to permanent heart damage, heart attack, heart failure, stroke and death.
"When I first experienced AFib more than 15 years ago, it was really scary -- it felt like a fish flopping around in my chest," said Manilow. "I thought I knew about all the risks, but it turns out I didn't, so I was really lucky I had such great doctors helping me manage it from the start."
AFib is a complex disease and many patients may not recognize the symptoms or the full range of health risks associated with it. This is why Manilow encourages those affected by AFib to visit www.GetBackInRhythm.com, to test their AFib knowledge with the Rhythm IQ quiz, learn more about all the risks of the disease and print a guide that can help make the most of visits with healthcare providers. The campaign will also include a public service announcement featuring Manilow to help raise awareness about AFib. Attendees of Manilow's September 14 concert at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. will be among the first to view the PSA, which will be on display as they enter the venue lobby.
"At first, I kept my AFib private because I didn't want to acknowledge there was something wrong with my heart. But now I realize a lot of my fans and so many others could be affected, so I want to do all I can to help them take it seriously, understand all the risks of AFib and seek the best care," admits Manilow. "The bottom line is AFib needs more awareness. Patients need more education. No one should settle for a life out of rhythm."
MYFOXNY.COM - Legendary entertainer Barry Manilow got the scare of his life when doctors told him he had a serious heart condition known as atrial fibrilation. Manilow said he chest felt strange at times -- "like a fish flopping around." More than a decade has passed since the diagnosis.
On Tuesday, Manilow and his physician talk with Good Day New York about A-Fib and how to spot the early warning signs. Manilow is helping to kick off the "Get Back in Rhythm" campaign to raise awareness about AFib. For more information and to take the Rhythm IQ Quiz, visit http://www.getbackinrhythm.com/.
Pop legend Barry Manilow, who played a sold-out show at the Covelli Centre, is singing the praises of Youngstown and the concert’s audience. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime evening for me," Manilow wrote on his Facebook page about last Saturday’s show.
Manilow wrote that when he drove into Youngstown, his first visit here, he saw a "quiet, sleepy, clean American town. Like in the movies, I expected a sedate and polite audience. Holy mackeral! This audience was insane! Wild! Sensational!" he wrote. "I don’t think I’ve ever heard a sound like that coming at me. Roaring, shouting, applauding, cheering filling the arena and surrounding and engulfing me. I wonder if they knew how deeply moved I was."
Manilow had kind words for his audiences in Toronto, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and Windsor, Ontario — the other stops on his summer tour — but not nearly as enthusiastic as his thoughts on the Youngstown crowd. The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra played with Manilow on the four-event tour. Manilow wrote the orchestra played "my music so beautifully."
Even though the tour was a bit hectic, primarily because heavy rain forced the Toronto concert to be postponed from Aug. 24 to Aug. 26, the orchestra members had wonderful experiences playing with Manilow. "He’s a great performer — a nice and talented man," said Gloria Slocum, who plays violin and performed at the four Manilow concerts. "He’s still so talented and so into the show. It was a real thrill" to tour with him.
Manilow also asked the orchestra members to take a picture with him Sunday in Windsor after the last show of the tour. "We were surprised they wanted a picture," Slocum said. "We are who we are. We play, but he’s a big deal." There wasn’t much interaction between Manilow and the orchestra members, Slocum said. When the orchestra members saw Manilow, he was polite, usually say, "Hi, how are you?" she said. "That was it."
Joining the 44 Youngstown Symphony Orchestra members were Patricia C. Syak, executive director for the Youngstown Symphony Society, who served as the orchestra’s tour manager and liaison to Manilow’s management team, and Lucy Sharkey, the orchestra’s librarian. Unlike the musicians, Syak and Sharkey got to talk briefly to the pop-music legend. "Barry was with his manager, and his manager stopped Barry to introduce us," Sharkey said. "He shook our hands and thanked us. It was very exciting."
Sharkey’s job as librarian is to distribute and then collect folders with sheet music of Manilow’s songs to the musicians. The folders each weigh a few pounds. While most of the songs were the same for each show, Sharkey said Manilow would change things up at every event.
Syak also handled the logistics for the orchestra musicians including getting hotel rooms and making sure they got to the venues. The biggest challenge, she said, was rescheduling the Toronto show. Syak missed the Saratoga Springs show because she was on the phone at the time getting cultural visas and hotel rooms for the musicians for the make-up show in Toronto. About 10 symphony musicians didn’t play the Toronto show because of prior commitments, Syak said. The symphony did a "great job and was well received," she said. "Everyone had a good time. It was a fun experience."
Manilow played to a sold-out audience of about 6,000 at the Covelli Centre on Saturday, said Eric Ryan, the venue’s executive director. Ryan said Manilow asked to meet with him and his staff after the show ended, an event that wasn’t scheduled. "He was very complimentary and said the energy in the building was great and the reaction from the crowd was as good as he ever had," Ryan said. "He asked if it’s always like this. I told him that the community is appreciative when someone like him comes to town. He said he’d come back anytime. To have an icon speak so highly of us, the community, the crowd and the venue is a huge feather in our cap."
