November 28, 1987 - Riverside Theatre (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
> "Janet from Milwaukee"
December 3, 1987 - Auditorium Theater (Chicago, Illinois)
> Ruth Jamison (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
December 5, 1987 - Auditorium Theater (Chicago, Illinois)
> Candy Peterson (Council Bluffs, Iowa)
December 6, 1987 - Auditorium Theater (Chicago, Illinois)
> Connie Atkinson (White) (Montello, Wisconsin): It was an incredible night! I took the tape to work the following Monday, just to show everyone the autograph. My boss scrounged up a TV/VCR on a 4' high stand and brought it to our department. She paraded everyone in the company through the department that day to watch it! My sister videotaped my 4- & 5-year-old nieces with their Little Tykes piano doing their version of me and Barry on stage, including the "Hey Connie - without yooooou"! It was great that everyone shared in my excitement for a long time afterwards! Thirteen years later, people are still amazed by the picture on my desk of Barry and Me standing by the piano, and still want to see the tape! (7/21/2000)
December 11, 1987 - Centennial Hall, University of Toledo (Toledo, Ohio)
> Melody McKinley (Toledo, Ohio): I think I was about the third person to get a
video. It was my 7th time seeing him in concert
since 1976 (where I first saw him at the Masonic Auditorium). The concert was lucky for me
because I was chosen [to sing with Barry]! I
fully expected a t-shirt; the video was sure a bonus and it was a special night with special
memories. I still remember it like it was yesterday! (8/15/98)
December 17, 1987 - Northrup Auditorium (St. Paul, Minnesota)
> Jacquie Christensen (Minnesota): I can honestly say that singing with Barry was one of the most extraordindary events of my life. I have adored (okay, been in love with) Barry since I was eight (1974) years old. I had dreamed my whole life of meeting him, and this was definitely my dream come true. I remember each detail like it was yesterday and am lucky enough to be able to relive it once a year on "our" anniversary with the special video tape I received. It is definitely a night I will NEVER forget!! (12/22/98)
December 20, 1987 - Carver Arena (Peoria, Illinois)
> Janice Upham (Colgate, Wisconsin)
December 25, 1987 - Pantages Theatre (Los Angeles, California)
> Wendy Miller
December 31, 1987 - Pantages Theatre (Los Angeles, California)
> Mary C. (of London, England): I was the one in the sparkly, backless dress and the... Mickey Mouse ears... well, it WAS New Year's Eve and I was on holiday with the British fan club! I think it was the only time anyone has been foolish enough to allow me to sing in public (I can't carry a tune in a bucket!!). Thanks, Barry! (5/10/2002)
January 15, 1988 - Las Vegas Hilton (Las Vegas, Nevada)
> Sue Kubiak (Las Vegas, Nevada)
January 22, 1988 - Caesar's Tahoe (Lake Tahoe, Nevada):
> Juanita Martinez (Woodland, California): After 10 years of waiting
to see The Man, my dream finally came true on my fourth show! (1996) ... I was chosen from the front row, which I've heard rarely happens...It was a "night to remember"! (3/28/98)
January 1988 - Sunrise Musical Theatre (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
> Lauren Cariski (North Miami Beach, Florida)
February 3, 1988 - (Richmond, Virginia)
> Angie Riggs Dixon: Second only to the births of my two daughters, now 9 and 11 years old, my short time on stage with Barry is certainly the most magical memory in my mind. I was barely 20 years old, though I had been groomed (by my Mom) since the age of 8 into a Fanilow. By the night of February 3, 1988, as I sat in Richmond, VA, waiting for the concert to begin, I had seen 10 concerts (Today I would say there have been maybe 30 more). I was working at a department store on the afternoon of the big night. The dress department had a great sale. I happened upon a great dress, and I actually spent too much on it, but I had to have it... my premonition of singing with Barry dictated my big spend! As my mom and I got "prettiful" that evening, I remember saying, "Mom he is gonna call me up to sing with him!" My supportive mom agreed.
It was like slow motion as he started to whistle the intro to "Can't Smile Without You." Another entity emerged as I started screaming out "PICK ME! PICK ME!" The people around me were actually a bit horrified I think. I was jumping up and down in my 3-inch heels, and everyone around me regretted leaving their earplugs at home. Barry was shading his eyes from the lights and scanning the audience. For a brief moment he looked at the opposite end of the stage (away from me!). Then as I had imagined just that morning, he looked in my direction and said, "Hey You! Jumping Jack! Yes, Jumping Jack, come on up here!"
From that moment until the moment I found myself back at my seat just a few minutes later, much is a blur. Almost 20 years does a number on one's memory, but I remember the highlights.... The way he asked if I were married, and at my "no" he said, "Oh Angie, you win the washer AND the dryer!", the way he was so gracious and charming when I tried to do a little dance with him (and almost fell off my too-tall heels); the way he agreed that he'd let me be his makeup artist sometime (BARRY, I'm STILL WAITING!); the way he leaned me into him as he swayed from the top of the piano; finally the surprise at the end, when he kissed me. I told him through teary eyes that I didn't even have a camera. He said, I have a surprise for you. When I made it back to my seat everyone around me suddenly didn't wonder if I was insane for screaming and making such a commotion when the famous whistle started! A few minutes later one of his reps brought the autographed I SANG WITH BARRY MANILOW video to me.
Years later there are several copies of my video floating around in our family. My special "Barry Dress" still hangs in my closet as a reminder of both the night I shared on stage with him, and a reminder of how much less of me there used to be. Even now my girls love to watch the video, which I allow. The dress though is OFF LIMITS!
My memory of having the focus of Barry's full attention for a few moments in time still brings a tear when I remember. It was magical, and it will be precious to me forever. Through the many chapters in my life since then, Barry and his music have lifted me up. Each composition holds with it a special memory or feeling, marking a landmark in my life.
He is like an old friend, and I am thankful to be among the many who regard him as such. (8/1/1997, 7/4/2004)
February 9, 1988 - Shea's Theatre (Buffalo, New York)
> Arlene Werenich
February 10, 1988 - Shea's Theatre (Buffalo, New York)
> Beth Clinton (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada): I knew I was going to be picked from the moment I saw I was sitting on the aisle. No matter that it was on the opposite side of the steps up to the stage ... I just knew.
As usual, Buffalo was underneath two feet of snow, but we didn't let that stop our little entourage from travelling down from Toronto (where I was living at the time). Stopping briefly at my parent's home to collect the dress my mother had made for me (strapless, red sequins and black velvet ... how could he miss me?!), we made it to Buffalo in plenty of time. I even had my "Big Fun With Beth" sign all ready to go, also covered in sparkles. (Guess the name of the tour??)
Finally, the moment arrived. And, with all my closest friends sitting on the other side of the theatre, I heard those immortal words, "Oh, how can I resist. It says 'Big Fun With Beth'. Come on up here Big Fun With Beth." And I was off running down the aisle (not realizing that I was also nearly popping out of the top of my dress!).
The moment passed far too quickly, and his comment about us being just like Donny & Marie really made me feel great. All those years of singing into my hairbrush really paid off!
What an experience. One I'll always treasure. Thank you, Barry. (8/28/2001)
February 13, 1988 - University of Illinois (Champaign, Illinois)
> Kimberly Mooney (Rockford, Illinois): I saw Barry in Chicago the concert before this one. I had a sign that read "Please I love Biscuit". He said, "You with the sign", and someone behind me ran on stage. I was so sad. During intermission, almost everyone in my section said he chose me. What was I to do?
Well, like any devoted Barry fan, I was to go to the next concert, more than three hours away. Of course, I had to drive there twice - I had to use my BMIFC fan club ticket form to buy the tickets. When my friend and I arrived, we had row H, but the pavillion started with front row double letter (AA)!! Can you believe it? We were in the balcony. Barry doesn't choose balcony seats. But, he saw my sign, read it aloud, and I was chosen. My friends like to tease me and say he remembered me. I would love to think that too!! Thanks to all the fans who sent me beautiful pictures of that special day in my life. (2/22/2000)
February 28, 1988 - Majestic Theatre (San Antonio, Texas)
> Laura M. Teran (Austin, Texas): I was just out of high school, and the tickets were a birthday gift from one of my best friends (Kimberly). She told me to sit down and stop jumping up and down, just as Barry said, "How 'bout you in the white shirt jumping up and down." We both couldn't believe it! I had "BIG" hair then, and was very thin. He called me a little peanut! A kiss I'll never forget! A true memorable experience. He did give me a video that we still laugh about today! (3/12/2002)
March 3, 1988 - Civic Arena (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
> Donna Johnson: It was one of the greatest moments of my life. I was so excited
and Barry was so sweet. He held my hand and said "I'll get you through this, don't you
worry about a thing". I absolutely LOVE having the video of this moment to relive again
and again, and to show my family and friends who weren't at the concert. Thank you BARRY
for such a special memory! (4/14/98)
March 8, 1988 - Fisher Theatre (Detroit, Michigan)
> Stephanie Hill (Beagle-Bagels BMFC): It pays to put cryptic notes
in a dressing room - even from the Mayor...
March 17, 1988 - Las Vegas Hilton (Las Vegas, Nevada)
> Ida Gross (Schaumburg, IL): Eleven years later and the thrill continues... I still can't believe I was that lucky!! (2/19/99)
March 20, 1988 - Las Vegas Hilton (Las Vegas, Nevada)
> Pat Moore (Arizona): It was the last show of the "tour of the moment"
and Barry's arm was broken (or sprained). My dress was satin and
wrinkled so bad from those cramped quarters they call seats, and I had
no idea (until I saw the video). It was the best! My favorite part
was his calling me "...darlin'...".
July 15, 1988 - Concord Pavilion (Concord, California)
> Masae (May) Kawahara (San Francisco, CA) (originally from Tokyo, Japan): YES, MY DREAM CAME TRUE! It was my very first Barry concert in the U.S. (Lucky me!). Previously, I had attended his concert over ten times when he visited Japan in 1983 and 1985. Despite the fact that Barry did the C.S.W.Y duet only twice in his entire concerts in Japan, I wanted to sing with him very dearly so that I was practicing the song all the time. On that day, I even checked the words before I left house thinking, "Oh, Just in case, just in case."
When Barry picked me, I was sitting way back in the house -- How could he see me? -- I must have been jumping up and down crazy in the aisle. I was so happy and very excited. On the way to the stage, I was also worried about that I might let him down though. As soon as Barry took my hand on the stage, I felt at ease and I knew that all I should do was just follow his lead (He was the master of the stage, after all).
Barry was wonderfully nice and sweet and very sensitive to me on the stage, I messed up the words only once and even did a little dance with him. Things went very smooth until he sat up on the piano with his legs around me. I had completely forgotten about that part and it took me by surprise very much. I was in panic, screamed and tried to escape from him (Silly me!). Great Barry kept me in his control but I could not sing anymore. My voice sounded just like a long scream at the last part of the song (Very embarrassing!), but somehow I managed to get a kiss at the end.
It was VERY NICE of him to share HIS own stage with his most talented band with ME. It was SO WONDERFUL that HE asked ME all the questions, called my name so many times and called me all the nice ways. I still remember his beautiful blue eyes looking at me. Oh, those beautiful eyes... how long could you bear to stare at them without passing out? I had to lose the eye contact in order to be sane, but every time my eyes drifted away from him, Barry squeezed my hand even harder (Wow!). AND he smelled very nice when we hugged each other!
The life in the U.S. is tough for me, but this precious moment always helped me to go through. I sincerely hope that Barry will continue to do the duet and will make as many as girls happy as much as he made me so. I really can't smile without you, Barry! P.S. (to Barry) Very sorry that I patted your back so often and looked (on video) so hard! I didn t know what I was doing!! (7/9/2005)
July 19, 1988 - Park West Ski Resort (Park City, Utah)
> Ruth Ann (Salt Lake City, Utah)
July 22, 1988 - Fiddler's Green (Denver, Colorado)
> "menage a' trio"
August 5, 1988 - (Cincinnati, Ohio)
> Julie Reno (Florence, Kentucky) (2/25/2000)
August 19, 1988 - Mann Music Theatre (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
> Melissa Meehan (Toledo, Ohio): I was way in the back and I ran up [to the stage]. I was very apprehensive at first, but the "old man" made me comfortable. He started flirting as he does, and so I asked him his age. He said he was my age exactly (What a guess! - even though I really think there is a 20-year gap). I've admired Barry's work for a long time. He is the best at what he does, and there will always be a special place in my heart for him. (12/16/2000)
August 25, 1988 - Merriweather Post Pavilion (Columbia, Maryland)
> Pamela Orner: Several years earlier at Merriweather I was sure that Barry was looking at me to be the "one", but as I handed my binoculars to my sister he picked the girl in front of me. So on this night when he said, "You there with the T-shirt and binoculars", the binoculars stayed around my neck. Watching the video, everyone laughs about my nervous knees knocking and my inability to walk across the stage in step with Barry (He takes long strides). The T-shirt I was wearing that night is in a zip lock bag - it has his make-up on it and for a long time it smelled of Barry. (11/15/97) He had small teeth. He is hard to walk with while singing. Wow what an experience. The fans were great to me afterward. I will never forget that night. (2/21/99)
September 3, 1988 - The Muny Opera (St. Louis, Missouri)
> Paula Smolenski (Niles, Illinois): It was the Kansas City weekend party with the fan club. I had planned to go onto St. Louis for the show at The Muny, never thinking that night was The Night I would get to sing with Barry. It was a warm night and everybody was ready for Barry. We sat several rows from the stage but I said to my friends, "This is a great [spot] to be picked from." I was right! Barry picked me with the peach-colored blouse and I was on my way. Barry looked and felt great, and I just coulded believe it. Barry and I talked and laughed, I even got a marriage proposal from him! Of course I said YES!! Well, it was a wonderful night and I will never forget it, singing with Barry that is. But, I really do not remember the rest of the show. Oh well, I do remember "Can't Smile" THANK GOODNESS!! (10/10/2002)
September 6, 1988 - Blossom Music Center (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio)
> Judy Green: Now I can die a happy woman. On a freezing cold night
in Blossom, Barry chose me to sing the "Can't Smile" duet. I
had attended Eight concerts trying to obtain that honor. << Sometimes
you get what you want in this life!
November 14, 1988 - Congressgebouw (The Hague, The Netherlands)
> Carla Zwackhalen (The Netherlands): Barry picked me as his "Can't Smile Without You" girl. Couldn't believe my ears when Barry said "Yes, I mean you in the white shirt!" It was a dream come true. The most MEMORABLE DAY of MY LIFE. (11/21/2011)
November 22, 1988 - Apollo Theatre (Manchester, England)
> Valerie Thomas (Merseyside, England): I was in the audience about 30 rows back
holding a banner with "Barry Manilow" written on it. When he picked me I couldn't
believe my luck. Out of a crowd of 5 thousand fans I was THE one!! So I went up
to the stage and he gave me a hug and all my nerves had gone. Then we sang "I Can't
Smile Without You". During the song he gave me the odd wink and whispered "You're
doing fine". Wow!!
A kiss and the video were the icing on the cake!!! (5/3/98)
December 3, 1988 - Alexandra Palace (London, England)
> Julie Fermer (Stockport, England): It was a long time ago but I shall always remember singing with Barry as one of the best nights of my life. Barry was as charming as ever and I had a great time! Thanks Barry!! (12/2/2001)
December 31, 1988 - Caesar's Tahoe (Lake Tahoe, Nevada)
> Carol Taylor (Culver City, California)
