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| September 25, 2004 | Billboard / Reuters / Yahoo! | "Q&A: Barry Manilow" by Melinda Newman |
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| Barry Manilow has a busy fall. On Sept. 28, Concord Records releases "Scores: Songs from 'Copacabana' and 'Harmony'," Manilow's 43rd album. The CD is a collection of tunes from two musicals penned by Manilow, as performed by him. Two days later, the superstar opens his One Night Live! One Last Time! tour at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J. The two-month arena outing will be his last major concert tour, Manilow says. But he will hardly be idle once the tour wraps. Manilow already has plans for his next album and is busy bringing "Harmony" to Broadway. The musical (which he co-wrote with Bruce Sussman) tells the true story of the Comedian Harmonists, a German group of boy singers that the Nazis forced to disband. While Manilow may not miss the road, the road will miss him. He has been a high-grossing artist for more than three decades. According to Billboard Boxscore, his last major tour, which ended in August 2002, grossed more than $23 million. Much to his surprise, Manilow has found a new audience of younger fans whom, he believes, must have learned about him from their parents and his appearance last season on "American Idol." "At the (Sept. 13) 'Oprah' taping, there were all these belly-button girls requesting songs," he says with a laugh. "I finally said, 'How do you know these songs? They're older than you.' And they said, 'No, they're not. This is what I grew up with: My parents loved it and now we're loving it."' Others say Manilow's durability is just a matter of talent. Manilow talked to Billboard during a break in rehearsals for his tour. Q: You're so well-known for your songwriting. Assess today's songcraft.
A: What songcraft? That's the part that makes me sad, because I don't hear craft; it's dying. The (records) sound great and certainly the singers -- because they have no lyric to act any more -- have learned to sing rings around anything I could ever imagine. But the craft of writing a song seems to have taken a vacation. And when I listen to the radio, I don't feel anything. And I miss it. I've joined the old-fart club. In the car, I play old CDs where people make me feel something, because 30 years ago they were still doing it. Q: What was your "American Idol" experience like?
A: I had a good time. I got to know all these kids. I turned it down (at first) because I don't watch TV. Ever since "Laverne & Shirley" went off the air, there is nothing to listen to and watch. When they asked me, I watched it and I said ... "Hmm, they're going to do this to my hits? And I'm supposed to judge them?" I'm going to be sliding under the table if I don't help them. It didn't seem like they had enough time to give to these kids (to develop the songs). So I called them and said, "Thank you very much, but unless you give me some time on the show to rearrange my songs so that they are tailor-made for each performer, I (pass. So) they let me work with them for two weeks, (and then) I could actually judge their interpretation of the songs they picked. I thought they did a damn good job, all of them. Q: Why are you quitting the road?
A: It's not that I don't like performing, I just don't like leaving home. But it's not like I'm giving up and retiring. I'll probably still wind up at the Pantages or Universal Amphitheater now and again. I just don't want to do these big tours where they keep me away from my life ... 35 years of no life. (He laughs.) I've decided that I need my life back: to play with my dogs, go to the movies, visit with friends. I need that. I've never been able to sell out arenas before. Neil Diamond has sold out arenas all of his life. I always felt that I do better in a small house. I communicate much deeper and much more easily. But I guess I'm to the point of once before I croak or something (imitates ticket buyer): "Is he still alive? We'll see him before he croaks." Q: Would you do a residency similar to Celine Dion's at Caesars Palace?
A: I sure would! That would be the perfect compromise. Q: "Scores" includes songs from "Harmony," which has been edging its way toward Broadway in a series of fits and starts. What is its status?
A: We just finished a very successful workshop on it (two weeks ago) in New York for 90 rich people, potential investors and theater owners at each (of the two) performances. I now think it really is only a matter of a theater opening up and "Harmony" going in. It's been worth the effort, but it's been very difficult. Q: You immersed yourself in German classical and pop music of the late '30s to prepare for "Harmony." What drives you to educate yourself in this way?
A: My mission is to pass it down. My next album I'd love to have Concord release is the Johnny Mercer collection that I've written (music) to. Ginger Mercer, his widow, gave me the stack of lyrics. There were about 35 of them in there, and over the years I've musicalized all of them. And I'm going to ask everyone I've ever known to do one. I'm going to ask Bette (Midler), Norah Jones and Gillian Welch and Willie Nelson and just send them all one and say, "You do your version of this and see if you can stick close to what he wanted." That would be my dream, just to keep this kind of stuff alive, because this kind of stuff is dying. Q: Every album you've produced for another artist has been nominated for a Grammy Award -- most recently your work with Bette Midler. Whom else would you like to produce?
A: I would love to see if I could help a guy out. I've never tried to produce a male singer. The two guys that I'm crazy about are Peter Cincotti and Curtis Stigers. Q: Why don't we hear more of your music in commercials?
A: I (almost) always turn them down, because they're going to hurt them. I remember they asked me if they could do "This One's for You" for a Budweiser commercial years ago. I said, "No, no!" So they wrote their own song, "This Bud's for You." They used my recording of "I Can't Smile Without You" for a car commercial. That one doesn't bother me. As long as they leave my arrangement alone or they leave the feel alone or they leave what I did alone. But I couldn't let them do a beer commercial with "This One's for You." They would have ruined the emotion of the song, and that was just too important to me.
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| September 22, 2004 | Press Release (Source: Concord Records) | Music to Warm the Hearts of Loved Ones This Holiday Season |
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| BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 2004--Shakespeare said, "If music be the food of love, play on." So, what better way to show your appreciation for someone special this holiday season than with the gift of song [from] Concord Records ... "SCORES-Songs from Copacabana and Harmony" is the 43rd recording from Barry Manilow. Long-involved as a songwriter for musical theater, this CD features Manilow's personal renditions of songs he wrote as a labor of love for two of his musical properties, Copacabana and Harmony. "Getting to record these songs I love so dearly is truly an honor for me," says Manilow. "The joy of the songs from Copacabana will surely entertain listeners and put smiles on faces, and the songs from Harmony are some of my proudest achievements." Bring a smile to the face of a loved one this year with the latest hit from this singing-songwriting sensation. |
| August 20, 2004 | Billboard.com | Manilow Records 'Copa,' 'Harmony' Scores |
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| Veteran singer/songwriter Barry Manilow is recording music he's written for a pair of stage projects as his next studio album. Due Sept. 28 via Concord, "SCORES -- Songs From Copacabana and Harmony" is being co-produced by Manilow and Phil Ramone. It is expected to boast 14 songs split between the musicals "Copacabana" and "Harmony." "Getting to record these songs I love so dearly is truly an honor for me," Manilow says. "The joy of the songs from 'Copacabana' will surely entertain listeners and put smiles on faces, and the songs from 'Harmony' are some of my proudest achievements." Grown out of his 1978 hit and one of his most well-known songs, "Copacabana" has been both a musical telefilm and a stage project in London, the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, Europe and India. Based on the true story of Germany's Comedian Harmonists, "Harmony" is in development and is expected to open on Broadway next year. Manilow co-wrote the songs with Bruce Sussman, who wrote the show's book. Here is the tentative "SCORES-Songs From Copacabana and Harmony" track list: "Just Arrived" (from "Copacabana")
"Dancin' Fool" (from "Copacabana")
"Who Needs To Dream?" (from "Copacabana")
"Sweet Heaven (I'm In Love Again)" (from "Copacabana")
"Bolero De Amor" (from "Copacabana")
"This Can't Be Real" (from "Copacabana")
"Copacabana (At the Copa)" 2005 Dance Mix (from "Copacabana")
"Harmony" (from "Harmony")
"And What Do You See?" (from "Harmony")
"Every Single Day" (from "Harmony")
"This Is Our Time!" (from "Harmony")
"Where You Go" (from "Harmony")
"In This World" (from "Harmony")
"Stars in the Night" (from "Harmony") |
| August 16, 2004 | Press Release
(Source: Concord Records) | Barry Manilow Debut Album Scores! |
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| BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating his 43rd album, singing-songwriting sensation Barry Manilow will release "SCORES-Songs From Copacabana and Harmony" this fall on Concord Records. The much-anticipated album features Manilow's personal renditions of the songs he has written for two of his major musical properties, Copacabana and Harmony. Long involved as a songwriter for musical theater, Manilow will now get the chance to perform the songs he wrote as a labor of love. "Getting to record these songs I love so dearly is truly an honor for me," says Manilow. "The joy of the songs from Copacabana will surely entertain listeners and put smiles on faces, and the songs from Harmony are some of my proudest achievements." Copacabana, which Manilow wrote along with Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman, started as a worldwide number one hit song in 1978 before morphing into an original musical movie made for CBS television and then, ultimately, a musical for the stage. Copacabana enjoyed a successful 14-month run on London's West End before an 18-month tour of the UK. Since then, there have been more than 100 productions of Copacabana on stage throughout the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, Europe and India. Harmony is based on the true story of Germany's "Comedian Harmonists." Recognized as the world's first superstar boy band, The Comedian Harmonists enjoyed international album and movie success, performed concert tours throughout Europe, the United States, and Australia, and recorded and performed with legendary stars Marlene Dietrich and Josephine Baker, before being forced to disband by the Nazi regime. The book for Harmony was written by Bruce Sussman. Manilow and Sussman co-wrote all of the songs for the musical. Harmony is currently in development for an anticipated Broadway opening in 2005. Currently set to include seven songs from each of the two productions, including a new dance mix version of the GRAMMY(R) winning song "Copacabana (At The Copa)," "SCORES-Songs From Copacabana and Harmony" is being co-produced by Manilow and legendary, multi-GRAMMY Award-winner Phil Ramone. The current track listing for "SCORES-Songs From Copacabana and Harmony" includes: Copacabana
Just Arrived
Dancin'Fool
Who Needs To Dream?
Sweet Heaven (I'm In Love Again)
Bolero De Amor
This Can' Be Real
Copacabana (At The Copa) 2005 Dance Mix
Harmony
Harmony
And What Do You See?
Every Single Day
This Is Our Time!
Where You Go
In This World
Stars In The Night
"SCORES-Songs From Copacabana and Harmony" is scheduled to hit stores on September 28, two days before Manilow opens his "ONE NIGHT LIVE! ONE LAST TIME!" world tour. The tour is launched from Manilow's sold-out 2004 summer concerts at the 11,000 seat Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas and the 10,000 seat Blenheim Palace Music Festival outside of London, England. "ONE NIGHT LIVE! ONE LAST TIME!" will include material from "SCORES-Songs From Copacabana and Harmony," as well as material from Manilow's recent double disc "2 NIGHTS LIVE!" CD, released this year by BMG in association with Concord Records. Current stops on the "ONE NIGHT LIVE! ONE LAST TIME!" tour include: Madison Square Garden, Continental Airlines Arena (East Rutherford, NJ), FleetCenter (Boston), Dunkin Donuts Center (Providence), First Union Arena (Wilkes-Barre), Nassau Veterans Coliseum (Uniondale, NY), Melon Arena (Pittsburgh), Wachovia Center (Philadelphia), MCI Center (Washington, DC), Gund Arena (Cleveland), Nationwide Arena (Columbus), Allstate Arena (Chicago), Palace of Auburn Hills (Detroit), Office Depot Center (Fort Lauderdale), Jacksonville Arena (Jacksonville), St. Pete Times Forum (Tampa), Toyota Center (Houston), American Airlines Arena (Dallas), Pepsi Center Arena (Denver), America West Arena (Phoenix), Arrowhead Pond (Anaheim) BARRY MANILOW is an internationally renowned superstar whose career spans recording and songwriting, television, film and stage. Based on industry charts, he is the undisputed Number One Adult Contemporary Artist of all time, and his record sales exceed 60 million worldwide. He has written hundreds of songs and performed around the world, thrilling millions of fans, picking up a Grammy, an Emmy, Tony Awards, and an Oscar nomination along the way. In 2002 Manilow was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Tickets for Manilow's tour are currently on-sale at http://www.manilow.com. |
| July 14, 2004 | Press Release
(Source: Stiletto Entertainment) | 'ONE NIGHT LIVE! - ONE LAST TIME!' Travels U.S. in Fall |
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| LOS ANGELES, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Following recent sold out performances at the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Arena and Blenheim Palace in London -- with over 20,000 in combined attendance, superstar BARRY MANILOW has announced that he will return to the concert circuit for ONE NIGHT LIVE! -- ONE LAST TIME! Scheduled for 21 major US cities starting on September 30 in New Jersey, the ONE LAST TIME! tour also follows the recent Gold Record Certification of Manilow's live album, "2Nights Live!" (BMG) and Gold Certification of "Ultimate Manilow" on DVD. Manilow's last concert tour -- in support of his acclaimed "Here At The Mayflower" (Concord) album and the now Platinum "Ultimate Manilow" greatest hits collection -- concluded in mid-2002 and ranked in the Top Ten Grossing Concert Tours for the year. Many assumed that the 2002 tour would mark the end of Manilow's appearances in concert. ONE NIGHT LIVE! -- ONE LAST TIME! is Manilow's return to the concert stage and to performing "in the round." The tour is being produced by Clear Channel Entertainment in association with STILETTO Entertainment and will play major arenas in Boston, New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Denver, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Phoenix. Barry Manilow tickets are on sale now at www.manilow.com. |
| July 5, 2004 | The Star Online
(Malaysia) | "Manilow's still the ace mellow man" by Jill Alphonso |
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| A make-up artist on American Idol did not recognise Barry Manilow when he appeared recently as a guest judge. But if you thought that the incident suggests that the veteran singer is a has-been, think again. The man most famous for hits like "Mandy" and "Copacabana" may not be known to younger listeners, but his records are still selling by the truckload. In fact, they are doing so well that he is to embark on an American tour in September. This comes on the heels of the release of his new album, "Two Nights Live," in April. Although his last tour in 2002 grossed him a staggering US $21.4mil, this upcoming one may signal the end of life on the road, he says in a phone interview from his Palm Springs home. "I hate being away from home for months at a time. I hate hotel rooms," says the 57-year-old singer in a voice that tells you he gets tired just thinking about it all. "Touring is a younger person's delight." On the phone, he is conversational, answering each question with ease, even those that he may be uncomfortable with. "I came into money very quickly, and it was just something I went through, like any other performer," he says frankly about a time which he labels his "a-hole period." "I found groupies intrusive and offensive." Manilow, whose 32 albums have sold over 58 million copies worldwide, performed two sell-out shows at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in 1992, and one at Suntec City Convention Centre in 1996. He is currently working on a musical called Harmony, which will hit Broadway in New York early next year. His first musical production, staged in London in 1994, and then in the United States in 2000, was called Copacabana, after his famous 1978 hit. The song itself remains a listeners' favourite. It was once sung by Jennifer Aniston on TV sitcom Friends, and is even offered as a mobile phone ringtone by service providers. He is also working on an album of original songs, which he hopes to release within the next two years. "I've hit the wall with tours," he says of his 30-year career. "But that doesn't mean that I'm done as a musician." Fans also seem reluctant to see him go. His album of greatest hits, "Ultimate Manilow," was released in 2002 in the United States. Debuting at No.3 on Billboard's Top 200 chart, it has since gone platinum (one million copies sold). It was re-released with a bonus track off Copacabana: The Musical in April this year. The accompanying DVD, which hit stores at the same time as the album's re-release, has gone gold (500,000 copies). "Ultimate Manilow" was released in this region in 2002 and was re-released in May this year (BMG Malaysia). This is no small feat given that he has been blasted as an easy-listening, elevator music curio and that his songs were once described by The New York Times as "processed cheese". But non-critics think otherwise. Why else was he asked to appear as a guest judge on the much-watched American Idol 3 in April this year, when all the contestants performed his songs in one episode? "I had never watched American Idol till I was asked onto the programme," he admits. "But once I started watching, I was hooked." Of today's singing idols, he is betting on last year's American Idol runner-up, Clay Aiken, to have staying power. "He's a better singer than me," he says modestly. When asked if Aiken will have to take the easy-listening rap that he has had to face throughout his career, Manilow says, "Yes, he's an easy target, as I was." Born in Brooklyn, New York, Manilow's parents divorced when he was a child and he was raised primarily by his mother and grandmother. He graduated from New York's Juilliard School, a prestigious institution for music and the performing arts. At 18, he began writing musical scores for the stage and wrote jingles for TV advertisements, including one for McDonald's. In 1972, he became Bette Midler's music director, arranger and pianist. He branched out on his own two years later after he opened a show for her to overwhelming response. At 22, he married his high-school sweetheart, but got divorced within the same year. He has said that the experience was so emotionally shattering that he has never remarried. He lives with his girlfriend, Linda Allen, whom he met in the 1970s. He has no plans to marry or have children. "I'm married to my work," he told television show host Larry King in 2002. He has performed for the late Princess Diana, won a Grammy award for best male pop vocal performance with "Copacabana" in 1978, and earned an Oscar nomination for "Ready To Take A Chance Again," the song he wrote for the 1978 movie Foul Play, which starred Chevy Chase. All these must have given him the sweetest revenge on all those stuffy detractors. "I've always loved what I do. All I've ever wanted was to make people feel through my songs," he says with satisfaction. |
| July 1, 2004 | Yahoo! News | 'First lady of jazz' Diane Schuur to embark on European tour |
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| Grammy-winning US singer and pianist Diane Schuur will take her stunning vocal range and bluesy sound to Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London and to Italy during her new European tour starting next month. Schuur, who has performed with jazz greats including Ray Charles, Stan Getz and B.B. King and sung at New York's Carnegie Hall and the White House, is promoting her new album made with another famous name not usually connected with jazz -- that of crooner Barry Manilow. "A lot of people don't know that he's a really a big jazz fan ... I did a project with him in 1987 and when he joined my record label, Concord, they asked him who he would like to work with and he came up with my name," said the artist who has been known as "Deedles" since childhood. The result is Schuur's album "Midnight," produced by Eddie Arkin and Manilow, who also wrote all 13 tracks on the disc for her. The album which shows off her luminous three-and-a-half octave vocal range and her ability to switch between moods and genres. "His melodies are just great," Schuur said. "I never imagined when I first met him years ago that he would end up writing a whole album of songs for me. It's a real honour." The album boasts three duets: one with Manilow ("Anytime"), another with pop-soul singer Brian McKnight ("I'll Be There") and the comical "Stay Away From Bill") with jazz vocalist Karrin Allyson. |
| June 10, 2004 | Pollstar - The Concert Hotwire | One Last Time For Manilow |
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| Barry Manilow will hit arenas in at least 20 major U.S. cities this fall on his "One Night Live! - One Last Time!" tour, scheduled to launch September 30 in East Rutherford, N.J. All concerts are to be performed "in the round," with a stage set up in the center of the arena. A single U.K. date is scheduled for July 4 at Woodstock's Blenheim Palace. Manilow last toured in 2002, when he grossed close to $24 million on two North American legs and a British run. Despite the tour's highly suggestive moniker, there's no official word on whether this year's concerts will be Manilow's final live appearances. The singer, who has sold more than 50 million albums throughout his three-decade career, recently received a trio of honors with the gold certification of his Two Nights Live! album and "Ultimate Manilow" DVD, as well as platinum status for the Ultimate Manilow greatest hits collection. |
| June 10, 2004 | The Boston Herald | "Manilow tour includes weekend in New England" by Dean Johnson |
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| Barry Manilow will return to the concert circuit with a One Night Live! - One Last Time! tour that begins Sept. 30 and includes 22 cities. Manilow.com lists shows at the FleetCenter on Oct. 1 and Providence's Dunkin' Donuts Center on Oct. 2 among the initial dates. Ticket information for the in-the-round concerts is still to be announced. Manilow's last tour concluded in mid-2002. |
| June 9, 2004 | Billboard.com | "Manilow To Tour 'One Last Time'?" by Jonathan Cohen |
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| Barry Manilow has scheduled dates for a fall tour that may -- or may not -- be his last. The veteran performer's One Night Live! One Last Time! arena trek will kick off Sept. 30 in East Rutherford, N.J., and wrap Nov. 13 in Anaheim, Calif., with shows to be staged in the round. Manilow, who will turn 58 on June 17, released the two-disc concert set "2 Nights Live" in April via BMG, easily explaining the first half of the tour's show biz moniker. It is unknown if the "One Last Time!" portion of the title alludes to a decision by the veteran performer to retire from the road. A representative for Manilow's management declined to speculate on the meaning, if any, behind the tour's name. "2 Nights Live" bowed at No. 27 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 133,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Confirmation of the outing comes following a sold-out concert Saturday at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay that was billed as One Night Live! The show featured a duet with Donna Summer on "Could It Be Magic," which Manilow took to No. 5 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1975; Summer's version hit No. 52 the following year. A sole European version of One Night Live! One Last Time! is scheduled for July 4 in Oxfordshire, England. Members of the Barry Manilow International Fan Club will have access to advance ticket sales to shows on the upcoming U.S. tour via the artist's official Web site and Starz.bz. In February, Manilow was admitted to a Palm Springs, Calif., hospital for tests after suffering chest pains. At the time, his representative said the pains were caused by "heartbreak" relating to bitter arbitration over the rights to the musical "Harmony." The performer seemed healthy and strong during an April appearance on the Fox talent competition series "American Idol," where he coached contestants through rehearsals of his songs. He also sat in as a guest judge and performed "Let Freedom Ring" with the show's cast of finalists. |
| June 9, 2004 | Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | Barry Manilow coming to Mellon Arena |
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| Barry Manilow will return to the concert circuit with a "One Night Live! -- One Last Time!" tour. The 22-city tour will begin Sept. 30, Stiletto Entertainment said yesterday. Manilow will appear Oct. 14 at Mellon Arena, Uptown. Other stops include Boston, New York, Washington, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Cleveland, Detroit and Phoenix. Manilow's last tour concluded in mid-2002. |
| June 9, 2004 | ABC News | Barry Manilow Will Return to the Concert Circuit With a One Night Live! -- One Last Time! Tour |
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| NEW YORK June 9, 2004 (AP) � Barry Manilow will return to the concert circuit with a One Night Live! One Last Time! tour. The 22-city tour will begin Sept. 30, Stiletto Entertainment said Tuesday. Stops include Boston, New York, Washington, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Cleveland, Detroit and Phoenix. |
| June 8, 2004 | Press Release
(Source: Stiletto Entertainment) | 'ONE NIGHT LIVE! -- ONE LAST TIME!' Travels U.S. in Fall |
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| LOS ANGELES, June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Hot on the heels of his sold out concert Saturday Night (June 5) at the 11,000 seat Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas, Barry Manilow has announced that he will return to the concert circuit for ONE NIGHT LIVE! -- ONE LAST TIME! Scheduled for 22 major US cities starting on September 30, the ONE LAST TIME! tour also follows the recent Gold Record Certification of Manilow's "live" album, Two Nights Live! (BMG), Gold Certification of Ultimate Manilow on DVD, and the Platinum Certification of the Ultimate Manilow greatest hits album. Manilow's last concert tour concluded in mid-2002 and ranked in the Top Ten Grossing Concert Tours for the year. Many assumed that the 2002 tour would mark the end of Manilow's appearances in concert. ONE NIGHT LIVE! -- ONE LAST TIME! marks Manilow's return to the concert stage and to performing "in the round." The tour is being produced by Clear Channel Entertainment in association with STILETTO Entertainment and will play major arenas in Boston, New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Denver, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Phoenix. Final schedule details are currently being confirmed before tickets are scheduled to go on sale in early July. |
| June 8, 2004 | Live Daily | "Lengthy fall tour ahead for Barry Manilow" by Rob Evans |
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| Singer/songwriter Barry Manilow has unveiled plans for a fall tour that's expected to visit arenas in 22 major U.S. markets this fall. Organizers continue to put the final touches on the schedule, which starts with a Sept. 30 show in East Rutherford, NJ. Tickets will go on sale in early July, according to Stiletto Entertainment, which is producing the tour with Clear Channel Entertainment. Manilow plans to perform "in the round," with the stage set up in the center of the arena, according to producers. The tour is dubbed "One Night Live!--One Last Time!" and comes on the heels of his new live album, "Two Nights Live," which hit stores in April. "Two Nights Live" and the "Ultimate Manilow" DVD were recently certified gold by the Recording Industry of Association, and the best-of album "Ultimate Manilow," which was released in 2002, is now certified platinum. Manilow's most-recent major tour took place in 2002, when he visited 50 cities and grossed $21.4 million, according to Pollstar. The outing ranked at No. 21 on the concert-industry magazine's year-end Top 100 Tours list. |
| June 2004 | LasVegas.com | Barry Manilow at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Events Center |
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| Over the course of his illustrious career, Barry Manilow has found success in every aspect of music. The man who makes the whole world sing comes to the Mandalay Bay Events Center on June 5. Barry Manilow's golden touch as a singer, arranger, composer, and producer has made him one of few artists to have received a nomination for every major entertainment award, including Oscar, Grammy, Tony, and Emmy. He's released more than 40 albums as a performer and given us beloved favorites like "Mandy" and "I Write the Songs." His signature hit "Copacabana" turned into a musical that enjoyed a successful 18-month run on London's prestigious West End, toured the U.S., and hatched international productions that continue to pack them in. Just how good is Barry Manilow? In 2002 alone, Manilow's collection, Ultimate Manilow, debuted at number three on Billboard's Top 200, Radio & Records magazine named him the "Number One Adult Contemporary Artist of All Time," and Manilow received one of the industry's highest honors when he was enshrined into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Perhaps Manilow's most amazing achievement of all is that every album he has produced for another artist has been nominated for a Grammy. |
| May 25-June 7, 2004 | What's On Magazine
(Las Vegas) | Could It Be Magic? One Night With Barry Manilow |
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| One night, one man, one amazing show. Barry Manilow's career has touched on every facet of music, including performing, composing, arranging and producing. He is also the recipient of Grammy, Emmy and Tony awards, and he was nominated for an Academy Award for "Ready To Take A Chance Again," the theme song to the 1978 film Foul Play. Rolling Stone magazine calls him "a giant among entertainers ... the showman of our generation." The megastar of adult contemporary music comes to the Mandalay Bay Events Center June 5, his only U.S. concert date this year. Manilow's award-winning hits span 41 albums, including the classics, "Copacabana," "Mandy," "Even Now," "I Write The Songs" and "Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again." Manilow studied music in New York at the Juilliard School of Music and spent the early Seventies as Bette Midler's accompanist and arranger. He also wrote jingles for commercials, such as State Farm and McDonald's. In 1974, he became a star when "Mandy," who gave without taking, gave Manilow his first No. 1 hit on the Adult Contemporary chart. Being multi-talented has allowed Manilow to take on a broad range of projects over his 30-year career. Manilow has produced albums for other artists, including Bette Midler, Nancy Wilson, and Dionne Warwick, all of which have been nominated for Grammy awards. He's also had an extensive career in the theatre, beginning with a special Tony award in 1977. In 2001 he opened "Could It Be Magic? - The Barry Manilow Songbook" in Chicago. Most recently, the world premiere of his music, "Harmony," with book and lyrics by Bruce Sussman, enjoyed a successful run at the La Jolla Playhouse in California and is anticipated to head to Broadway in 2004. The musical is based on the true story of The Comedian Harmonists, a singing group of six young men who attempted to find harmony during the discordant times that led to the Third Reich gaining control of Germany. Manilow's also collaborated with Sussman for "Barry Manilow's Copacabana - The Musical." Inspired by his hit single, the elaborate two-act musical spectacular ran to packed houses in London's West End, a national company toured the U.S. and international productions are currently ongoing. On film, the singer has written songs for Disney's Oliver and Company (1988) and the animated features Thumbelina (1994) and The Pebble and the Penguin (1995). The millennium has brought more musical achievements from the No. 1 Adult Contemporary artist of all time. In 2001 he released "Here at the Mayflower," his first album of original music in more than 10 years. Each track on the album takes place in a different apartment in the Mayflower building, such as "Apartment 6C: I Miss You" and "Apartment 2G: I Hear Her Playing Music." This past April, the pop superstar released a 2 CD set, "2 Nights LIVE!," which features many of Manilow's greatest hits as well as fun bits of dialogue that only live concert audiences get to experience. Manilow has also made appearances on the small screen. In late 2003, he made a cameo appearance on NBC's "Will & Grace" in an episode titled "Fanilow," in which Will waited hours in line for concert tickets and a chance to meet the man himself. Manilow also confirmed his status as a music legend when he acted as a judge on FOX's "American Idol," where all the contestants performed his songs. In 2002 Manilow was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and he remains active with worthwhile charities and humanitarian efforts around the world. He is the national spokesperson for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. He is also a member of the National Academy of Jazz Board of Governors and the Music Center of Los Angeles. His charity involvement includes The Prince's Trust, United Way, the Starlight Foundation, numerous organizations fighting the battle against AIDS and many others. |
| March 23, 2004 | Press Release
(Source: BMG) | Manilow Jumps Into UK Top 10: Ultimate Manilow Hits Collection Becomes London Smash |
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| LOS ANGELES, March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Barry Manilow's star is burning brighter then ever. Following Westlife's recent No.1 hit with his classic song "Mandy" (which also went straight to the top of the US charts when originally released in 1975), Manilow's brand new greatest hits compilation Ultimate Manilow has brought one of the world's greatest showman his first UK Top 10 album since "A Touch More Magic" went to No. 10 in 1983. Ultimate Manilow is out now on BMG and is a timely reminder why Grammy award winning Barry Manilow is one of the most successful pop performers ever. As well as "Mandy," Ultimate Manilow includes an exclusive previously unreleased track "Who Needs to Dream" from Copacabana The Musical as well as 19 of the Brooklyn-born star's biggest hits, including the Chopin-inspired US Top 20 / UK Top 25 hit "Could It Be Magic;" The US No.1 hit "Looks Like We Made It" and "Copacabana (At The Copa)." Commenting on the success of Ultimate Manilow, Manilow said, "Well, this just goes to prove that if you live long enough, anything is possible! I couldn't be more excited or be more grateful to all of my wonderful UK fans." The pop superstar's unparalleled career includes every facet of music, including performing, composing, arranging, and producing, for which Manilow has received Grammy, Emmy and Tony Awards, and an Academy Award nomination. He has written the songs and musical scores for several motion pictures, plays, and several stage musicals. The everlasting talent of Barry Manilow hails him 'a giant among entertainers' and declares him 'the showman of our generation' (Rolling Stone Magazine). In the United States on April 6, 2004 BMG will release Barry Manilow's 2NightsLIVE! two CD set and the two DVD set UltimateMANILOW!, both sets from the superstar named "a giant among entertainers ... the showman of our generation" by Rolling Stone Magazine. These major releases follow on the heels of Manilow's platinum-plus smash album, Ultimate Manilow, and heralds the start of BMG Strategic Marketing Group's multi-year strategy for Barry Manilow's music catalog. |
| February 24, 2004 | The Desert Sun
(Palm Springs) | "Manilow says his 'faith in humanity' is restored" by Bruce Fessier |
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| Barry Manilow told members of his fan club last week he has "regained faith in humanity" after winning an interim award from an American Arbitration Association panel in the arbitration over his musical play, "Harmony." Manilow called it, "the most stressful, mind-splitting experience I've ever had." Manilow's publicist, Jerry J. Sharell, said the New York ruling means the show's former producer, Snorkel Productions Inc., must return all "Harmony" literary materials to Manilow and his writing partner, Bruce Sussman, and immediately cease any involvement with the show. "Harmony," about a group of boy vocalists who formed in Germany before World War II, closed before its Broadway tryout in Philadelphia due to lack of funds. Manilow and Sussman sued to regain rights to the musical, but Manilow suffered chest pains during the arbitration and was hospitalized Jan. 31 at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. He returned to his Palm Springs home the following day. Sharell said Manilow and Sussman will now seek a new, properly-sized theater to resume out-of-town tryouts with the same cast. |
| February 24, 2004 | Billboard.com | "Manilow Marches Onto 'American Idol'" by Carla Hay and Jonathan Cohen |
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| Barry Manilow will be one of the celebrity guest judges on the current season of "American Idol," Billboard.com has learned. In live episodes airing April 19-20, Manilow will sit in as a judge alongside Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. The episodes will feature the contestants performing Manilow songs, and Manilow himself will perform on the April 20 edition... In other Manilow news, the singer/songwriter recently won a interim arbitration awarding him and writing partner Bruce Sussman the rights to their stage musical "Harmony." The American Arbitration Association ruled that former "Harmony" producer Snorkel Productions no longer has the rights to the musical and can no longer act as its representative. A Manilow spokesperson says the musical will now go forward with plans to be staged on Broadway. Meanwhile, the artist is gearing up for his only planned U.S. concert appearance this year on June 5 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. On April 6, BMG Heritage will release Manilow's "2 Nights Live!," a two-disc set consisting mostly of the singer's greatest hits performed live. The set also includes six previously unreleased songs such as "Every Single Day" and the title track from "Harmony." Manilow will make a series of TV appearances to promote the release, including ABC's "Good Morning America" on April 7 and "The View" on April 8, as well as the syndicated programs "The Ellen Degeneres Show" on April 19 and "On-Air With Ryan Seacrest" on April 22. |
| February 19, 2003 | Broadway.com | "Manilow & Sussman Win Back Rights to Harmony" by Cara Joy David |
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| A decision has been made in the arbitration between Harmony creators Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman and producer Mark Schwartz's Snorkel Productions, Inc. A panel of three arbitrators unanimously decided in favor of the creators, ordering Schwartz to cease dealing with the property in any form and to return all literary materials relating to the show back to the creators. Manilow and Sussman are now able to bring the property to other producers. On November 13, 2003, the planned pre-Broadway production of Harmony at Philadelphia's Forrest Theatre, which was scheduled to begin performances on December 2, was abruptly cancelled after Schwartz severely undercapitalized the mounting. "None of us had anyway of knowing the show was not capitalized, so it was a devastating blow," director David Warren told Broadway.com at the time. "This kind of thing doesn't happen that often -- Mark can say all he wants about how so many shows don't have their capitalization in place, but what we are talking about here is a catastrophe and it is due to a producer's ineptitude." The same day that the cancellation was announced, attorneys for Manilow and Sussman fired off a letter to the producer, stating that they believed Schwartz violated the production contract and thus had no claim to the rights. Among other things the letter stated that Schwartz had defaulted on obligations to the Shubert Organization and numerous creditors, that he made multiple misrepresentations to the author and third parties about the legal and financial status of the property and that he promised to repay and then did not the money Manilow spent renting a house in Florida (where the tryout of Harmony was originally expected to take place before the Philly switch). However Schwartz refused to give up the rights, telling Broadway.com: "The rights are not their rights, they are mine now. Until everything has been exhausted, they are mine." A week later Manilow and Sussman filed a notice demanding arbitration, which is binding, in the matter. It was so heart-wrenching for Manilow that he blamed the matter for his need to be rushed to the hospital on Saturday, January 31. (Manilow was released after a 24-hour stay at Desert Regional Medical Center to treat stress-related chest pains.) There is no word as to when Harmony will now get off the ground, but the creators are confident they can find a new producer capable of bringing the show to the Great White Way. |
| February 19, 2004 | Playbill.com | Manilow and Sussman Control Harmony Musical Again; Is It Broadway-Bound?" by Kenneth Jones |
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| Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman, authors of the musical, Harmony, have won back the rights to the show from the producer who failed to bring the work to fruition in late 2003.
According to composer Manilow's publicist, a panel of three arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association rendered an interim award in favor of Manilow and lyricist-librettist Bruce Sussman in their arbitration proceeding involving the musical play.
According to a statement released Feb. 19 by Manilow spokesman Jerry J. Sharell, "The arbitration panel unanimously and unequivocally ruled that the rights of the former producer of the play, Snorkel Productions, Inc., have terminated; that Snorkel is to return to Manilow and Sussman all literary materials relating to Harmony; and that Snorkel is to immediately cease acting as producer for Harmony or dealing with Harmony in any manner. The unanimous award of the arbitration panel represents a vindication of the position taken by Manilow and Sussman in the arbitration proceedings."
Sharell added, "The authors couldn't be reached for comment. They're out getting drunk."
This would seem to pave the way to reconstruct the physical production that had been created and resuscitate the company that had been rehearsed. The late 2003 plan, one could speculate, may shift to a fall 2004 plan, if details can be worked out.
Cast members have scattered to other shows and it's not thought that Harmony will surface this season on Broadway (although theatres are apparently available in spring).
The set has remained in storage, and new producers would have to be brought in. No word has been released on the progress of interesting new money people to the project.
Lead producer Mark Schwartz fell short of raising the needed money for a Philadelphia tryout of the show and the musical was scuttled days before the company was to travel to Philly's Forrest Theatre. The hope after Philly was Broadway... |
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