Articles and Reviews - Archives 94

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October 30, 2018 Broadway WorldiHeart Listeners Chose Brenna Tripp of Manteno Elementary School as the "Outstanding Music Teacher"
The Manilow Music Project and iHeartMedia teamed up to honor "Outstanding Music Teacher," Brenna Tripp, by giving her a VIP experience to Manilow's concert at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino where the pop icon has a residency. Tripp will be traveling to Las Vegas to meet Manilow before his concert on Friday, October 26.

Tripp was chosen from hundreds of nominations received by iHeartMedia via a national campaign, who reached out to their listening audience asking them to nominate a music teacher they felt deserved a VIP concert experience which included a two-night stay at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, dinner, two front row tickets, and a chance to meet Manilow backstage. After reviewing the nominations in an open process, iHeartMedia selected Tripp as the winner. Tripp teaches music at Manteno Elementary School in Manteno, IL outside Chicago.

"To say that I am excited about our first trip to Las Vegas, and the $5,000 for my school, is an understatement, said Brenna Tripp. "This generous donation from the Barry Manilow Music Project will be used to support the numerous creative endeavors of the young musicians of Manteno. Our little town is incredibly supportive of the arts, its teachers, and the families that call this community home. We hope to use these funds to meet the ever-expanding needs of our students and provide them with every musical opportunity that their hearts desire. I honestly have the best job and I am grateful for the opportunity to strengthen the financial support for these amazing kids. This award is an amazing honor to receive, and I can't thank Kaylee Aagent enough for nominating me. Music has been the greatest gift in my life. It provided me with a creative outlet in my youth. It is a powerful and life-changing force, and music continues to change my life in positive and incredible ways. Again, I am so thankful for this award and I can't wait to share what we our young musicians of Manteno do with the donation in the future."

"iHeartMedia is committed to serving the communities in which we live and work, and this campaign was a great opportunity to uncover incredible teachers who are positively shaping the lives of students across the country," said Alisa Pollack, EVP, Global Music Marketing and Strategy, iHeartMedia.

The Manilow Music Project is part of Manilow's non-profit, the Manilow Fund for Health and Hope. The mission statement of the Manilow Music Project highlights the importance of music programs in our schools and donates instruments and materials to school music programs.

More information please visit:

www.manilowmusicproject.org
https://www.facebook.com/manilowmusicproject

Brenna Tripp of Manteno Elementary School receives $5000 from Barry Manilow and the Manilow Music Project for Manteno's music program!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/las-vegas/article/iHeart-Listeners-Chose-Brenna-Tripp-of-Manteno-Elementary-School-as-the-Outstanding-Music-Teacher-20181030

October 2018 Las Vegas Review-Journal: Best of Las VegasCongratulations 2018 Best of Las Vegas Winners
2018 Best of Las Vegas Winner: Barry Manilow - The Hits Come Home! ... in Entertainment, 2018 Silver Best Resident Performer/Headliner, 2018 Gold Best New Act/Show!

Barry Manilow has more than 50 Top 40 Hits and has sold more than 85 million albums. Now his hits have returned to Las Vegas through June 2019 with exclusive shows in the International Theater at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino: 3000 Paradise Road, Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.

October 8, 2018 Palm Desert PatchBarry Manilow Brings 'A Very Barry Christmas!' To The Desert: Tickets for both shows will go on sale on October 13th
From Hot Water Casino: Christmas will come to the Coachella Valley early this year when pop culture icon Barry Manilow brings his special holiday concert – Barry Manilow – A Very Barry Christmas! – for the first time ever to The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa for a two-night stand on Saturday, December 15 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 16 at 7 p.m. Manilow has announced that he will donate proceeds from the December 16 show to local Coachella Valley charities.

Manilow's A Very Barry Christmas! concert will feature performances of his hit songs and holiday favorites. Guests will get in the holiday spirit at these shows as past holiday concerts have surprised audiences with a performance by a children's choir, an appearance by Santa Claus, and even snow.

Having sold more than 85 million albums worldwide, Barry Manilow is one of the world's all-time bestselling recording artists. He's had an astonishing 50 Top 40 singles, including 12 No. 1s and 27 Top 10 hits and is ranked as the No. 1 Adult Contemporary Artist of all time, according to Billboard and R&R magazines. Throughout his career, Manilow has released several holiday albums, including 1990's Because it's Christmas, 2002's A Christmas Gift of Love, and 2007's In the Swing of Christmas.

Show Information: Date: Saturday, December 15, 2018; 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 16, 2018; 7 p.m. Location: The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa, 32-250 Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage. Purchase tickets: Prices: $100-$250, based on seat location. www.HotWaterCasino.com; (800) 514-3849.

October 3, 2018 The Desert Sun"Barry Manilow to give first Coachella Valley casino concert at The Show" by Bruce Fessier
Barry Manilow, who historically gives benefit concerts every two or three years at the McCallum Theatre, will perform his first Coachella Valley casino show in December. Manilow, a Palm Springs resident for almost 40 years, will perform a holiday concert Dec. 15-16 at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage. "Platinum Experience" tickets, including seats near or in the front row, plus meet-and-greet opportunities for the Dec.16 show, went on sale Wednesday morning for Manilow Fan Club members with special codes. The Agua Caliente Casino is expected to announce tickets for the general public on Monday.

Manilow announced last month he’ll perform his holiday show, “A Very Barry Christmas,” in San Diego for the first time on Dec. 13 at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University. He gave a version of that holiday show, featuring fake snow, more than a dozen Christmas trees and a crackling fire, over five nights at the McCallum Theatre last December as part of a “Gift Of Love” fundraiser for 25 Coachella Valley charities.

It was his fourth series of “Gift Of Love” benefit concerts since 2009 and an indication of the support he’s shown the McCallum for decades. Manilow's long-time manager, Garry Kief, president and CEO of the Stiletto Entertainment Group, donates to the theater as a Founder.

The Show has roughly twice as many seats as the McCallum and Manilow isn’t scheduled to perform his "Gift of Love" benefits this season. But Kief said the decision to play the Agua Caliente is no sign of a weakening of support for the McCallum. “We often play different venues in the same market,” Kief said. “Different buildings tend to have different audiences. (Also) The Show has been our home base for numerous rehearsals for different tours. It’s a great room with a larger capacity.”

Manilow, who turned 75 in June, said in his last Desert Sun interview he was giving up long concert tours of one-night shows because he wanted to spend more time at home in Palm Springs. He has a resident engagement at the Westgate Las Vegas International Theater, which Barbra Streisand and Elvis Presley launched when it was the International Hotel in 1969. He’s appearing there Thursday through Sunday and again Oct. 25-26.

Manilow did a short run through England last month, performing in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and London over eight nights. He returned to California in time to attend the Los Angeles premiere of “A Star Is Born” Sept. 25 with Rancho Mirage resident Lorna Luft, a long-time friend whose mother, Judy Garland, starred in the 1954 version of “A Star Is Born.” Luft, who has rebounded from a bout with cancer, told USA Today on the red carpet at the Shrine Auditorium, her mother “would have loved” the new “A Star Is Born.” Garland, who died in 1969, is one of Manilow’s favorite artists. He recorded a technology-aided duet with her on “Zing! Went the Strings Of My Heart” for his 2014 album, “My Dream Duets.”

Tickets to Manilow's San Diego show, expected to include a mix of hits and holiday favorites, are $39 to $249, plus fees. Ticket prices for his Rancho Mirage show are expected to be announced next week.

October 3, 2018 The Desert SunBarry Manilow performs in London

When Where Articles/Reviews
September 21, 2018 Las Vegas Magazine"Barry Manilow brings the hits back to Vegas" by Brock Radke
With the recent revelation that Bally’s Jubilee Theater will be completely transformed into a different venue to accommodate a motorcycle stunt show next year, it’s not a bad time to take stock of the Las Vegas Strip’s dwindling supply of classic showrooms. The entertainment landscape continues to evolve and get bigger, but there will always be a demand for the kind of vintage Vegas vibes you can only get in one of these rare rooms.

One could argue there’s only one truly great old-school theater left, and it’s just off the Strip at Westgate Las Vegas. The International Theater has been home to Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley and Liberace when this resort was the International Hotel and then the Las Vegas Hilton, and its most successful modern-day star has returned in 2018.

Barry Manilow is an ideal fit for the current versions of this room and this resort, where he performed Manilow: Music and Passion and Ultimate Manilow: The Hits from 2005 to 2010. His new production, Manilow Las Vegas: The Hits Come Home, splashes some colorful new touches across his tried-and-true blueprint for giving his dedicated fans all the music they love. Be prepared for sing-alongs and standing ovations when you file into the International Theater for this musical experience.

The first big audience connection point comes when the lyrics to the chorus of “Can’t Smile Without You” are flashed on video screens during Manilow’s performance of the 1978 smash, as if everyone in the building doesn’t already know all the words. Next, enjoy some storytelling detailing his grandfather’s discovery of his musical talent when Manilow was just a child, followed by a particularly powerful performance of “This One’s For You.”

A fun and silly 3-D tour of New York City allows the legendary singer and songwriter to inject some extra humor into the production, although he’s clearly comfortable joking about his image and reputation in between songs. As he has done for years in Las Vegas performances, Manilow slips into singing his first No. 1 hit, “Mandy,” by playing a clip from his breakthrough 1975 appearance on The Midnight Special musical variety series. The fact that his voice sounds so close to the way it did some 43 years ago is not lost on his audience, which erupts when Manilow harmonizes with his younger self to complete an epic presentation.

The new show closes with “I Write the Songs” and a dance-party celebration to “Copacabana,” during which a huge horseshoe staircase descends from the theater’s ceiling, allowing Manilow to get close to the fans in the balcony. It’s a grand moment in this grand Vegas room, likely another memorable musical event installed in the legacy of the International Theater.

Westgate Las Vegas, 7 p.m. Sept. 27-29, Oct. 4-6, $21.53-$216.91 plus tax and fee. 702.732.5111

September 17, 2018 AM 760 KFMBWin a trip to Vegas to see Barry Manilow
Enter to win a trip to Vegas to see Barry Manilow. Listen for the code word on AM 760, when you hear it ENTER CONTEST HERE (Enter by: 11:59 pm on September 30). Barry Manilow celebrates rockin the International Theater at The Westgate for 10 years with new Manilow Las Vegas residency dates NOW through June, 2019.

Prize package includes:

  • Two VIP tickets to Manilow Las Vegas , The Hits Come Home! $300
  • Two Night stay at the Westgate: $300
  • Dinner for two at Edge Steakhouse: $100
  • Manilow Gift Bag: ($150 – inclusions may change)
    • Branded Manilow Las Vegas Hat $30
    • Branded Manilow Las Vegas Luggage Tag: $30
    • Exclusive Manilow Puzzle $30
    • Manilow Coloring Book $20
    • Manilow Las Vegas Keychain: $15
    • Manilow Live Concert DVD’s x 2: $45

Ticket Link: www.BarryManilow.com. Ticket information: Tickets range in price from $19.75 to $329.75 plus tax and applicable fees. Shows at 7:00 pm. For more show and ticket information, please visit www.BarryManilow.com or www.WestgateLasVegas.com.

SHOWS CURRENTLY ON SALE:
September 27, 28, 29
October 4, 5, 6 & October 25, 26, 27
November 1, 2, 3 & November 15, 16, 17
February 14, 15, 16 & February 21, 22, 23

SHOWS ON SALE IN 2019:
March 7, 8, 9 & March 28, 29, 30
April 11, 12, 13
May 2, 3, 4 & May 9, 10, 11
June 6, 7, 8 & June 13, 14, 15

Barry Manilow: GRAMMY®, TONY®, and EMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter, arranger, producer and musician, Barry Manilow announces that he will be returning to Las Vegas with a brand new stage production to perform his extensive catalog of hits as the exclusive headliner at the Westgate International Theater at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. The legendary entertainer will return to where he previously made his spectacular residency debut on February 24, 2005. The 85-minute show will celebrate his well-loved greatest hits. “I have nothing but great memories of my seven years performing in Las Vegas,” said Manilow. “I’m very excited to be returning. Get ready, Las Vegas! Here I come!” Having sold more than 85 million albums worldwide, Barry Manilow is one of the world's all-time bestselling recording artists. The GRAMMY®, TONY®, and EMMY® Award-winning musician has had an astonishing 50 Top 40 singles including 12 #1s and 27 Top 10 hits. He is ranked as the #1 Adult Contemporary Artist of all time, according to Billboard and R&R magazines.

www.manilow.com
www.facebook.com/barrymanilow
www.twitter.com/barrymanilow
www.instagram.com/barrymanilowofficial

About Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino: Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, a legendary world-class destination, offers a unique blend of amenities and excitement with all your favorite table games, hottest slots on the market, incredible restaurants, endless entertainment, more than 225,000 square feet of meeting space and the world's largest Race & Sports SuperBook®, which is home to Nevada’s largest wagering system and more than 4,488 square feet of state-of-the-art HD video screens, in a comfortable, smoke-free environment. Westgate Las Vegas provides a range of culinary adventures with eight restaurants, including the world-famous Benihana, the award-winning Edge Steakhouse and the newest addition Fresco Italiano. The property features entertainment options in the International Theater and the Westgate Cabaret and has recently undergone a more than $150 million renovation, that has encompassed every square inch of the property, including the addition of 300 timeshare villas, the all-new International Bar, a fully renovated pool deck, 1,200 remodeled Signature Rooms and the luxurious Serenity Spa, which was recently awarded the 2017 Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award. For more information or to book accommodations, call toll free at (800) 732-7117 or log on to WestgateVegas.com.

RULES: Must be 21 years of age or older. Prize may be used only for the date(s) specified. Hotel guest room accommodations for winner and guest, double occupancy, three days and two nights based on availability. Not redeemable for cash, not transferable, may not be combined with another offer. Winner must use all prize components in a single visit. Winner may not substitute prize components. In the unlikely event that one or more of the prize components is not available for any reason, Westgate Las Vegas reserves the right to substitute a Las Vegas experience of equal or greater value at its sole discretion. In the unlikely event that the artist does not perform during the scheduled trip, for any reason, Westgate Las Vegas may substitute a Las Vegas resort experience of equal or greater value at its sole discretion. Westgate Las Vegas is not responsible for ground transportation. Gratuities are not included. Hotel guest must present a major credit card at check-in to guarantee hotel charges not included in this prize.

September 17, 2018 San Diego Gay & Lesbian News (SDGLN)"Barry Manilow coming to San Diego for special Christmas concert: The iconic singer brings yuletide magic to America's Finest City. Tickets go on sale Sept. 22" by Timothy Rawles
Get ready for a special holiday gift from one of the most legendary singers on the planet. Barry Manilow: A Very Barry Christmas is coming to Viejas Arena on Thursday, December 13, 2018.

For more than 50 years, Manilow has been at the top of adult contemporary radio playlists with generational favorites such as "Mandy," "I Write the Songs," and "Copacabana" from the '70s. He then made a successful transition into the '80's with pop-friendly tunes such as "Somewhere Down the Road" and "I Made it Through the Rain." In the '90s he made his first record dedicated to the holidays, titled Because It's Christmas, the LP is filled with inspirational wintertime standards. The album went platinum and stayed at the top of the Billboard special Christmas album chart for 1990.

Manilow is bringing that spirit back in December for A Very Barry Christmas, a live San Diego concert event filled with classic tunes that define the season.

The singer [was] on tour in [the UK] but will return at the end of September where he will pick back up on his popular Las Vegas show until [it's] time to hit the road once again for this very special multi-city engagement. If there is anything that can get San Diego's sun worshippers into the Christmas spirit it's a catalog of holiday tunes sung by America's most beloved singer/songwriter Barry Manilow.

Barry Manilow: A Very Barry Christmas is on Thursday, December 13, 2018. Tickets go on sale Saturday, September 22 at 10 am.

September 6, 2018 icFloridaAmway Center to host A Very Barry Christmas
ORLANDO, Fla. - Music icon Barry Manilow is taking the stage for a special holiday engagement, A Very Barry Christmas, where fans will see Manilow perform his greatest hits like, “Copacabana” and “Mandy,” as well as Christmas favorites. Manilow returns to Orlando’s Amway Center on Saturday, December 8. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, September 14 at 10 a.m.

Manilow's unrivaled career encompasses nearly every area of music, including performing, composing, arranging and producing. A Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Manilow has triumphed in every medium of entertainment. As the undisputed number one Adult Contemporary Chart artist of all time, his worldwide record sales exceed 85 million and he has earned 50 Top 40 hits.

Tickets start at $15.75, prices subject to change, and all tickets are reserved. You can buy tickets at Amway Center box office, Ticketmaster retail locations, charge-by-phone at 800.745.3000 or at Ticketmaster.com. All dates, act(s) and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All tickets are subject to applicable taxes, service, handling and facility fee charges.

For Amway Center box office and ticket information, visit amwaycenter.com (phone purchases are not available through the Amway Center box office). The Amway Center is located at 400 West Church Street and the box office is located on the north side of the Amway Center, near the intersection of Church Street and Hughey Avenue.

September 6, 2018 The Telegraph"Barry Manilow, London's O2 Arena, review: a show of giddy flamboyance that shows no sign of fading with age" by Neil McCormick
It seems as if a whole generation of musical legends are bringing their careers to a close. Neil Diamond, Paul Simon, Elton John and Joan Baez are amongst the septuagenarian superstars who have recently announced an end to touring. Barry Manilow [bid] farewell on 2015’s One Last Time tour. But like the showbiz trouper he clearly is, he's already back for more. “You know, I really didn't think we were going to be back here,” he told London's packed O2 Arena. “But I'm so glad we are...”

Manilow has never exactly been the retiring kind, at least not in the shy sense of the word. This is a show of giddy flamboyance, packed with big singalong hits, delivered with glittery panache and underpinned by a deep emotional connection between performer and fans.

He must have had more than his fair share of standing ovations over five decades on the road but he still managed to look genuinely moved when the audience rose to roar and stamped their feet for the big notes that ended Even Now ... When he duets with footage of his younger self on his 1974 hit Mandy, there is an appealing gravity to the deeper timbre of his mature vocal.

You can't even say he looks his age at 75 ... He performed with such delight and vigour that, over the two hour show, the years melted away. “Age only matters if you're a banana,” he joked. “And my banana’s doing fine” ... There was such a cheer when he took off his jacket, Manilow shook his head and sighed “Wait til I take off my pants.”

All this cabaret patter is only a way of keeping things bubbling between one big song after another. He promised his audience a night full of “something I don't hear on the radio any more: melody.” And with songs of the quality of Could It Be Magic, Copacabana and Can't Smile Without You he delivered in spades.

Even at the height of his Seventies pop fame, Manilow stood outside of mainstream pop culture, impervious to trends and fashions, making music rooted in classic Broadway showtunes. Over the years, Manilow’s schmaltzy style has been the butt of many jokes. He himself quipped about his music always being heard in dental surgeries: “As long as there are teeth my songs will survive.”

The truth is that as long as he keeps putting on shows with this much zest and vigour, his music is in no danger of fading out.

September 5, 2018 Orlando Sentinel"Barry Manilow celebrates the holidays in Orlando" by Trevor Fraser
Is there a connection between Barry Manilow and Christmas? When you think of the holidays, is your first thought of showgirls with PTSD drinking themselves half-blind to forget the violence that killed their lovers? Probably not, but something about the Brooklyn native makes sense as a caroler. Maybe [it's] the cheery, energetic production of his songs that remind people of sparkling holiday lights. Or maybe it’s just the rich tones of his voice that sound right for leading a rousing rendition of “Jingle Bells.”

It just seems that there must be a reason for his show A Very Barry Christmas other than the phonetic similarity between Barry and merry. Could it be magic? The Man Who Writes the Songs will brighten the season on Dec. 8 at Orlando’s Amway Center. Tickets, $15.75-$246.75, go on sale Sept. 14. Details at ticketmaster.com.

September 4, 2018 ABC Action NewsBarry Manilow to bring Christmas special to Tampa Bay
Music legend Barry Manilow is bringing a special holiday concert to Tampa on December 7. The pop music icon will take the stage at Amalie Arena for a special "A Very Barry Christmas" engagement. Fans will be in for a treat when they hear Manilow perform his greatest hits like "Copacabana" and "Mandy" as well as Christmas favorites.

Manilow has sold over 85 million albums and has 50 Top-40 hits. Do not miss the chance to hear the legend in person. Tickets start at $16. They go on sale Friday, September 7 at 10 a.m. at the AMALIE Arena Ticket Office and Ticketmaster.com. Click here or call 813-301-2500 for more information.

September 4, 2018 WTSP-10 News"Barry Manilow to perform Christmas special at Amalie Arena in Tampa: 'A Very Barry Christmas' special is set to come to Amalie Arena on Dec. 7" by Mark Bergin
TAMPA, Fla. – Pop music legend Barry Manilow is bringing his Christmas special to Tampa this holiday season. On Dec. 7, Manilow is set to bring his "A Very Barry Christmas" special to Amalie Arena. Manilow is expected to sing classics like "Copacabana" and "Mandy" as well as Christmas favorites. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 7.
September 4, 2018 Creative Loafing Tampa Bay"One of Barry Manilow's three Christmas concerts is coming to Tampa's Amalie Arena: Tickets go on sale Friday, September 7" by Ray Roa
Yes, we're talking about Christmas in September, and it's all Barry Manilow's fault. The 75-year-old singer has announced that a special “A Very Barry Christmas” engagement will head to Tampa's Amalie Arena on December 7. A release said fans will hear "greatest hits like 'Copacabana' and 'Mandy' as well as Christmas favorites."

Tickets for the show go on sale Friday, September 7 at 10 a.m. EDT and will cost fans $16-$246. The engagement is just one of three "Very Barry Christmas" shows Manilow is throwing nationwide (the others are on December 6 at Miami's American Airlines Arena and on December 8 at Amway Center in Orlando).

Barry Manilow loves Christmas music, and in 2012, he told NPR why. "Whenever I get an opportunity to do an album full of standards, I jump at it because I miss it," he said, adding that he uses the opportunity to stretch the definition of a "Christmas song," and that one of his favorites is "Violets for Your Furs." "I thought, 'Well, it's a winter song, it's close enough.' And people should hear songs like that!" Manilow said. "It's a lovely song. Sinatra did it on one of his earlier albums. My stepfather showed it to me, and I never quite got over it."

Get more information on the show -- and then get in the spirit: A Very Barry Christmas w/Barry Manilow. Fri. Dec. 7, 7 p.m. $16-$246. Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa. amaliearena.com.

September 4, 2018 Tampa Bay Times"Barry Manilow coming to Amalie Arena in Tampa" by Jay Cridlin
The way things are going, Barry Manilow might just tour forever. Especially around the holidays. The soft-pop king has announced plans for a new holiday tour that'll hit Tampa's Amalie Arena on Dec. 7. Tickets start at just $16 --— $16! -- and go on sale Sept. 14. Click here for details.

We thought a couple of years ago that Manilow's last appearance at Amalie Arena might be, well, his last. But as he told us at the time: "Come back in two years, and who knows?"

The Christmas tour should spark a little life into his performance (not that he was ever lagging). He's released a handful of holiday albums over the years, most recently 2007's In the Swing of Christmas. He's sure to play a few classic crowd-pleasers, too, like Mandy and Looks Like We Made It.

Even if you're not a big fan, $16 is a heck of a price tag for an early stocking stuffer. Besides, you never know, maybe THIS will be your last chance to see Manilow in Tampa.

September 4, 2018 Orlando Weekly"Barry Manilow to bring his 'Very Barry Christmas' to Orlando" by Matthew Moyer
Crooner Barry Manilow has announced a trio of "Very Barry Christmas" holiday music shows in Florida, and the City Beautiful is one of those stops! As of this writing, the three Florida stops are the only announced dates period for Manilow's holiday music marathon, so start warming up the snow machines now. Barry Manilow's "A Very Barry Christmas" happens on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, Sept. 14.
September 4, 2018 ITV NewsManchester's RNCM honours Barry Manilow
He may already have Emmy and Grammy awards to his name but Barry Manilow now has another accolade to add to his cabinet. The veteran singer was presented with an Honorary Fellowship by staff at Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), part way through his performance at the Manchester Arena on Sunday.

On receiving the Honorary Fellowship, he said: "‘I am honoured to have been chosen to receive this prestigious fellowship and thank the Royal Northern College of Music for this acknowledgement.’"

With worldwide sales of more than 85 million records, Barry is ranked as the top adult contemporary chart artist of all time (R&R and Billboard magazines) and his success is a benchmark for popular music. He's had a multitude of hits, including Copacabana, Can’t Smile Without You and Could It Be Magic, to his name. Perhaps it's no wonder Rolling Stone crowned him "'a giant among entertainers...the showman of our generation.’"

Andy Stott is Head of Popular Music at the RNCM. In a statement he said he was delighted to honour Manilow's career. "'The RNCM’s Popular Music programme aims to produce professional musicians who are top quality performers and original artists in their own right, and I’m delighted that we are able honour the career of a musician who has been just that for over five decades. Barry Manilow is an icon of the pop music industry – not only is he a prolific songwriter, charismatic performer and producer, but he is a truly outstanding musician whose work has been enjoyed by millions of people around the world. I look forward to developing a relationship that will enable him to inspire our students creatively and to make a positive and influential impact on their careers."

After the concert, popular music students were invited backstage to meet Barry.

September 4, 2018 BillboardBarry Manilow Honored With Honorary Fellowship in England
It’s a long way from Copacabana, but they sure do love Barry Manilow in Manchester. The veteran crooner received an honorary fellowship from the Royal Northern College of Music part way through his performance Sunday night at the Manchester Arena, in northern England. “I tell you, something like this just inspires me to keep making make more and more and more music for you. So thanks for this ... thank you so much,” Manilow said on receiving his award, Reuters reports.

College principal Linda Merrick and the head of the popular music degree program, Andy Stott, were on hand to fete the 75-year-old singer, who Stott described as “one of the world’s greatest showmen”.

[Manilow's] tour moves on Arena Birmingham on Tuesday night followed by three dates at London’s O2, starting Thursday night.

September 3, 2018 ReutersFrom the Copacabana to Manchester: UK college honors Manilow
LONDON (Reuters) - Star singer Barry Manilow got another award for his trophy cabinet in front of an audience of roaring fans in the northern English city of Manchester. Staff at the city’s Royal Northern College of Music handed over an Honorary Fellowship to the Emmy and Grammy winner part way through his performance at the Manchester Arena on Sunday.

“You know what they say, that giving is better than receiving - but not tonight,” said the 75-year-old performer, whose glitzy hits include “I Write the Songs”, “Copacabana”, “Mandy” and “Ready to Take a Chance Again”. “I tell you, something like this just inspires me to keep making make more and more and more music for you. So thanks for this ... thank you so much,” he added, before getting his band back into the groove with an “Alright boys let’s go!”

College principal Linda Merrick handed over the certificate after a speech by the head of the popular music degree program, Andy Stott, who described Manilow as “one of the world’s greatest showmen”. “For over five decades, Barry has become an icon of the popular music industry,” said Stott as the singer raised his eyebrows behind him. After the show, Stott said he was hoping to build up links with Manilow so the star could inspire his students and boost their careers.

September 2, 2018 Leeds Live"Barry Manilow admits he is 'smitten with Britain' in stellar Leeds performance on surprise return to UK: The singer was back in Leeds just two years after his farewell tour and wowed a packed First Direct Arena" by Matt Millington
"What's your 75-year-old Grandad doing tonight?" That was probably the best line from Barry Manilow on his momentous return to the First Direct Arena on Saturday (September 1).

Two years ago the music icon was here on his farewell tour - at the time aged 73 and you'd have forgiven him for never making that long trip to these shores again. Yet prior to this latest tour of the UK, as Manilow told the crowd, he'd done 22 others here in a career spanning over 40 years. One more can't hurt, surely!

He described a 'love affair with England which started way back in 1978' between hits, and in truth it was remarkable to watch as Bazza soaked up the atmosphere of thousands of screaming fans - fans who know they might never get that moment again.

He danced his way through upbeat classics like "It's A Miracle" and "Could It Be Magic," and effortlessly nailed ballads "Even Now," "Looks Like We Made It" and "[Weekend In New England]" to take the audience back to the decades gone by when his music stole their hearts.

For 90 minutes, Leeds celebrated Manilow's life in music with him - perhaps the most touching moment, when he told fans about how his own Grandad was the one who saw his musical talent before anyone else when he was just three-years-old. "This one's for you" provided the most fitting tribute.

He looked on as a video on the big screen showed his performance of Mandy on its release back in 1974 - the song that catapulted his career. Manilow then took to the piano to play alongside his younger self over 40 years and millions of record sales later.

The audience even had the chance to become Bazza himself when they were given a pair of 3D glasses to take a 'flying' tour of his birth place New York - this a link to his latest album This Is My Town (Songs of New York).

Manilow only seemed to get better as the performance went on, and by favourite "Copacabana" the majority of fans were on their feet. "I Write The Songs" had preceeded it in an overwhelming end to the show. "What a ride it's been Leeds" he told the crowd - perhaps an indication that this might be it for his time touring the UK.

In terms of record sales, the figures are astounding and make him one the of the best selling solo artists of all time. And his tour figures are rather impressive too - his 23rd UK tour, 44 years after "Mandy" took the world by storm - all at the age of 75.

I'll ask you again - "What was your 75-year-old Grandad doing last night?!"

When Where Articles/Reviews
August 30, 2018 The Guardian"Barry Manilow - all his greatest songs ranked!" by Alexis Petridis
As [Barry Manilow] tours the UK, possibly for the last time, we cast an eye over his musical achievements.

16. Rain (1979): Proof that every artist has a moment that might reasonably be described as Balearic: Rain features a slinky, sampler-friendly rhythm track, some glittering synth arpeggios, a hint of smooth soul about the dampened guitars and a sound that falls somewhere between quiet storm R&B and yacht rock.

15. Can’t Smile Without You (1978): Perhaps the point at which Manilow’s oeuvre of greatest hits becomes a bit too runny for all but devotees – if you are allergic to sugary sentimentality, steer well clear – Can’t Smile Without You nevertheless boasts a tune that sounds instantly familiar, as if it had been remembered rather than freshly written.

14. Flashy Lady (1973): Trying on different styles for size on his debut album, Manilow proved more versatile than he would later allow himself to be. He was clearly never going to make it as a rocker, but if Flashy Lady had been released on RAK Records by a band called something like Thumper, it would be acclaimed as a junk-shop glam classic and fetch £25 in VG+ condition.

13. Read ’Em and Weep (1983): Casting around for material in the 80s, Manilow occasionally ended up singing some pretty odd things, including a cover of Some Girls by Racey, a band best described as the Tesco Value version of Showaddywaddy. But Read ’Em and Weep – originally recorded by Meat Loaf – was an inspired choice: songwriter Jim Steinman’s patent brand of table-banging melodrama suits him perfectly.

12. She’s a Star (1975) / He’s a Star (2011): A noticeably tougher and darker song than Manilow is usually associated with, She’s a Star offers a grim depiction of celebrity, allegedly inspired by his former boss Bette Midler. Manilow reworked it for his surprisingly adventurous 2011 concept album 15 Minutes, also home to a track that features him rapping.

11. Looks Like We Made It (1977): The standard line about Barry Manilow – that he deals solely in unctuous schmaltz – is wide of the mark, as demonstrated by Looks Like We Made It. It is an MOR ballad with real emotional depth: the lead characters are divorced and have both remarried, but they’re haunted by the past, unable to fully accept their new happiness. A very grownup tear-jerker.

10. Sandra (1974): Relatively stripped back by Manilow standards, the overlooked Sandra is his answer to the Carpenters’ Rainy Days and Mondays or Dr Hook’s The Ballad of Lucy Jordan: a beautifully drawn, sympathetic depiction of a bored housewife and mother, who shifts from daytime drinking to a botched suicide attempt.

9. Ships (1979): Tucked away on 1979’s One Voice was a cover of an elegiac song about a strained relationship between a son and his father, written and originally recorded by Mott the Hoople frontman Ian Hunter. Manilow’s version is sweeter, but the song’s emotional punch remains fully intact: “That guy’s no slouch when it comes to arranging,” Hunter subsequently noted.

8. When October Goes (1984): His record sales declining, his image terminally naff, Manilow repositioned his music in the 80s: 2:00 AM Paradise Café was jazzy and downbeat. A man who served his musical apprenticeship in nightclubs and gay bath houses, he makes a convincing early-hours barfly, on a song based on an unfinished lyric by Great American Songbook writer Johnny Mercer.

7. Copacabana (At the Copa) (1978): Released as a single at the suggestion of Kinks frontman Ray Davies, Copacabana turned the Latin and big band-infused disco minted by Dr Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band into something so wildly camp it made the sound’s originators sound like Lynyrd Skynyrd: the saga of Lola, Tony and Rico plays out to screams, melodramatic backing vocals and film-soundtrack strings.

6. I Write the Songs (1975): Manilow was initially resistant to recording Beach Boy Bruce Johnson’s paean to the power of music, thinking the lyric sounded egotistical. Persuaded by label boss Clive Davis, he proceeded to give it the full, kitchen-sink showstopper treatment – harps, orchestras, massed backing vocalists – resulting in something that’s simultaneously preposterously OTT and oddly moving.

5. Weekend in New England (1976): Barry’s been for a quick break in the country, now he is back in New York City and is not happy about it in the slightest. Yearning melancholy set to soaring strings and explosive key changes, Weekend in New England is as good as mid-70s MOR balladry gets. No wonder Frank Sinatra was a fan.

4. Mandy (1974): Mandy began life as Brandy, a single by its co-author Scott English and a perfect example of the British bubblegum that filled the UK charts between the death of the 60s and the birth of glam. Manilow turned it into something more expansive: amping up the vocal drama, layering on the orchestra, choir and crashing drums until its finale sounded like a homage to Phil Spector.

3. New York City Rhythm (1975): Manilow’s best songs are almost invariably ballads, but his homage to lushly orchestrated Philly soul – and, more unexpected still, the Latin funk-rock of Santana – is the exception: there is definitely a hint of the showtune about it, but an unexpected intimation of seaminess too: “I live my life with strangers and the danger’s always there.”

2. Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again (1975): Manilow’s greatest skill might be in singing songs about romantic despair that end up sounding epic and triumphant: the musical equivalent of a tearfully stoic smile. And Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again, the title track of his best album, may be the greatest example. Sneer at it as music for housewives if you want – this is a fantastic song.

1. Could It Be Magic? (1973): After serving an apprenticeship as a jingle writer and Bette Midler’s musical director, Manilow’s solo career began inauspiciously. His debut album was a flop, but it contained his most famous song, a portentous seven-minute epic that ultimately defined Manilow’s style: heavily orchestrated, big on surging drama, poised somewhere between a power ballad and the middle of the road, unafraid to sound a little Broadway. The latter aspect would doom his critical reputation, but Could It Be Magic? is a spectacularly well-crafted song that over time has been turned into everything from a disco anthem (by Donna Summer) to high-camp boyband hit (Take That) to part of a gorgeous falsetto medley with Leon Russell’s A Song For You (Sylvester).

August 22, 2018 Press Release
(SOURCE: STILETTO Entertainment
Barry Manilow Extends Hit Show Into 2019 At Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino: The Award-winning superstar's newest show, MANILOW: LAS VEGAS - The Hits Come Home! will continue to dazzle audiences at the Westgate International Theater; Tickets for the first few shows of 2019 to go on sale Friday, August 24, 2018 at 10am P.D.T.
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GRAMMY®, TONY®, and EMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter, arranger, producer and musician, Barry Manilow announced his hit show MANILOW: LAS VEGAS – The Hits Come Home! has been extended at the historic Westgate International Theater at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. Tickets for performances through February 2019 go on sale Friday, August 24, 2018 at 10am P.D.T.

"There are few performers in the world who can create and deliver a concert of hits that consistently thrills our guests, such as Barry Manilow," said David Siegel, Founder & CEO of Westgate Resorts. "Barry Manilow is one of the most iconic performers of all time and we're thrilled he'll continue to perform on our historic Westgate International stage through 2019."

MANILOW: LAS VEGAS – The Hits Come Home! made its debut in May 2018 to rave reviews and sold-out audiences. The 85-minute show celebrates Manilow's greatest hits, which includes an astonishing 50 Top 40 singles including 12 #1s and 27 Top 10 hits.

SHOWS CURRENTLY ON SALE:
September 27-29
October 4-6
October 25-27

NEWLY-ANNOUNCED DATES:
November 1-3
November 15-17
February 14-16
February 21-23
March 7-9
March 28-30
April 11-13
May 2-4
May 9-11
June 6-8
June 13-15

Tickets for MANILOW: LAS VEGAS – The Hits Come Home! performances through February 2019 range in price from $39.75 to $329.75 plus tax and applicable fees and will go on sale Friday, August 24, 2018 at 10am P.D.T. Tickets can be purchased at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino Box Office at (800) 222-5361 or online at www.barrymanilow.com or www.westgatelasvegas.com.

Follow Barry Manilow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Find the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on Facebook and follow on Instagram and Twitter.

ABOUT BARRY MANILOW

Having sold more than 85 million albums worldwide, Barry Manilow is one of the world's all-time bestselling recording artists. The GRAMMY®, TONY®, and EMMY® Award-winning musician has had an astonishing 50 Top 40 singles including 12 #1s and 27 Top 10 hits. He is ranked as the #1 Adult Contemporary Artist of all time, according to Billboard and R&R magazines.

August 22, 2018 KTNV 13 Action News"New dates added for Barry Manilow's show at Westgate Las Vegas" by Katherine Jarvis
Barry Manilow announced new dates into 2019 for his show at the Westgate hotel-casino. He performs in the Westgate International Theater. Shows through Oct. 27 are currently on sale and new shows have been added through June.

Shows currently on sale: Sept. 27-29 | Oct. 4-6, 25-27.

Newly-announced dates: Nov. 1-3, 15-17 | Feb. 14-16, 21-23 | March 7-9, 28-30 | April 11-13 | May 2-4, 9-11 | June 6-8, 13-15.

Tickets for "The Hits Come Home!" performances through February 2019 range in price from $39.75 to $329.75 plus tax and applicable fees and will go on sale Friday, Aug. 24, at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino Box Office at (800) 222-5361 or online at www.barrymanilow.com or www.westgatelasvegas.com.

August 22, 2018 Las Vegas NOW"Barry Manilow extends Las Vegas show into 2019" by Kel Dansby
Award-winning singer-songwriter, arranger, producer and musician, Barry Manilow announced his hit show "MANILOW: LAS VEGAS – The Hits Come Home!" has been extended at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. “There are few performers in the world who can create and deliver a concert of hits that consistently thrills our guests, such as Barry Manilow,” said David Siegel, Founder & CEO of Westgate Resorts. “Barry Manilow is one of the most iconic performers of all time and we’re thrilled he’ll continue to perform on our historic Westgate International stage through 2019.” Tickets for performances through Feb.2019 go on sale Aug. 24 at 10 a.m.
August 22, 2018 The Music Universe"Barry Manilow extends Westgate Las Vegas residency into 2019: Tickets for the first few shows of 2019 to go on sale Friday, August 24th at 10 am PT" by Buddy Iahn
Barry Manilow has announced his hit show Manilow: Las Vegas – The Hits Come Home! has been extended at the historic Westgate International Theater at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. Tickets for performances through February 2019 go on sale Friday, August 24th at 10 am PT.

“There are few performers in the world who can create and deliver a concert of hits that consistently thrills our guests, such as Barry Manilow,” states David Siegel, Founder & CEO of Westgate Resorts. “Barry Manilow is one of the most iconic performers of all time and we’re thrilled he’ll continue to perform on our historic Westgate International stage through 2019.”

Manilow: Las Vegas – The Hits Come Home! made its debut in May 2018 to rave reviews and sold-out audiences. The 85-minute show celebrates Manilow’s greatest hits, which includes an astonishing 50 Top 40 singles including 12 No. 1s and 27 Top 10 hits.

Newly announced dates include November 1-3rd; November 15-17th; February 14-16th; February 21-23rd; March 7-9th; March 28-30th; April 11-13th; May 2-4th; May 9-11th; June 6-8th and June 13-15th.

Tickets for Manilow: Las Vegas – The Hits Come Home! performances through February 2019 range in price from $39.75 to $329.75 plus tax and applicable fees and will go on sale Friday, August 24th at 10 am PT. Tickets can be purchased at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino Box Office at (800) 222-5361 or online at barrymanilow.com or westgatelasvegas.com.

When Where Articles/Reviews
July 23, 2018 Las Vegas Sun"Barry Manilow is at home in Las Vegas at the International Theater" by Brock Radke
With the recent news that Bally’s Jubilee Theater will soon be refashioned into a different venue to accommodate a motorcycle stunt show next year, it’s time to take stock of the Strip’s dwindling supply of classic showrooms. I’d argue there’s only one truly great old-school theater left and it’s just off the Strip at Westgate Las Vegas. The International Theater has been home to Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley and Liberace when this resort was the International Hotel and then the Las Vegas Hilton, and now its most successful modern-day star has returned.

Barry Manilow is an ideal fit for the current versions of this room and this resort, where he performed “Manilow: Music and Passion” and “Ultimate Manilow: The Hits” from 2005 to 2010. His new production, “Manilow Las Vegas: The Hits Come Home” splashes some colorful new touches across his tried-and-true blueprint for giving his dedicated fans all the music they love. Plenty of sing-alongs and standing ovations speckled the experience at Manilow’s July 20 performance.

After initial previews in late May, Manilow missed his sold-out grand-opening weekend in mid-June due to a bronchial infection. He’s wrapping up his summer run with vigor in an attempt to make up for lost time. The first big audience connection comes when the lyrics to the chorus of “Can’t Smile Without You” are flashed on video screens during Manilow’s performance of the 1978 smash, as if everyone in the building doesn’t already know all the words. Next was some storytelling detailing his grandfather’s discovery of his musical talent and a particularly powerful performance of “This One’s For You.”

A fun and silly 3-D tour of New York City allows Manilow to inject some extra humor into the production, although he’s clearly comfortable joking about his image and reputation in between songs. As he did during his most recent Vegas show at the Paris Theater, Manilow slips into singing his first No. 1 hit “Mandy” by playing a clip from his breakthrough 1975 appearance on “The Midnight Special” musical variety series. The fact that his voice sounds similar to the way it did some 43 years ago is not lost on his audience, which erupted when Manilow harmonized with his younger self to complete the performance.

The new show closes with “I Write the Songs” and a dance-party celebration to “Copacabana” during which a huge horseshoe staircase descends from the theater’s ceiling, allowing Manilow to get close to the fans in the balcony. It’s a grand moment in this grand Vegas room, likely another memorable musical event installed in the legacy of the International Theater.

“Manilow Las Vegas: The Hits Come Home” returns at 8 p.m. July 26-28 to the International Theater at Westgate Las Vegas (3000 Paradise Road, 702-732-5111) and more information can be found at westgateresorts.com. After these shows, Manilow will resume his Vegas residency with dates in September and October.

July 20, 2018 Las Vegas Review-Journal"It’s Manilow Live! from Westgate in Las Vegas" by John Katsilometes
Barry Manilow is back in the showroom made famous by, among other, Elvis, Liberace Wayne Newton ... and Doug Henning. Yes, the late magician star of the 1970s and early ’80s was an inspiration of Joe Labero of “Inferno” at Paris Las Vegas, one of Manilow’s old Vegas haunts. Labero, who is seeing Manilow for the first time, told me the last time he was in this venue was in the mid-1970s, when he was a teenager and Henning was all over network television.

Manilow opens with a video splash of album covers - “Manilow II,” “Duets,” “This One’s For You,” “Tryin’ To Get The Feeling” in this rollout. His name is spelled out on the LED screen, which covers the entire width of the stage. “Hello Los Angeles," “Hello Houston,” “Hello Denver.” Manilow is taking us on a road trip... Samples of Manilow’s hits are played in a mash-up, too, as a taste of what’s to come. Some artists would be averse to playing segments of their own music before a show. But not Manilow. He’s just tryin’ to get the feelin’, again. Crowd, rife with Fanilows, is all worked up.

“It’s a Miracle” kicks it off. “Hi, up there in the balcony!” the superstar shouts, an indication the balcony is indeed open. The Super Bowl party and Barry Manilow. That’s when the balcony is open at the International.

Manilow asks a question to which he knows the answer. “Where did the melodies go? They are right here tonight! We have loads of melodies.” Love that. ‘Loads of Melodies” should be the subtitle of this show. As he leads into “This One’s for You,” Manilow tells us he was raised by two Russian immigrants. “They just thought I was the cat's pajamas!” he says...

As the opening bars of “On Broadway” play, Manilow shows up in a leather jacket on stage right. Like magic Henning! His arrival is startling to those on house left. “Scared the (stuff) out of you, eh?” says Barry.

We’re in 3-D mode for “This is My Town,” and we take an aerial tour of New York. “Superman, eat your heart out!” Manilow calls as we fly up the side of the Empire State Building and out to Yankee Stadium and Coney Island. It might be fun to use this time-honored effect for a tour of Las Vegas. Just a thought from someone watching a show in Las Vegas.

“New York City Rhythm,” is Manilow’s ode to his hometown. He’s from Brooklyn, actually.

If you can actually hear swooning, you hear it at the start of “Weekend In New England.” “When can I touch you?” Manilow sings, and there are shouts of, “Now!” He laughs, breaking the song and saying, “Thank you!” Wonderfully constructed song. This is a real story, and as Manilow always says, the phrase, “Weekend in New England” isn’t in it.

Oh, maybe we know this one: “I am stuck on Band-Aid! ‘Cuz Band-Aid’s stuck on me!” Manilow runs through a few of his commercial jingles from the ’70s. “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is theeeere!” “I got called to write a commercial for a douche,” he says. “I drew the line there. Besides, nothing rhymes with douche.”

Displayed grandly behind Manilow is an image of his debut album, from 1973, or as he says, “1821.” He glances at the screen and says, “I look like the Mona Lisa there.”

I’d forgotten Donna Summer covered “Could It Be Magic?” Manilow performs that version. With his backing dancers in red sequins ... we have groovers. “So!” Manilow asks at the end of that dance-fest. “What’s your 75-year-old grandfather doing tonight? When I was a kid, the only thing my grandfather could bring up was phlegm!” But as he says, “Age does not matter - [unless] you’re a banana! And my banana is doing fine, thank you!”

The song written by Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys, “I Write the Songs,” has the crowd waving glowsticks.

A full-splash “Copacabana” closes this one, with Manilow decked out in a blazing fuschia jacket. He and the backing singers take to a horseshoe-shaped catwalk built especially for the show. “Copacabana” might seem twice-dated by now, a 1970s song reminicing about the ’[40s]. But at in three crisp verses, the song tells a whole story. I’ve felt there are two types of people in this world: Tonys, and Ricos. Except for Barry. He stands alone.

July 2018 Southwest The MagazineSing Along with a Legend
After eight years away, Barry Manilow has returned to the International Theater at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino for his second residency, "Manilow Las Vegas: The Hits Come Home!"

With more than 85 million albums sold worldwide, Manilow is one of the best-selling recording artists in history, with 50 Top 40 singles and 12 No. 1 hits. He has received a Grammy, a Tony, two Emmys, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.

If there's a secret to Manilow's success, it seems to lie in one simple musical principle. "I like a melody," he says. "I like a song that has a lyric you remember and a melody you can't forget. That's always been my mantra whenever I'm composing anything."

Manilow's Las Vegas reign continues through October. During the 85-minute spectacle, listen for favorites like "Copacabana," "Could It Be Magic" "Mandy," and "Weekend In New England."

July 13, 2018 Las Vegas Magazine"Can't smile without Barry Manilow" by Brock Radke
It doesn’t matter if you’re a true Fanilow or if you only know the words to “Mandy” -- you’re going to get all the hits when you catch Barry Manilow in his new Las Vegas residency.

Las Vegas has become one of Manilow’s favorite places to perform over the years and he’s played plenty of different venues, but the intimate and old-school International is the prime place to enjoy his classic catalog. The superstar singer and songwriter told Las Vegas Magazine he’s honed his set down to the audience’s absolute favorites: “I would try to throw in an album cut and they’d be okay with it but then I’d do ‘Can’t Smile Without You’ and the roof would cave in. They were telling me what they wanted. They want to hear the songs they know and I’m happy to do that.”

So warm up your vocal cords for a spectacular sing-along and get ready for “I Write the Songs,” “Looks Like We Made It,” “Weekend in New England,” “Copacabana” and many more. Expect Manilow’s famous cover of the Four Seasons’ tune “Let’s Hang On!” and maybe a little “Strangers in the Night,” too. If you want it, you’re going to get it.

Westgate Las Vegas, 8 p.m. July 19-21 & 26-28, $19.75-$329.75 plus tax and fee. 702.732.5111.

July 11, 2018 MassLive"Barry Manilow pleases Mohegan Sun crowd (review)" by Keith O'Connor
Pop superstar Barry Manilow has certainly had his detractors over the years, plenty of them critics, but some listeners as well, who consider him the king of schlock. But on Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena, there was mostly love for the 75-year-old singer from an adoring crowd of fans who packed the venue to see the veteran tunesmith.

The Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award-winning musician's career skyrocketed to superstardom when his mega hit song, "Mandy," topped the charts in 1975. Since then, his worldwide record sales have exceeded 85 million and today he is ranked as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time with over 50 Top 40 hits.

Manilow could have called this his "greatest hits" tour -- filling an 85-minute show with 17 bonafide hit singles and four album tracks. Most of the songs were from his early hit-making days of the seventies -- tunes like "Can't Smile Without You," "Even Now," "Mandy," "I Write the Songs," "Weekend in New England," "Daybreak," "Could It Be Magic" and more. There were also two songs from his '80's catalog, "Let's Hang On" and "I Made It Through the Rain," then jumping ahead more than 30 years with two cuts from his 2017 album, "This Is My Town: Songs from New York," including the title tune and "On Broadway/New York City Rhythm." "Let's get this party started," Manilow told the audience after taking the stage about 8:15 p.m. "We have so much music that we may be here all night."

Dressed in black with a sparkling jacket, the popular showman began the evening with the high-energy "It's A Miracle." Highlights included his rendition of "Even Now" while sitting at the piano. When the song ended, the crowd went wild, endlessly clapping and stomping their feet. "I'm so glad you still love these songs," he said, seemingly surprised by the reaction.

Manilow even surprised himself on a disco version of "Could It Be Magic," reworked from the original which appeared on his first album in 1973, telling his audience, "So, what's your 75-year-old grandfather doing tonight?"

For "Mandy," a video of Manilow was used showing him singing the song on telvision's "The Midnight Special," and being introduced to the world by record impresario Clive Davis. Not long into the song, Manilow came back out on stage to sit at the piano and duet with himself on the screen.

The superstar singer and composer also took a moment to reflect on the music of the day, noting "there is an element missing in the songs on the radio today." "Is it just me," he asked the audience, "or is there a lack of melody? Where did the melodies go? They're right here tonight."

For his encore, Manilow came back with a rousing version of "Copacabana (At the Copa)," complete with a disco ball descending from above ... A final, second encore included a shortend version of "It's A Miracle," which he said he was happy to sing again after opening the show with the song.

A band of nine musicians and three backup singers accompanied Manilow throughout the show. Glow sticks were handed out while entering the arena for audience members to wave throughout the night. And they did, endlessly.

July 6, 2018 The Morning Call"REVIEW: Barry Manilow finds the magic at Sands Bethlehem Event Center" by John J. Moser
As good as singer Barry Manilow’s concert at Allentown’s PPL Center last October was, his show at Sands Bethlehem Event Center on Thursday was better. It wasn’t just that the venue [was] smaller... It was more [that] it was the right setting for it. And that Manilow performed better.

On the first point, Manilow’s concert is very much in the Las Vegas vein – with a healthy dose of “show” to it. So that when, during the hit “Can’t Smile Without You,” he put up the words with a bouncing ball on a screen behind him for the crowd to follow (and, oh, they did), it seemed natural. Or when he did choreographed dancing with his three background singers, then did a quick-switch playing at the piano with two members of his six-man band during “New York [City] Rhythm” from his latest album. Or when he danced during a Donna Summer-disco version of his song “Could It Be Magic” -- and made a point of it by asking the crowd, “So what’s your 75-year-old grandfather doing tonight?” (Yes, Manilow is 75.) Those things would have been lost on a much larger crowd, but made the Sands show far more fun. Even his sparkly, blue-gray suit screamed casino...

As he did at PPL Center, Manilow opened with “It’s a Miracle,” and quickly established a connection with the crowd, noting it had been 18 years since he had played in Bethlehem (last time in 2000 at Stabler Arena), and also referencing his Allentown show. “We’ve got a lot of time to make up for,” he said.

He [told] the crowd that [its] standing ovation after “Even Now” made him feel like Justin Bieber. That response was deserved; the 40-year-old song holds up extraordinarily well, and Manilow performed it strongly – slow and serious at piano to start, then standing for a big finish that included a long, strong note.

That brings us to the second previous point: Manilow’s performance Thursday was unmistakably stronger... On the night’s second song, “Daybreak,” he showed he was clearly in good voice, and the following “Somewhere in the Night” succeeded because of his vocals. “Looks Like We Made It” started softer and sweeter, but grew into a more bombastic finish on which Manilow reached for – and achieved – a long, high note.

Manilow followed that with a very good, well-sung “Weekend in New England.” “You’re a romantic crowd,” he told the audience after its reception to that song. “That’s a romantic song. I was turning myself on. I never dreamed I would become the super mega sex god I am.”

That also showed the good humor Manilow displayed throughout the show. He also did a couple of fun [songs] during the night: His theme to “American Bandstand” and a medley of TV commercials he wrote, such as for Band-Aids and State Farm insurance. Even more serious songs were fun: A cover of The Four Seasons’ “Let’s Hang On,” and the show-tune-ish songs from his new disc, “This is My Town.” That was true of its title song, but it worked – precisely because Manilow is good at that. And a pairing of The Drifters’ “On Broadway” with his new “New York [City] Rhythm,” on which he also did choreographed dance with his backup singers.

[The] true success of Manilow’s show was how many of his hits hold up because of how well constructed they are. Early on, he told the audience the “element missing on today’s pop radio...would be melody. Where did the melodies go? I’ll tell you, they’re right here tonight.” And it really showed as the show wound down. “I Made It Through the Rain” was essentially autobiographical: Manilow really has made it through the rain to continue his career as long as he has. And at the end, he reprised a snippet of “Looks Like We Made It,” to let the audience know it was a part of that, too.

He saved his biggest hits for last... “Mandy” [paired] with a reprise of “Could It Be Magic” and duetting with a younger version of himself on the old “Midnight Special” TV show on the large screen. A red-robed chorale from Bethlehem’s Liberty High School joined Manilow on stage for “I Write the Songs” and a fun “Copacabana (At the Copa)” before he ended with a reprise of “It’s a Miracle.”

July 7, 2018 The Sun"BARRY'S BACK Barry Manilow’s 2018 UK tour ... All you need to know" by Hayley Coyle
Barry Manilow kicks off his UK dates of The Manilow - The Hits Come Home tour on September 1. He is currently touring in the US until July 28 before a short break. He's got one date in Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham then the rest are in London. The dates are:

  • Leeds September 01
  • Manchester September 02
  • Birmingham September 04
  • London September 06-08

For the Leeds gig [tickets are] £21.05 [to] £110.05. For Manchester very front row tickets are £450; general seating ranges from £36 to £110. In Birmingham tickets start at £22 and go up to £93. Then in London the range is from £76 to £118. Tickets can be bought from barrymanilow.com/tickets.

Barry Manilow is a celebrated singer whose career has spanned more than five decades. His career kicked off in the early 60s when a CBS director asked him to arrange some songs for a musical adaptation of The Drunkard, which went on to have an eight year run in the 13th Street Theatre. In 1974 he achieved success with his break out hit "Mandy" and his musical career continued from then until the present day. He has released 32 studio albums, 4 live albums, 15 compilation albums, and 57 singles and has sold over 80 million records worldwide.

July 4, 2018 Bucks County Courier Times"Barry Manilow sings the old songs in Atlantic City: The singer/songwriter will perform many of his biggest hits on stage at the Borgata" by Ed Condran
Barry Manilow writes the songs. The legendary singer-songwriter wrote most of his hits. However, Manilow did not pen one of his popular tunes, “I Write the Songs.” The Beach Boys’ Bruce Johnston actually wrote the song, which Manilow was initially reluctant to record. Upon first glance, Manilow believed the song exuded hubris. “That’s what it looked like to me,” Manilow says. “Then I took a deeper look. I realized that the song is an anthem. I realized that I could make it into a terrific anthem. I rearranged it and it became a hit. I did have some concerns at first that it would sound like I was bragging when I sang the song but if you look at the words, I’m not singing it as if it’s me. The first line of the song is ‘I’ve been [alive] forever.’ I’ve been around for a long time but please.”

Manilow, 75, has been a professional tunesmith for more than a half-century. The Brooklyn native started out during the early ’60s as a jingle writer. Some of his work still endures. His State Farm jingle, “Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm is There” is remarkably still utilized. Manilow wrote and sung jingles for McDonalds (“You deserve a break today”) and Pepsi (“All across the nation, it’s the Pepsi generation”). “Writing jingles is a challenge,” Manilow says. “But I enjoyed it so much. There is a real art to it. But I couldn’t write jingles forever. I had to move on.”

The ante was upped during the ’70s when Manilow became a pop singer-songwriter and hit sonic pay dirt. “This One’s For You,” “Daybreak” and “Copacabana” are just some of the hits he wrote. But it’s fascinating how many of the songs he recorded which charted that were written by other songwriters. “Weekend in New England,” “Looks Like We Made It” and “I Can’t Smile Without You” were penned by songwriters for hire.

The charismatic Manilow almost didn’t record the latter. “When I heard ‘I Can’t Smile Without You,’ it was a lousy production with a piano player and a singer singing out of tune. I turned down doing that song for three albums in a row. I said no way to that song. (Arista Records CEO) Clive (Davis) was like, ‘Who does he think he is, Bob Dylan?’”

It’s worked out well for Manilow, who will perform Friday and Saturday at the Borgata. He has reached the Top 40, 47 times; 27 of those singles hit the Top 10 and a dozen reached the top of the chart. The numbers are staggering. Manilow can’t play all of his hits at a concert, which is why over the years he has delivered medleys on occasion. “I’ve been unbelievably fortunate,” Manilow says. “It’s been an amazing career and it’s continuing. I can’t ask for anything more. I’ve experienced so much and the fans have never left me. They still come out. They’re supportive. They sing along. I can’t complain about anything.”

If You Go: Barry Manilow appears Friday and Saturday at the Borgata, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City. Tickets are $109, $149 and $249. Show time is 8 p.m. For more information: 609-317-1000 or theborgata.com.

July 4, 2018 The Day"Barry Manilow headlines Mohegan Sun Tuesday" by Mary Biekert
Barry Manilow told Rolling Stone once that he is haunted by Bob Dylan, a man who is still alive. Turns out some years back, Dylan stopped Manilow at a party, gave him a wonderful hug, looked [Manilow] in the eye, and said, “Don't stop doing what you're doing, man. We're all inspired by you." Was Dylan being serious? Or was he subtly mocking Manilow? I guess we’ll never really know, but such is the case for Manilow, who is keenly aware, at any given moment, that he and his music are often the punchlines to jokes and the butt of mean-spirited teasing. In fact, it seems that a Rite Aid in San Diego started blasting Manilow’s music over its outside loudspeakers in June to deter loiterers. Supposedly, the tactic worked. How’s that for an insult?

What is it, then, about Manilow’s music, with it Frank Sinatra-esque glamour, ’70s dance beats and sappy soft rock quality, that is so adored by some and detested by others? For Manilow fans, the answer to that is: no matter. He is their soft rock king, and well, why not? Manilow has the most contagious smile out there. One look at him, and how could you not want to give the guy a hug? And he genuinely seems like a nice guy, someone who certainly knows how to make fans feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.

Manilow, 74, will perform in concert Tuesday at Mohegan Sun. Fans will hear an array of the hits that he’s had over the years, from his earlier disco-inspired days to his more recent tunes. Tracks to look forward to include “It’s a Miracle,” “Somewhere in the Night,” “Weekend in New England,” and, of course, “Copacabana” and “Mandy.”

Barry Manilow, 8 p.m. Tuesday, Mohegan Sun Arena; $39.50-$125; 1-800-745-3000.

July 5, 2018 The Morning Call"Top Concerts of the Coming Week: Barry Manilow" by John J. Moser
In 2015, singer Barry Manilow did a tour he called One Last Time!, giving a clear indication he was giving up touring. Yet here it is three years later, and Manilow, now 75, is still doing shows. After an absence of 17 years, he is back in the Lehigh Valley for the second time in nine months; he performed at Allentown’s PPL Center in October. Does that matter? Probably not; Manilow’s PPL Center concert was very good -- a 21-song, 85-minute set filled with hits (he’s had 50 in the Top 40, making him the most successful adult contemporary artist ever). And this time it’s a much smaller venue. So prepare yourself, after seeing this show, to describe the experience using a Manilow song title: “It’s a Miracle.” 8 p.m. July5, Sands Bethlehem Event Center, 77 Sands Blvd. Tickets: $125, $150, single seats only; other areas sold out; re-sale tickets available, www.sandseventcenter.com, 610-297-7414.

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