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November 30, 2012 Broadway World"Barry Manilow Gives A GIFT OF LOVE This Christmas And Is BACK ON BROADWAY in 2013!" by David Green
Pop legend Barry Manilow will be back on Broadway in January, but between now and then he will present a series of six benefit concerts at Palm Desert’s McCallum Theatre called "A Gift Of Love" with all proceeds benefiting 27 local (Coachella Valley) charities. He recently celebrated his 50th chart hit, debuting at number 22 on The Billboard [AC] Charts with "Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town" from his new holiday CD, The Classic Christmas Album. I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with the entertainment icon backstage at The McCallum and talk "all things Manilow." Here are a few excerpts from that interview.

David Green (DG): Well, first of all ... I’m so excited that you’re going back to Broadway.
Barry Manilow (BM): Me too. Me too. I did it twenty years ago. Actually, I played it twice. Once in the seventies then I went back twenty years ago and I played The Gershwin for a couple of months and it was really fantastic. I just wanted to do it again – once before I croak. I want to do it one more time. You know, they think I’m crazy doing it because, you know, I’m lucky enough to still be able to sell out The Madison Square Garden – but I just, you know, it means a lot to a New Yorker like me. Broadway musicals meant so much to me growing up. I mean, I still follow everything about what’s going on and I try to listen to everything – because I live in Palm Springs so I can’t get to every musical that opens, but I try to be on top of things because I love it. I love that world of Broadway musicals. So, to actually play a Broadway house – for me it’s a big deal. It’s a big deal going to work every night through the stage door of a Broadway house. That’s the most fun for me.

DG: Is this a themed show?
BM: No, it’s my concert. I know what the audiences want. So, it’s my concert.

DG: I’m also very excited about The Gift Of Love Concerts here in the desert. How did that all come about?
BM: We did it a couple of years ago, I frankly don’t remember how it started. It may have been my idea, or it may have been their (the Stiletto Organization’s) idea – but we put it together, It’s really our own little thing. People from the Stiletto Organization and people down here (Palm Springs) . This time we put together a team of people that are part of the community here. There are about 600 charities that are part of The Coachella Valley. And, we made a list and we picked out 27 that we thought needed our help the most. So, that’s how we did it. And all the proceeds go to them. We divide it up equally between 27 charities.

DG: Is it a Christmas Show?
BM: Yes. I’m going to do a Christmas Show. I’m going to be Andy Williams this year.

DG: When did you know that music was going to be your career?
BM: Well, I knew that as a very young person – my family knew that I had something musical about me. But nobody – you know, I come from Brooklyn, from no money – I come from Williamsburg which is now the hippest place to come from, but when I was growing up it was a slum, It was awful. Taxi drivers wouldn’t go there. It was really a bad, bad, bad neighborhood. That’s where I come from. No money, no nothin’. But my family knew that I was a musical kid. They didn’t know what to do with me so they got me an accordion. And I was good at it. I learned music quickly. And when I got to high school I wasn’t good at anything but I found the orchestra. My dump of a high school I went to has an orchestra class. And that grounded me. That’s why the Manilow Music Project means so much to me – because they’re cutting music and arts classes all over the country and, you know, to think that the kids are not going to have music – and there may be a baby Barry in a high school who doesn’t know what to do with himself but he knows that he’s musical – and not to have any place to put it – so that’s what that’s all about. But, you know, when I was growing up, like I said, they knew I was musical but they didn’t know what to do with me. But little by little, the music was coming out of my ears. I knew that I couldn’t go into music because you needed that Friday afternoon paycheck and music wouldn’t do that. So, I got jobs – nine to five jobs – and eventually I just had to make a choice. I just said, I’ve gotta give this a try. So I left my day job and went into music.

DG: If you weren’t making music, what would you see yourself doing?
BM: I write pretty well. And I like doing that. It might have been that.

DG: So it definitely would be doing something creative.
BM: I really can’t imagine what it would be like without music.

DG: Do you remember the first time you heard yourself on the radio?
BM: I do.

DG: Where were you and what did it feel like?
BM: My collaborator, Bruce Sussman, and I were in Florida. We were driving down – I don’t know where, but – we were driving down in Dade County and an announcer came on and said "And now the number one record in Dade County is 'Mandy'." And I’ll never forget that. I nearly drove off the road.

DG: Did you have a special teacher or mentor who inspired you?
BM: No. No. I was on my own. David, I was on my own. I couldn’t have been more terrified. I really had nobody to ask. I was making up my own rules. I remember that – I was a pianist, I played piano for everybody. I was everybody’s accompanist. I’m good. I’m not a great piano player with concertos and classical music but I accompany good. I’m like a band, I dig in and all the singers love me. Anyway, I got this offer to conduct and music direct The Pajama Game in a local church production and I said "Sure I can do that." I had no idea what to do and they said "Great. You’ve got the job." And I ran to the library and I got these books on how to conduct an orchestra. And I was the music director of a Broadway show, And I did it. I did it. I just did it. You just do it. You say "sure, I can do it" and you do it.

DG: Who’s our favorite entertainer?
BM: My favorite entertainer? Living or dead?

DG: Either way, Living or dead.
BM: Well, I love Gaga these days. I think she’s the real deal. I’m rootin’ for her. I really am. I’m rootin’ for her. I just like everything about her. I love her interviews. I like when she discusses her family. Did you see that interview she did on Oprah? She’s got a great family and a great sense of herself? Just great. So, living – I would say Gaga. Dead is Judy.

DG: Okay, they gave me the signal. One last question. When it’s all said and done and you’re no longer here – how do you want to be described on your tombstone?
BM: That I made people feel. I made you feel. Feel good. Feel better. That I actually connected with other people.

Barry Manilow’s A GIFT OF LOVE will play The McCallum Theatre December 11-16 with tickets priced from $25. To $250. For tickets or further information, visit www.mccallumtheatre.com.

November 28, 2012 Bakersfield Californian"Barry Manilow still making the world sing" by Matt Munoz
He writes the songs that make the whole world sing, and after nearly four decades of hit making, Barry Manilow has no plans to settle down. With 29 studio albums, countless greatest hits and live compilations, plus more than 57 singles that helped secure his place as one of the biggest selling recording artists of all-time, the tireless 69-year-old pop icon is about to embark on a new tour celebrating his rich body of work that includes a stop at the Rabobank Arena on Dec. 7.

From the infectious sing-along of "Copacabana (At the Copa)" and "Can't Smile Without You" to the anthemic sweetness of "Looks Like We Made It," "Mandy," and countless others, few have been able to reach the level of Manilow's success on the charts and as a pop culture icon. Through the '70s and '80s, he was a regular on radio and TV variety specials, and could even be heard as the voice of the theme song to "American Bandstand."

Today, Manilow stays busy with a variety of recording projects and his work as an advocate for the arts in public schools through his Manilow Music Project. His latest record, "The Classic Christmas Album," a compilation of tracks from previously holiday releases just earned him his 50th Top 40 award, making him only the fifth artist to reach such a milestone on the Adult Contemporary music chart. Manilow took a few minutes for a phone interview to discuss his secret to crafting a holiday classic and the lasting effects of Manilow mania.

Bakersfield Californian (BC): As the pop music landscape has changed, how do you maintain your popularity?
Barry Manilow (BM): One of the ways of being commercial is to not try and be commercial. Every time I've tried to write a hit song, I've always bombed. Every time I've done stuff that just feels good, those are the ones that I have a shot with. Like "Copacabana," for instance. Nobody believed in it. The record company thought it was a novelty cut that belonged on the "Sonny and Cher (Comedy) Hour." Nobody believed in it, and I loved it. Bruce Sussman (Manilow's longtime collaborator) and I had a ball writing it with his lyric and my melody. Ron Dante and I produced it and that was it. The record company didn't promote it, they just let it go, and they promoted all of the other big ballads that were on that album and here came "Copacabana" out of nowhere and the public just liked it. It went up the charts little by little until it got to the Top 10. So, who knows how to write a good song? I don't. I just do what feels good.

BC: What's the extent of your online presence?
BM: I don't use Facebook and I don't use Twitter. I think it's just a little too public for me. The people that run my management have a Barry Manilow Facebook page and I can go on there and check out what people are saying and see photos.

BC: You just scored your 50th Top 40 hit with a cover of "Santa Claus is Coming To Town." How does it feel to keep collecting those awards?
BM: Isn't that something? It's just amazing. I just can't get over it. I thought this would be over years ago, but the public is very kind to me and seem to be still interested in the music I'm making. It's just amazing to me.

BC: Your 1990 album "Because It's Christmas" is a holiday best-seller. What draws you to the genre?
BM: For a Jewish guy, having three Christmas albums? I just love that kind of songwriting. When you do the classic Christmas pop songs, you're going back to that world of the '30s and '40s, and that's the world I love. The stuff that comes out of the Great American Songbook, written by some of the great songwriters, they're in that Christmas catalog of music. So, I love arranging, producing and performing songs like that. It's right up my alley. I love the "Because It's Christmas" album because it's my first (Christmas) album.

BC: Is it difficult to compose a new holiday song after so many have become established classics?
BM: I got one that they keep going for, and it's called "Christmas Is Just Around The Corner," off the "In The Swing Of Christmas" album and they've played it a lot over the past four years. It is irresistible, and I think Bruce Sussman and I just nailed it. Bruce wrote a great lyric and I wrote one of those really catchy, commercial melodies. And the Christmas kinds of things are the only way you can get a song like that on the radio. Otherwise, it becomes old-fashioned. But you can get a song like that on the radio in the Christmas style. "Christmas Around The Corner," "Because It's Christmas" and "It's Just Another New Year's Eve." Those are three that they play that are my originals, but you only get a month of play, and it takes a long time for those songs to become classics. That's why "Jingle Bells" is such a classic -- it's a billion years old.

BC: Do you have any backstage rituals to prepare for your show?
BM: I always put my clothes on and try and look my best. Then, before I got onstage, I do get together with the band. We don't hold hands and sing "Kumbaya" but we do get together in a room and just talk or have a CD player blasting. I think it's important for us to become a group and walk together down the hallway up to the stage. For me, I really need to feel all of us are together.

BC: How do you pick a set list with such an extensive discography?
BM: Every tour I've done, I always sit down and take a look at my life and say, "OK, what do I want to say? For this show, what do I want them to walk out feeling, remembering or understanding?" It used to be based on the latest album. The whole evening would be based on that. Every time I go out, I always try to figure out what the angle is to this year. So, this year I see what the audiences want. They want the songs that they grew up with. They want to hear these songs they love that I've done, and I'm happy to do it. It's not a greatest hits show, but it includes more of the hits than I've ever done.

BC: What kind of projects do you have lined up for the future?
BM: I've got an idea for the next album, but it's taking me a long time. It may be in the style of an album I made years ago called "Paradise Cafe." It was my first jazz album. So, I'm kind of toying around with that style, then I've got this Broadway musical that I've been trying to mount for years now, that looks good for this (upcoming) year. So, we'll all cross our fingers for that. It's called "Harmony."

BC: Have you ever thought about recording a Manilow country album?
BM: I think it would be a little crazy. For a guy like me from Brooklyn, are you kidding? I think the country audience would throw me off the stage, but I did do a cover of Garth Brooks' "If Tomorrow Never Comes." I did my pop version of it, slowed it down, and added a backbeat to it. When I do it, the public loves it. It's a country record, but I did it my style, which goes to prove that if it's a good song, it will work in any style, arrangement or take on it.

HELP STUDENTS, GET FREE TICKETS: Barry Manilow fans who want to follow his philanthropic example can also score a pair of tickets to his Dec. 7 show in Bakersfield. Through his Manilow Music Project, the artist will donates a Yamaha piano to launch a local instrument drive for the Bakersfield public schools. According to a news release, anyone who donates a new or gently used musical instrument to the Rabobank Arena box office will receive two free tickets (valid for preselected seats) for the local show.

Manilow said he was inspired to jump into action after recalling the impact music had on his own childhood. "Where I grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, my high school was a dump, but my high school had an orchestra class. It was the thing that grounded me and it pointed me in the direction I needed to be in."

After launching in 2008, the Manilow Music Project has helped get instruments into the hands of middle school and high school students across the country, in areas where arts funding is low. "There may be a baby Barry out there right now that is filled with music and doesn't know what to do with it, and the schools are not going to help them along, and it just kills me."

Manilow said the response from fans has been good so far. "This last tour, I decided to ask the audiences to help me out. They drop off used instruments they're not using or collecting dust in the attic or basement at the gig or at a music store, and it's been working. ... Every city that we've played, we've collected 75 to 100 instruments. We give them to the school district and they give them to the schools that need it. It's a small organization. I just do it because I wanted to do it, and it seems to be working."

Rabobank Arena will be the base for the instrument drive in Bakersfield, from now through Dec. 7. They are able to accept the instruments in the Rabobank Arena Administration Office, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 852-7300 or visit manilowmusicproject.org.

Barry Manilow. When: 8 p.m. Dec. 7. Where: Rabobank Arena, 1001 Truxtun Ave. Admission: $7.99 to $137.85 plus service charge. Information: 852-7777 or ticketmaster.com.

November 30, 2012 Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation"Have Yourself a Swinging Christmas" by Punch Liwanag
Barry Manilow 'A Classic Christmas Album': Barry Manilow gets in on the hubbub and helps spread some holiday cheer with this album. Needing no introduction, Manilow, of course, has become an icon of adult contemporary music with memorable hits such as "Somewhere Down The Road," "Weekend In New England," and "Mandy," to name a few. With this album, however, listeners will get to enjoy classic Manilow-style Christmas songs that come from three of his previous Yule [releases]: 1990’s "Because It’s Christmas," 2002’s "A Christmas Gift Of Love," and 2007’s "In The Swing Of Christmas."

Everything sounds fresh though, beginning with a jazzy, vocal rendering of "Silver Bells," as with the show tune-like rendering of "Happy Holidays" which segues onto a string-laden "White Christmas." Manilow sounds especially peppy on the swing versions of "Jingle Bells" (featuring Exposé), a horn orchestra reworking of "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer", and a lively "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town."

Some lesser-known Yule-themed numbers worthy of mention as well are "I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm," "(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays," and a cheery "Christmas Is Just Around The Corner." Also included here is live version of Manilow’s own "It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve," which should get listeners strolling down memory lane - or at least those old enough to know the song. Smooth and easy, just as we expect from Manilow.

November 28, 2012 Palm Desert Patch"Barry Manilow: On His Love for the Coachella Valley & How He's Giving Back - The music legend sat down with Palm Desert Patch to share his love for his neighbors and talk about his upcoming charity concert series at the McCallum Theatre" by Renee Schiavone
Barry Manilow is a name that's synonymous with success. The music icon and legend has had a career spanning five decades, and it's not slowing down anytime soon. Nor is his desire to give back to the community in which he lives.

That's why he's again planned a series of five concerts to raise money for Coachella Valley-based charities, through a second installment of "Gift of Love," which was first performed at the McCallum Theatre in 2009. "Gift of Love II" runs December 11, 12, 14, 15 and 16 at the same venue and will honor 27 local charities each night. "There are just great people here in the Coachella Valley and I’m happy to be able to do this kind of thing five nights to say thank you to the community," Manilow told Patch.

Manilow, who has called Palm Springs home for the last 15 years, says that while all the charities on the list are worthy and offer up great services to the community, there are two in particular that stand out in his mind. "They’re all really, great, great people, but the two that speak to me are the Barbara Sinatra [Children's Center] because we know Barbara, and what she does is great, and the Guide Dogs of the Desert because I kind of know everybody there -- and one of the dogs I have was an ex-guide dog -- and it’s an amazing organization, what they do," he said.

In 2009, the concert series raised nearly $500,000 for local organizations. This year, that number will likely be reached - or surpassed - as ticket sales are on track to sell out for all five shows, Patch is told. Tickets range in price from $25 to $250, and are available now here.

Manilow -- who just scored his 50th Billboard hit and has sold some 80 million records to date -- says that as long as he keeps riding this wave, he'll be here to help. "I’m always kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop from my career," Manilow humbly said while chatting with Patch backstage at the McCallum. "I’m kind of waiting for it to just be over, I’ve always felt that way... I come from Brooklyn, we always just wait for the bad part to happen. But my career just doesn’t want to stop and I’m so grateful about it and for the public to still be on my side. When I get an opportunity to do stuff like this, I jump at it... I loved doing [the concert] the first time, and I thought this would be a good time to do it again."

Calling the Valley Home

It was the lure of a weekend hangout that first brought the superstar here in the 90s, but it was ultimately the Internet that made it possible for him to stay and take up residence. "I just fell in love with the place and about 15 years ago, I said 'I think I’d like to base out of here for real,'" Manilow shared with Patch. "I thought, 'Oh wow, my career is going to be over if I don’t live in L.A., and I haven’t got the recording studios'... But what happened about 15 years ago was the Internet, and I built myself a recording studio and I haven’t slowed down. And it’s much more fun to do it here in my recording studio than get into traffic in L.A. and drive to Capitol studios and people’s houses and all. I can do everything that I did living in L.A... because of the Internet."

What's more, Manilow says he has been welcomed into the area with open arms. "The people in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley are so kind to me... they say the greatest things," he said. "They protect me; they protect their celebrities. I see them, the waitresses and the maître d's in restaurants or the people who own stores, they’re so great to me, and if they see people starting to bother me, they get in the way. Not that anybody ever bothers me, but if they see something happening, they jump, and I just am so grateful for them treating me like this."

As will all of us locals, Manilow has his favorite places around town, and even music sensations play tour guide from time to time. As for this pop icon, well, he says one place he always takes visitors is to his favorite Mexican food eatery: El Mirasol. "It’s a great Mexican restaurant," he said. "They actually put my name on one of [the menu items]. I order the same thing every time I go there: a cheese enchilada, a chicken enchilada and rice and beans, and that’s me..."

"...And a margarita."

Cheers to that, and to a generous man giving back to the community.

The full list of charities benefiting from "A Gift of Love II" includes: Advancing the Interests of Animals, Angel View Crippled Children's Foundation, Animal Samaritans, Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS of the Desert), College Of The Desert, Desert AIDS Project, Desert Arc, Desert Best Friends Closet, Desert Cancer Foundation, Desert Samaritans for Seniors, Desert Symphony, FIND Food Bank, Inc., Gilda’s Club Desert Cities, Guide Dogs of the Desert, Manilow Music Project, Mizell Senior Center, Olive Crest, Paws and Hearts, Pegasus Riding Academy for the Handicapped, Shelter From The Storm, Stroke Recovery Center, Temple Isaiah Fund, The LGBT Community Center of the Desert, The Living Desert, Tools for Tomorrow, and United Cerebral Palsy – Inland Empire.

November 27, 2012 Blog Downtown"Barry Manilow helps ring in the holidays at LA Live tree lighting" by Hayley Fox
Thanksgiving is over and AEG is quickly moving on to Christmas -- with a holiday celebration, tree lighting and grand opening of the L.A. Live ice skating rink this week. On Wednesday at 7 p.m., Angelenos can gather in Downtown to deck the halls with performances by Barry Manilow, Ozomatli and the USC Orchestra and Choir, while holiday lights illuminate the surrounding area. Wednesday night's program also marks the beginning of AEG’s "Season of Giving" -- their holiday program that honors a different non-profit or charity organization each night at the skating rink. The Giving program is designed to "raise funds and generate awareness in support of non-profit organizations working on issues related to hunger, homelessness and healthcare." This is the fifth year AEG has hosted this holiday celebration at L.A. Live; past MC's and performers include Britney Spears, USC's ex-football coach Pete Carroll, Stevie Wonder, LeAnn Rimes and Sheila E. The free holiday event begins on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. at L.A. Live.
November 26, 2012 NBC Los Angeles"LA Live Tree Lighting: Hello, Manilow" by Alysia Gray Painter
When you're home to the Grammy Museum, and a major theater known for attracting marquee acts, you tend to go big in all things. And LA Live does, especially at the holidays. If you've swung by the downtown entertainment mega-center in recent days, you've seen the giant faux fir and Kings-ready skating rink going up in anticipation of the Wednesday, Nov. 28 switch-on-the-lights affair. An affair you can guess will be LA Live-sized. Indeed it is: Barry Manilow was just announced as a performer at the Nokia Plaza shindig. Also set to take the stage? Cody Simpson, Sarah Brightman, and LA's own Ozomatli, plus a cavalcade of others. NBC4 is a host of the evening, along with AEG, the company behind LA Live. Time's 7 p.m. on the 28th.

Let's note two more stars of the night, and more nights to come: the artificial sequoia and the ice rink. The sequoia's 66 feet tall and boasts over 120,000 mini LEDs and the LA Kings Holiday rink? Almost twice as big as in years past, making it the largest outdoor rink in LA. Even better than that, though, is the fact that a different charity or non-profit will receive the spotlight each night the rink is open. The rink is open through Jan. 2, meaning if you can't see the tree, you've got time. The stars, however, sing just on Nov. 28th, so make for downtown if you love the Manilow.

November 19,
2012
Billboard"Barry Manilow Scores 50th Hit On Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart: 'Santa Claus' brings the gift of a milestone entry." by Gary Trust
[More] than four decades into his legendary career, Barry Manilow continues to make himself at home on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. Manilow makes his milestone 50th visit to the survey, as "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" debuts at No. 22 (as the AC format begins its annual migration to playing holiday music). The song appears on Manilow's new yuletide compilation, "The Classic Christmas Album."

With the arrival of "Santa," Manilow passes Johnny Mathis (49 entries) and becomes just the fifth artist to make at least 50 visits in the AC chart's 51-year history. Elton John leads with 68, followed by Barbra Streisand (64), Neil Diamond (58) and Elvis Presley (53).

Manilow first appeared on AC the week of Nov. 30, 1974, with "Mandy." Seven weeks later, it became his first of 13 No. 1s. In the chart's archives, only John (16) and the Carpenters (15) have logged more leaders. "My life has been one big miracle," Manilow told Chart Beat earlier this year. "I come from the world of trying to write a song that will outlive me. That's every composer's goal: to write such a wonderful song that will live forever."

November 15,
2012
KESQ News
Channel 3
"Barry Manilow Sings for Local Charities: Manilow Holiday Concert Tickets On-Sale" by Tamara Damante
Barry Manilow's "Gift of Love" concerts are becoming a bit of a holiday tradition, in the desert. The musician says this is the perfect time to give back to the community he holds close to his heart. That's right, Christmas is just around the corner! In fact, it's just 40 days away! Manilow says, "I drag out all of my albums. I've done 3 of them. For a Jewish guy, doing 3 Christmas albums, that's a lot and I love doing it!"

Right now, tickets are on sale for the five-night event, kicking off December 11th, at the Mccallum Theater. Manilow says he's looking forward to creating an emotional experience, that will benefit 27 local charities. He says, "That's what I like to do. I like to make people feel something and with a show like this it's all about giving to charity and I'm the guy to do it!"

When he's not giving back to the community he calls home, he's looking forward to his favorite holiday tradition. Manilow says, "A Christmas tree! I like putting it up. I think one year I kept it up 'til April! Isn't that stupid? I didn't want to take it down."

And as he belts out Christmas classics on a decked-out stage, he hopes to inspire young talent to take music seriously. He says, "My advice st to learn how to read music first, then after that, become Whitney Houston!"

November 15,
2012
KMIR News 6"Barry Manilow's Holiday Concert Benefits Local Charities" by Angela Monroe
Music legend and Palm Springs resident, Barry Manilow, will be performing a five-night holiday concert series at the McCallum Theatre. The shows starts December 11th and run through the 16th.

This year 27 charities will benefit from Barry Manilow's musical gift.

In 2009, A Gift of Love series raised nearly half a million dollars for local Coachella Valley charities. "I love the people here, they are so great, and it is my way of saying thank you," said Manilow.

And the valley will be saying thank you to Barry Manilow -- for his musical talents, and charitable giving. Over 27 charities will benefit, many near and dear to the legendary performer's heart. "One of my favorite charities that we are doing is Guide Dogs of the Desert, I'm kind of a little piece of that organization, I know the people there and I've gone to the graduations," said Manilow.

Manilow has also been instrumental to the musical future of our schools, across the nation and here in the desert. "These days they are cutting music and arts classes in so many of the schools and the schools that do have music and arts classes are running out of instruments, they've broken down, so I do what I can do to see if I can help," said Manilow.

Manilow's latest hit single, "Everything's Gonna Be All Right" is an ode to better times ahead. "Don't you need to hear it, someone say everything's gonna be all right. I knew when I came up with that title I had something, and I knew people needed to hear that phrase," said Manilow.

After the Gift of Love II concert series, Manilows next stop is Broadway. "Coming New York as I do, the Broadway Musical was a very very important thing to my young life, and so playing the Broadway Theatre is a real big emotional thing for me."

Though originally from New York, Manilow has called Palm Springs home for 15 years. "Can you think of a more beautiful place, I mean look around, every time the sun moves its another photo opportunity, the shadows and the colors. But for me it's the people here that have treated me so beautifully," said Manilow.

Once again, the series is from December 11th through the 16th at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert. The shows will feature Barry Manilow's Christmas music as well as his classic hits.

November 6, 2012 Broadway.com"Calling All Fanilows! Tickets Now On Sale for Barry Manilow's Broadway Concert Run" by Lindsay Champion
Tickets are now on sale for the Broadway concert engagement Manilow on Broadway, featuring music legend Barry Manilow. The concert series begins performances January 18, 2013 at the St. James Theatre, with an official opening night set for January 24. Manilow on Broadway will play a limited engagement through February 9.

Manilow on Broadway marks the icon’s return to the Great White Way for the first time in two decades. In his last appearance, Barry Manilow on Broadway, Manilow earned a 1977 Special Tony Award. The Grammy winner’s pop hits include "Could It Be Magic," "Mandy," "Copacabana" and "Can’t Smile Without You." He has sold over 80 million albums worldwide and has had 49 Top 40 hits. Get tickets now to see Barry Manilow perform "the songs that make the whole world sing!"

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October 29, 2012 Yahoo! NewsCedars-Sinai Board of Governors to Honor Barry Manilow with the Heart of Hollywood Award at its Annual Gala: Six-Time Grammy Award Winner Toni Braxton to Perform
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Barry Manilow, Scott Minerd and Stanley Black will be honored by the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors at their annual Gala on Thursday, November 1st at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. Proceeds from the Gala will benefit the Board of Governors Heart Stem Cell Center at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. The much-anticipated event features a special performance by six-time Grammy Award winner Toni Braxton and singing sensation Chris Mann. For the eighth consecutive year, Lexus joins forces with the Board of Governors as title sponsor, and will donate a 2013 Lexus LS 460 F SPORT luxury sedan to be raffled off at the Gala.

The Board of Governors' current campaign benefits the Board of Governors Heart Stem Cell Center in the top-ranked Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, led by Eduardo Marban, MD, PhD. Each year 1.1 million people in the U.S. have a heart attack, and another 550,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure. Heart disease is the nation's number one killer. Scientists and clinicians at the Board of Governors Heart Stem Cell Center are collaborating to pioneer safe, effective adult stem-cell-based solutions that could make heart transplants-and potentially even heart attacks-occurrences of the past. "We are delighted to acknowledge three individuals for their boundless philanthropic efforts, says Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Chair, Steve Hitter. "Barry Manilow, Stanley Black and Scott Minerd are members of the community who exemplify the ideals of philanthropy and have demonstrated a commitment to motivating others to do their part."

Stanley Black, Founder of Black Equities will receive the Philanthropic Leadership Award. Scott Minerd, Chief Investment Officer of presenting sponsor, Guggenheim Partners, will be honored with the Humanitarian Award. Singer-Songwriter, Barry Manilow, will receive the Heart of Hollywood Award. Mr. Manilow recently launched a campaign to raise awareness for a heart condition called atrial fibrillation from which he suffers.

About Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors: The Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors is a diverse community of donors and leaders who are committed to supporting the Medical Center by providing financial resources, educational experiences for its members, and volunteer opportunities. For more information on how to get involved with the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors, please call (310) 423-7471.

October 22, 2012 Variety"Manilow to play Broadway: Concert run set for 17 performances" by Gordon Cox
Barry Manilow will play a concert engagement on Broadway in the winter, skedding 17 dates at the St. James Theater. The stint, which starts Jan. 18, steps into a venue that will be vacated at the end of the year by the tuner "Bring It On." Theater is poised as well for a legit booking later in the spring, although a tenant has not yet been confirmed.

Manilow's Broadway berth follows on the heels of the recent success of other brief concert or stand-up outings on the Rialto this season. Last week, the limited run of "Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on Broadway" pulled in about $635,000 in just three performances, while Lewis Black's show "Running on Empty" grossed $250,000 in two. Manilow has previously done concert stints on the Main Stem in 1976 and 1989.

October 22, 2012 Playbill.com"Looks Like He Made It: Manilow on Broadway Will Play the St. James; Opening Is Jan. 24" by Kenneth Jones
Barry Manilow, the singer-songwriter who writes the songs that make the whole world sing, as his lyric goes, will sing 'em on Broadway in a limited engagement at the St. James Theatre this winter. Manilow On Broadway, a concert, will begin Jan. 18.

Tickets are on sale to Citibank cardholders starting Oct. 22. Tickets for the general public go on sale starting Oct. 29.

Manilow will play a 17-performance engagement (to Feb. 9) at the St. James, at 246 W. 44th Street. Bring It On: The Musical is currently playing there to Dec. 30. Opening night will be Jan. 24.

The Grammy Award winner has sold 80 million records. He's also got a passion for musical theatre; he wrote the scores for the musicals Harmony and Copacabana.

"Manilow is returning to the place where it all began, his hometown, New York City, with a new concert series on Broadway - marking his return to The Great White Way for the first time in more than two decades," according to producers, who announced the booking on Oct. 22.

At the age of seven, Brooklyn native Manilow was taking accordion lessons and playing on a neighbor's piano. He attended New York College of Music and the Juilliard School of Music while working in the mailroom at CBS. He subsequently became musical director for a CBS show named "Callback," a predecessor to "American Idol," which led to working in the world of advertising jingles.

Manilow has had 25 consecutive Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1975 and 1983. The list includes songs that Manilow still sings today: "Mandy," "It's a Miracle," "Could It Be Magic," "I Write the Songs," "Tryin' To Get the Feeling Again," "This One's For You," "Weekend in New England," "Looks Like We Made It," "Can't Smile Without You," "Even Now," and the Grammy Award-winning "Copacabana (At the Copa)."

"Growing up in New York, Broadway has always held a special place in my heart and I am honored to have the opportunity to make the St. James Theatre my home in the New Year," stated Manilow. Manilow on Broadway is presented by Jujamcyn Theaters and STILETTO Entertainment.

Tickets range in price from $50 to $350. For tickets, visit ManilowOnBroadway.com or call (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250.

Barry Manilow Fan Club tickets are available now at manilow.com and by calling (310) 957-5788.

Manilow on Broadway will play the following weekly performance schedule: Tuesday at 7 PM, Wednesday at 7 PM, Thursday at 8 PM, Friday at 8 PM and Saturday at 8 PM.

October 22, 2012 Billboard"Barry Manilow Back on Broadway in January" by Mark Kennedy
Looks like Barry Manilow is making it again - on Broadway.The Grammy Award-winning singer of such songs as "Mandy," "I Write the Songs" and "Looks Like We Made It," will start a 17-show stand on Jan. 18 at the St. James Theatre.

Manilow, who grew up in New York, has graced a Broadway stage before, in the winter of 1976 and the spring of 1989. His new show, called "Manilow on Broadway," has tickets ranging in price from $50 to $350. The 69-year-old crooner, whose most famous song may be "Copacabana (At the Copa)," had 25 consecutive Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1975 and 1983.

October 22, 2012 Hollywood Reporter"Barry Manilow to Croon on Broadway: The Brooklyn-born singer will return to his hometown to play a 17-date engagement, with premium ticket prices topping those for 'The Book of Mormon'" by David Rooney
Fanilows rejoice. After years of playing Vegas and large touring venues, Barry Manilow will return to the relative intimacy of a Broadway house early next year, with a 17-performance engagement on Manilow on Broadway at the St. James Theatre.

Not seen on the Great White Way since he played 44 shows at the Gershwin Theatre in 1989, Manilow's new concert series runs Jan. 18 through Feb. 9, with an official opening night scheduled for Jan. 24. "Growing up in New York, Broadway has always held a special place in my heart, and I am honored to have the opportunity to make the St. James Theatre my home in the New Year," said Manilow.

Now in the fifth decade of his career, the Grammy-winning singer is ranked by R&R (Radio & Records) as the top Adult Contemporary artist of all time, registering 25 consecutive Top 40 hits between 1975 and 1983. His records have sold in excess of 80 million worldwide.

Presented by Jujamcyn Theaters and Stiletto Entertainment, Manilow on Broadway is advertising a ticket price range of $50 to $350. However, premium seats for the show run from $550 to $700, dwarfing the $477 top premium price for the Tony-winning smash The Book of Mormon.

October 22, 2012 Belfast TelegraphBarry Manilow to play Broadway
Grammy Award-winning singer Barry Manilow is heading back to Broadway. The singer of such hits as "Mandy," "I Write the Songs" and "Looks Like We Made It," will start a 17-show run on January 18 at the St James Theatre in New York. Manilow, who grew up in New York, has graced a Broadway stage before, in the winter of 1976 and the spring of 1989. His new show is called Manilow on Broadway. The 69-year-old crooner, whose most famous song may be "Copacabana (At the Copa)," had 25 consecutive Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1975 and 1983.
October 22, 2012 UPI.comBarry Manilow heads to Broadway
Grammy Award-winning recording artist Barry Manilow is to headline a concert show on Broadway this January, producers announced Monday. Manilow, 69, has sold more than 80 million records. Among his hits are "Mandy," "It's A Miracle," "Could It Be Magic," "I Write the Songs," "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again," "This One's For You," "Weekend in New England," "Looks Like We Made It," "Can't Smile Without You," "Even Now," and "Copacabana (At the Copa)."

This will mark the first time in more than two decades the singer will perform on the Great White Way. He is to begin a 17-performance engagement on Broadway Jan. 18 at the St. James Theatre. Opening night is set for Jan. 24. "Growing up in New York, Broadway has always held a special place in my heart and I am honored to have the opportunity to make the St. James Theatre my home in the New Year," Manilow said in a statement.

October 22, 2012 NJ.com"Barry Manilow to play Broadway in 2013" by Ronni Reich
Barry Manilow returns to Broadway for the first time in more than 20 years early next year. The classic crooner with 49 top 40 hits will play the St. James Theatre beginning January 18. The 17-performance engagement of "Manilow on Broadway" will feature the singer's most beloved songs, such as "Mandy," the Grammy Award-winning "Copacabana," "It's A Miracle," "Could It Be Magic" and "Weekend In New England." The 69-year-old artist, of whom Frank Sinatra once said "he's next," has previously appeared on Broadway in concert performances in 1976 and 1989.

Tickets, priced between $50 and $350 are now on sale exclusively to Citibank cardholders. Tickets go on sale to the general public October 29. To order, visit ManilowOnBroadway.com or call (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250. Barry Manilow Fan Club tickets are available now at www.manilow.com and by calling (310) 957-5788.

October 22, 2012 NBC New York"Manilow to Play St. James in January" by Robert Kahn
Barry Manilow is getting back in touch with the New York City rhythm. The Brooklyn-born performer has just agreed to a 17-performance engagement on Broadway at the St. James Theatre, starting Jan. 18, 2013. "Manilow on Broadway" will mark the singer's first return to the Great White Way in two decades. "Growing up in New York, Broadway has always held a special place in my heart and I am honored to have the opportunity to make the St. James Theatre my home in the New Year,” Manilow said in a statement.

Manilow has been ranked as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time, according to R&R (Radio & Records), with 25 consecutive Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1975 and 1983, including “It’s A Miracle,” “Could It Be Magic,” “I Write the Songs” and the Grammy-winning "Copacabana (At the Copa)." Tickets, $50-$350, are now on sale to Citibank cardholders. General public tickets will go on sale Oct. 29. Call 212-239-6200.

October 12, 2012 Contra Costa Times"Barry Manilow donates a piano for San Jose musical instrument drive" by Sal Pizarro
And you didn't think Barry Manilow was cool... The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, who has bounced between popularity and parody for decades, has donated a Yamaha piano to launch an music instrument drive for San Jose public schools. He's hoping that others follow suit by donating new or gently used instruments at the box office at HP Pavilion between now and Dec. 6. As an incentive, donors will receive two tickets to Manilow's Dec. 6 concert in San Jose.

Instruments are being accepted at HP Pavilion from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Manilow Music Project is part of his Fund for Health and Hope, which was started to help out local charities and programs. The music project aims to get musical instruments into the hands of high school and middle school students and provide music scholarships to universities throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

October 3, 2012 The Desert Sun"Barry Manilow to hold concert series at McCallum Theatre" by Bruce Fessier
Barry Manilow, who raised nearly $500,000 for Coachella Valley charities with his five-night "A Gift of Love" concert series at the McCallum Theatre in December 2009, will do an encore in December with "A Gift of Love II."

The Palm Springs resident will perform Dec. 11-12 and Dec. 14-16 at the McCallum to raise funds for 27 local charities each night. Manilow will perform his hit songs and holiday favorites.

"We are thrilled to be able to bring ‘A Gift of Love’ back to the valley," Manilow said in a statement. "Being able to give back to my hometown, both in song and charitable support, makes this concert series a very personal and special event for me. The 27 recipient charities are invaluable to the Palm Springs community, so extending the holiday spirit of giving to these non-profit organizations is really a special treat."

"A Gift of Love II" is presented by Garry Kief of Stiletto Entertainment and Arny Granat of Jam Productions. The concert series is sponsored by: Tucker Cheadle, Susan DuBow, Frances C. and H.N. Berger Foundation, Helene Galen, Marshall Gelfand, Kay Hazen, James Houston, James Hummer, Kennedy Street Enterprises, Michael Klein, Brooke Koehler, Dale and Carole Haes-Landon, Harold Matzner, McMahon RV, David Narz, Madeline Redstone, Jan and Mike Salta, Esther and Walter Schoenfeld, Barbara and Frank Sinatra, and Stiletto Entertainment.

Tickets for "A Gift of Love II" go on sale today at www.mccallumtheatre.com with prices ranging from $25 to $250. Proceeds will be divided among the following charities:

Advancing the Interests of Animals, Angel View Crippled Children's Foundation, Animal Samaritans, Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS of the Desert), College Of The Desert, Desert AIDS Project, Desert Arc, Desert Best Friends Closet, Desert Cancer Foundation, Desert Samaritans for Seniors, Desert Symphony, FIND Food Bank, Inc., Gilda’s Club Desert Cities, Guide Dogs of the Desert, Manilow Music Project, Mizell Senior Center, Olive Crest, Paws and Hearts, Pegasus Riding Academy for the Handicapped, Shelter From The Storm, Stroke Recovery Center, Temple Isaiah Fund, The LGBT Community Center of the Desert, The Living Desert, Tools for Tomorrow, and United Cerebral Palsy – Inland Empire.

With worldwide record sales exceeding 80 million, Manilow is ranked as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time with 48 top 40 hits. Manilow has produced, arranged, and released over 40 albums, winning a Grammy, two Emmys, a Tony Award and an Oscar nomination along the way.

When Where Articles/Reviews
September 22, 2012 Examiner"Phoenix concerts: Barry Manilow – Dec. 9, Comerica Theatre" by Traci Baker
Girls named Mandy, lovers of Copacabana and anyone who loves to have fun get ready, Barry Manilow is coming back to Phoenix Dec. 9 at Comerica Theatre. Tickets are on sale now at www.livenation.com, at the Comerica Theatre Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets or by phone at 1.800.745.3000. Tickets are priced at $149.99, $79.99, $49.99, $39.99 and a limited number for $9.99.

In a recent press release Live Nation shared that Manilow has had worldwide sales of more than 80 million records, and that his success is a benchmark in popular music. He is ranked as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time, according to R&R and Billboard Magazines. Rolling Stone crowned him "a giant among entertainers...the showman of our generation," and Frank Sinatra summed up Manilow best when Ol’ Blue Eyes told the British press, "He’s next." Manilow’s track record includes 48 top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

Barry Manilow’s new album, LIVE IN LONDON, hit the Billboard charts at #1 Top Internet Albums, #5 Indie Albums, and #24 of Billboard’s Top 200. That’s the highest charting LIVE album since 1977.

With hits like "Daybreak," "It’s A Miracle," "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "I Write The Songs," "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana (At the Copa)" to name a few, not only is the Barry Manilow’s show a walk down memory lane, but it’s a fun-fest of high energy and joy. If you have never seen him before and you like even one of his songs—then go to this show! See you there Phoenix!

September 19, 2012 Auburn-Reporter"Barry Manilow to perform at Kent ice show Jan. 11" by Steve Hunter
Singer Barry Manilow will perform Jan. 11 at the ShoWare Center in Kent as part of the Pandora Unforgettable Moments of Love on Ice show. The event brings romance to the ice rink with Olympic, world and national medalists who skate to hits performed live by Manilow. The list of skaters include Nancy Kerrigan, Elvis Stojko and Ben Agosto.

Manilow has sold more than 80 million records and is the top Adult Contemporary chart artist with 48 Top 40 hits.

NBC will tape the show to air later in the month. Tickets are $49.50, $59.50, $69.50, $100 (with/dinner) and $125 (on ice with/post-event reception.) Tickets go on sale Friday, Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. at the ShoWare box office and at showarecenter.com.

September 20, 2012 AZ Central"12/9: Barry Manilow coming to Comerica Theatre in Phoenix" by Joe Golfen
Multi-platinum singer Barry Manilow is headed to the Valley, bringing his hit-filled show to Comerica Theatre in downtown Phoenix on Sunday, Dec. 9. Manilow arrives behind his latest release, 2012's "Live in London," recorded at the O2 Arena in London in 2011 and featuring the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Among his many career highlights, Manilow has crooned his way to 80 million albums sold, while racking up mulitple awards, including the Grammy for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance in 1979 for his hit "Copacabana." Ticket prices range from $39.99 to $149.99, along with a limited number for $9.99. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21, and are available at livenation.com or the Comerica Theatre box office.
September 19, 2012 Vintage Vinyl NewsBarry Manilow to Perform For NBC Skating Special
Barry Manilow will be singing his hits while ice skaters like Nancy Kerrigan, Elvis Stojko and Ben Agosto take to the rink on the NBC special Pandora Unforgettable Moments of Love On Ice. The show will be taped on January 11 at the ShoWare Center in Kent, WA and will be shown on NBC on January 27 as the fourth in the 2012-13 Pandora series. Previous shows have included performances by David Archuletta, Mannheim Steamroller and Megan Hilty. Other skaters performing include Liz Manley, Kimmie Meissner and Nicole Bobek. Hosting will be Kristi Yamaguchi and Michael Weiss.
September 15, 2012 Worcester Telegram"Manilow delivers joyous nostalgia at DCU" by Victor D. Infante
"Nostalgia," says Don Draper, in an iconic scene on the TV show "Mad Men," "literally means the pain from an old wound. It's a twinge in your heart, far more powerful than memory alone... It takes us to a place where we ache to go again ... It lets us travel the way a child travels -- round and a round, and back home again -- to a place where we know we are loved."

No one understands the allure of nostalgia more than Barry Manilow, who performed to a mostly full house Friday night at the DCU Center. At one point, between songs, he addressed the crowd, saying, "I bet you're going to know every song I sing tonight." He was right. For the most part, this was an older crowd, although there were some younger couples in attendance, as well as a number of families and what were clearly mother-daughter nights out. And most everyone seemed to know all of the words. Indeed, it's hard not to know most of the words to these songs. They're part of the cultural consciousness at this point. These songs are recorded in your bones.

Launching his 90-minute set with "It's A Miracle," Manilow was an odd mix of casual and Vegas drama. His gestures are sharp, almost to the point of caricature, but there's a laid-back feel that makes it all forgivable: Appearing dramatically on stage, he threw his arms open wide, greeting the crowd like they were old friends. And mostly, they were. One older couple, before the show, remarked that they'd been seeing Manilow perform since the DCU was the Centrum, when tickets on the floor cost $8.50. This seemed to be the norm.

The crowd was there for the hits, and Manilow didn't disappoint. When he sang "Can't Smile without You," the crowd erupted into a joyous singalong. The aforementioned older woman had a look of pure rapture on her face; her husband, more taciturn, wore a thin smile as he closed his eyes and sang. Nearby, a woman in her 30s or 40s tenderly touched the arm of the woman she was with. Everyone seemed faraway, all locked in some distant memory, yet all ephemerally connected by song.

Manilow has a knowing smile. He seemed aware that all this rapture isn't really about him. Everything that happened on stage was both polished and practiced to perfection and strangely unobtrusive. The band was tight, but rarely at the forefront, two backup singers appeared from time to time, and then vanished when their bit was done. The show's focus was always on Manilow, and Manilow's focus was always on the crowd.

It's in these moments of manufactured intimacy that Manilow shone best. He was braced for the deafening applause that came when he played "Weekend in New England," cracking "Still got it," when the cheers interrupted him in the second verse. But when the thunder had passed, what was left was the illusion that it was just the audience and Manilow, as if he were singing to each person present individually. The song received the longest and loudest applause of the night.

Other bits didn't work as well. The large-scale renditions of the theme to "American Bandstand," as well as ventures into the songbooks of the '60s and the disco-era were energetic, but lacked the resonance of his more tender pieces. A bit of dueling pianos with his band, as well as a rap break from one of his backup singers, were fun, but seemed out of place. The audience didn't care, though. They would clearly forgive him anything, and the concert's highs quickly washed away the lows.

In the closing sequence, Manilow and the band retreated from the stage, replaced by a projected clip of Manilow playing "Mandy" in 1975, on the TV show "The Midnight Special." The audience sang right along with the artifact, and eventually became aware that Manilow had quietly returned, watching with them from the corner of the stage, smiling, seeming a bit amused. He moved to the piano, and soon the recording was replaced with the real thing. Suddenly, for many, it was 1975 again. Manilow had made them young, and they were enjoying every moment of it.

He transitioned smoothly into "Could It Be Magic?" and the crowd was now on a wave, singing wildly, passionately. Then, the wave swelled, until the inevitable moment came, and he stepped away from the piano, took center stage, and sang "Copacabana." This was the moment the crowd was waiting for, and if some of the bigger numbers in the evening didn't work as well as the quieter ones, that wasn't the case here. "Copacabana" -- Manilow's melodrama of love, loss and murderous passion -- is a genuine showstopper. And interestingly, "Copacabana" itself is about nostalgia, about Lola -- trapped forever in a memory of her glory days and when her true love died. In one swoop, Manilow brings the emotion of the evening to a crashing crescendo.

Then, finally, the release, as he wound down his set with "I Write the Songs." It was amazing, a necessary release at the end of a long, emotional journey. The crowd was on its feet, singing. There were tears. This was what they were here for, this unadulterated indulgence in sentiment, in longing. In nostalgia.

They loved every minute of it, and the energy and adoration was palpable. As Manilow bid the crowd goodnight, the DCU Center radiated with joy. They had gotten what they came for, and were leaving happy. And Manilow? Manilow is an old friend. He knew exactly what they wanted, and delivered.

September 15, 2012 Worcester TelegramManilow helps schools play the songs
Accordion, anyone? That remnant of the Lawrence Welk era, and a significant folk instrument, was one of the approximately 40 instruments gathered yesterday through Barry Manilow's music drive for the Worcester public schools. Mr. Manilow, who performed last night at the DCU Center, donated a Yamaha piano to the district and offered two free tickets to anyone who donated a new or gently used instrument.

Yesterday morning, the accumulated instruments included acoustic guitars and one electric one, an electric piano, a violin, and a couple of flutes, according to DCU Center Marketing Director Amy Peterson. The instruments will be inventoried and compared against teacher requests next week, said Lisa Leach, the school district's performing arts curriculum liaison. While accordion isn't typically a high-demand instrument, she might have to draw names out of a hat for the others, she said. The guitars will be particularly valuable for middle school music classes. "They should be playing instruments even in the general music class," Ms. Leach said. "If we don't have those things in front of kids, what are they doing?"

The district has bands in its four comprehensive high schools and in some middle schools. Instrumental lessons are available in most of the district's elementary schools. Victoria Varela, Mr. Manilow's publicist, said he has been doing instrument drives and giving away pianos in most of his concert markets for the past several years through The Manilow Music Project. "This is his passion now," she said.

September 11, 2012 Democrat and Chronicle"Score one for the musicians" by Leo Roth
Went to the Rochester Americans home opener Friday at Blue Cross Arena and found myself smack in the middle of a Barry Manilow concert ... I went to the Manilow show by volition, prodded mostly by my wife’s birthday but also the desire to finally see the iconic pop music singer/songwriter.

At my age, it’s OK to admit you’ve always enjoyed the romantic crooning of the man who wrote the songs that made the whole world sing. I even ran into a few guys I know. Rather than duck behind curtains, we nodded to each other, "Copacabana? You too?"

Manilow is nearly 70. Captivated by his energy filled performance (coming off hip surgery no less) in an arena most famous for hosting sports, I wondered how many hockey players will be able to hit the net the way he hits the notes when they are his age. Barry Bonds no longer hits home runs. Barry Manilow does.

It’s got me thinking about the role music plays in sports, how that when it comes to sheer hard work, practicing, performing, competing, handling pressure, experiencing victory and defeat, athletes and musicians have much in common. In our culture, love of music and sports is generational. Parents pass on allegiance to a team by taking their children to a game. Passion for a rock band is passed on through a greatest hits album or better yet, towing the kids to see legends who still got it ... Elton John, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones.

I married into a family of musicians. Me? I couldn’t carry a tune if it had handles attached. It makes my appreciation of their talent that much stronger. Manilow’s version of "I Write The Songs," written by Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys, is about where music comes from, that spirit of creativity inside all of us. Just like the ability to hit the curve or throw a spiral, a gift from a higher place.

Barry Manilow dedicated his hit "This One’s For You" to the grandfather who first recognized his musical talent and took him to one of those record-your-own-voice studios in New York City. He told about his days at Brooklyn’s Eastern District High School. He said it was voted the most dangerous school in America. "Not New York -- America," Manilow said... "I wasn’t good at sports and I wasn’t going to join a gang," he said. "Can you imagine me in a gang? What could I do? I joined the school orchestra."

Five decades, 80 million records sold and a trillion first kisses later, the rest is history.

The Manilow Music Project is a way for new or gently used donated instruments to make their way into school music programs depleted by budget cuts. Manilow donated a Yamaha piano to the City School District to launch a local instrument drive. "The music teachers are the heroes here," he said. "Kids’ grades go up through music. They learn to interact with other people. Their lives are changed."

Next time you’re at a game, be sure to applaud the kids in the band. This one’s for them.

September 9, 2012 Examiner.com"Barry Manilow performs in concert in the Ovation Hall at Revel in Atlantic City" by Donald Kravitz
The sea of waving green light sticks started from the moment Barry Manilow's back-lit silhouette appeared on stage in Ovation Hall at Revel in Atlantic City on Saturday evening September 8, 2012. The applause, screaming and endless light stick waving continued until the final curtain closed, all hoping for an encore which sadly did not come.

With a downsized band of seven from the usual Manilow orchestra and two back up singers and dancers, this show packed all the punch and power of a much larger production. Manilow transitioned with ease between center stage, to piano and back to the keyboard. His repertoire of songs that are recognized by just about over the age of twenty has made him a pop music icon for decades simply cannot help but make you feel at home. Introducing his songs by sharing an image of an old record cover or photo, projected on the screen over the stage, while including a brief comment about his career and growing up in Brooklyn. Barry Manilow remarked that he had three choices while growing up. "There was sports, which I was not good at, music, or joining a gang. Can you imagine ME in a gang?" He chose music and the rest is history, as his fans chuckled loudly!!!!

Having performed for many years, Manilow knows that everyone in his legion of followers has a favorite Manilow song and he gave the audience what it wanted. Beginning with,"It's a Miracle," "Could it Be Magic" straight through to "Even Now," many times sharing the stage with his two young, smiling dancers and backup singers, the musical sounds echoed through Ovation Hall. As he calmly started to sing, "Even Now," a pair of women next to me, who were obviously attending the show together, crossed their arms over their heart, hung their heads down and began to sway to the music, light stick in their laps.

The excitement erupted to a new level when Manilow began to sing "Weekend In New England," and sang the lyric, "When can I hold you," the females in the audience rose to their feet and began to scream "Barry, Barry" with one attractive woman screaming, "Now, Now." Not wanting to forget his male audience members, Manilow remarked, "Because of me and the lyrics of this song, you guys will probably have a very romantic evening." Throughout the rest of the evening, the majority of Manilow fans were on their feet swaying and applauding to, "Mandy" and dancing to "Copacabana." An hour and a half after the concert began, it ended with Manilow singing, "I Write The Songs," and the curtain closing. To the chagrin of the audience, who were still on their feet applauding and yelling, "Barry, Barry, Barry," wanting more, wanting an encore, the house lights came on and the smiling audience floated out of the concert.

If Barry Manilow, after all his years of performing has learned anything, he has learned how to please his fans, make the ladies still reach out to him in an adoring way and to make all those who attend his concerts leave wanting more.

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 on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1975 and 1983. The list includes all-time favorites that Manilow still sings today: "Mandy," "It’s A Miracle," "Could It Be Magic," "I Write the Songs," "Tryin’ To Get the Feeling Again," "This One’s For You," "Weekend In New England," "Looks Like We Made It," "Can’t Smile Without You," "Even Now," and the Grammy Award-winning "Copacabana (At the Copa)." All of these songs (and more) were anthologized on the commemorative 1992 four-CD boxed set, Barry Manilow: The Complete Collection And Then Some.

September 9,
2012
Starpulse"Barry Manilow Rocks Rochester" by Sherrill Fulghum
For the near capacity multi generational crowd it was all too short; but the fans at the Barry Manilow concert in Rochester, New York Friday night were jovial and in full voice. The crowd that gathered in the Blue Cross Arena was in large part female, but there were quite a number of male fans...and children.

Manilow opened this show as he has nearly all his shows for over 40 years, with "It’s a Miracle." Donned in black pants and shirt with a hot pink jacket spent the next hour and a half with two jacket changes as he performed some of his biggest hits and a few not so famous songs from his catalog of over 40 albums.

Manilow remarked that his fans/friends would be doing a lot of singing during the night...and they did joining him as he performed "Could it Be Magic," "Somewhere in the Night," "Looks Like We Made It," "Can’t Smile Without You" complete with giant smiley face behind him, "Bandstand Boogie," "The Old Songs," and "Stay."

As a slide of Manilow’s "Even Now" album cover was displayed, Manilow told of how he had five hits from the album and told the crowd, "I was the Justin Bieber of the Seventies... ask your mother." He followed with "Even Now," "Brooklyn Blues," "I Am Your Child," "This One’s for You" dedicated to his Grandpa Joe, "New York City Rhythm," and "I Wanna Be Somebody’s Baby."

Before continuing, Manilow remarked that he was feeling romantic and promised the men in the audience that they would thank him in the morning. After performing what Manilow called the most romantic song he had - "Weekend in New England" he continued with "Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You," "I Made it Through the Rain," "Mandy/Could it Be Magic" as his 1975 Midnight Special performance played behind him, "Copacabana" and finished up with "I Write the Songs."

In each city where he has played, Manilow has spearheaded a campaign with the Manilow Music Project to bring music back to the schools. But Manilow is doing much more than just asking fans to donate used musical instruments, he has donated a new grand piano to the school district in each city where he has performed.

Although Manilow has been making music for most of his life, his audiences continue to grow as new generations of fans join the longtime fans. Whether they were fans who have followed Manilow since the days of "Mandy," Grandma celebrating her birthday with the family, have become fans because Mom and Grandma are, or a first timer at the show; Manilow drew screams, cheers, and a standing ovation from a crowd that did not want the night to end.

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This Page Created January 12, 2013 (Last Updated March 17, 2013)

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