Barry Briefs - Archive 7

Manilow called Celine Dion and Elton John for career advice - Singer Barry Manilow was terrified of having a regular show in Las Vegas, Nevada - until he called Celine Dion and Sir Elton John. The star was considering a long running contract playing at the Hilton Hotel, but had reservations about the town's "Sin City" reputation. The Copacabana singer decided to call Dion and John for their professional opinions on him signing for a regular gig. He explains, "I called them. They were loving it. I called Michael Crawford who had done this one little show. When I got there... it was very hip. Las Vegas has turned very young. It's like a combination of New York City and South Beach in Florida and I just lucked into this. I'm there for three more years and I love it!" (Yahoo! News-UK, 4/17/2006) http://uk.news.yahoo.com/17042006/364/manilow-called-dion-john-career-advice.html His ship has come in - Hilton headliner Barry Manilow -- is there anything he can't do? -- will appear on CNN's "Larry King Live" on April [14], and will debut NBC's "Today'' show's "Summer Concert Series" on May 12 by performing aboard the world's largest ship, the Royal Caribbean International's Freedom of the Seas, in New York Harbor. (Las Vegas Sun, 4/14/2006) http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/do/2006/apr/14/566667844.html The Good, Old Music - There's nothing that brings back old memories like hearing a song from the era when you were a teenager and young adult. I have known and forgotten the words to so many songs, but I remember every word of the songs that were popular when I was in high school in the late fifties ... When Barry Manilow appeared on "American Idol," I found out that he had just recorded a CD titled, "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties." This collection features so many songs that a lot of us "older folks" remember word-for-word ... My all-time favorite, "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing," receives a great rendition by Manilow, and I have played it daily since I acquired the record. Other songs such as the McGuire Sisters' "Teach Me Tonight," Tony Bennett's "Rags to Riches," Johnny Mathis' "It's Not For Me to Say" and Frank Sinatra's "Young At Heart" are among the featured songs by Manilow. (The Times and Democrat, 4/9/2006) http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2006/04/09/news/doc4439d5125ad89222358170.txt Youngster Receives Appreciation, Awards For Helping Storm Victims - It all started two years ago, when 6-year-old Zachary Bonner asked his neighbors to help Hurricane Charley victims. That good deed was the start of a two-year burst of volunteering that has generated 27 truckloads of food and supplies for victims of five hurricanes, sent hundreds of goody-filled backpacks to homeless kids, even persuaded celebrities from Barry Manilow to Mick Jagger to donate memorabilia for an eBay charity auction. Zach, now 8 -- and founder of the Little Red Wagon Foundation, Inc. -- is working on a project to collect Game Boys and other toys for kids at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, and writing letters to celebrities, asking them to donate items he can auction on eBay to raise cash for hurricane and homeless relief. Thirty-five recording and movie stars have responded ... Barry Manilow donated a handwritten music score. (Tampa Tribune and Brandon News, 3/25/2006) (The Little Red Wagon, 4/7/2006) http://www.tbo.com/brandon/MGBWNX557LE.html http://www.littleredwagonfoundation.com/ Hip to be square - After years of being sniffed at for his unapologetically romantic style, Barry Manilow somehow scored the No. 1 album in the country in February with his "Greatest Songs of the Fifties" CD, beating out Eminem, Mariah Carey and other more au courant favorites. In March, the singer supervised as "American Idol" contestants bleated and honked their way through '50s classics. He was also all over this winter's "Dancing With the Stars," and has a seemingly permanent gig, not in uncool Branson, Mo., but in Las Vegas, that epicenter of Rat Pack cool. On Barry's recent success, Karen Schoemer -- author of "Great Pretenders: My Strange Love Affair with '50s Pop Music" -- says, "I think it's sort of fabulously curious; it came totally out of left field. It had been 30 years since his last No. 1. He did a really good cross-section of songs, some pop standards, some doo-wop, some teen idol hits. Some of his performances aren't my cup of tea but some were quite beautiful ... He gets that uncomplicated spirit of romance that was there in a lot of the music. He does that quite sincerely." (Detroit News, 4/8/2006) http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060408/ENT01/604080303/1033/rss27 Big prizes up for grabs at Greenwich benefit - "Disco Fever," the rockin' extravaganza to benefit Greenwich High School's PTA, will take place at the Boys & Girls Club in Greenwich on Friday, April 7. Celebrity hosts and Greenwich residents Kathie Lee and Frank Gifford have donated New York Giants season tickets for the live and silent auctions. Other hot items on the block include ... a Barry Manilow "Music and Passion" package including VIP tickets to his sellout Las Vegas show, two rooms for two nights at the Las Vegas Hilton, and a meet-and-greet with Manilow... (Norwalk Advocate (Connecticut), 4/1/2006) http://www.norwalkadvocate.com/scn-sa-costaregni.4.1apr01,0,4340226.column?track=rss

Soul legend Ben E. King, first with the Drifters and then in a productive solo career, fused the gospel stylings of his North Carolina youth with the modern pop sounds of the early '60s. Songs like "Stand By Me," "Save the Last Dance" and "Spanish Harlem" have become timeless classics ... "I don't think we have the quality talent that we did back then," King said. But, King said, the TV show "American Idol" has changed the formula somewhat. "I like it because it puts the focus back on the singers," he said. He does appreciate the show's efforts to popularize older songs, pointing out last week's show hosted by Barry Manilow that featured songs from the '50s. Having older artists as guests may stir interest in the music, he said. "At least they'll know that we're still out there on this earth, still making music," King said. (Macon Telegraph, 3/31/2006) http://www.twincities.com/mld/macon/entertainment/14222622.htm?source=rss&channel=macon_entertainment The latest effort from Barry Manilow, The Greatest Songs of the Fifties, rockets back into the top 10 thanks to a 140 percent sales spike. Manilow's appearance last week on "American Idol" helped propel the disc 20 spots to #4, with sales nearing 78,000. (MTV.com, 3/29/2006) http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1527283/20060329/prince.jhtml?headlines=true&rsspartner=rssYahooNewscrawler Fox's "Idol," CBS' hoops drive TV ratings week - The "American Idol" hopefuls and guest performer Barry Manilow crooned to the tune of another win for Fox in the adults 18-49 demographic last week, while CBS took a narrow lead in total viewers with the NCAA men's basketball tournament. (Reuters/Hollywood Reporter, 3/29/2006) http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060329/tv_nm/ratingsweek_dc_1 American Idol 3/28/2006: Songs from the 21st century needed the Manilow touch - "I missed Barry. Tuesday night, the Idols returned from the '50s to perform songs of the 21st Century. But trying to top what Mr. Manilow did for them last week was tough, actually it was impossible. While they sang their hearts out, they clearly didn't have the benefit of one of the masters of music this week. Song choices were bizarre in some cases and the confidence the contestants had last week was just missing. I'm calling for the return of Barry!" - Nancy Allen, Columnist (Asheville Citizen-Times, 3/29/2006) http://citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200660328047 Support for (and from) Manilow - The latest album from Barry Manilow, 59, was holding its own on the charts this month, hovering right above the Black Eyed Peas. In an appearance on "American Idol," Manilow threw his weight behind the veterans, calling Hicks "one of the best male vocalists you have on the show" and suggesting he might hire Mandisa if the contest didn't pan out for her. (CNN.com, 3/28/2006) http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/28/tv.american.idols.oldies.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest Barry Manilow will keep on crooning - The man who writes the songs that make the whole world sing will be around a while longer, singing those songs that make the whole world pay $225 a ticket to hear them. Barry Manilow, 59, will continue crooning at the Las Vegas Hilton through 2008, the hotel has announced. Manilow opened his "Music and Passion" show at the Hilton in February 2005 after his "One Night Live! One Last Time!" tour in 2004 was viewed as the end of his concert career. But he got a boost when his new album, "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties," debuted at No. 1 in January and has sold over 1 million copies. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 3/27/2006) http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/ peopleinthenews/story/C7DCB5D1CDF0A7048625713F0003B4E3?OpenDocument Local resident Manilow extends Vegas Hilton gig through 2008 - Now riding high on the platinum sales of "The Greatest Song of the Fifties" CD, Barry Manilow opened his "Music and Passion" show at the Hilton in February 2005. The show, four nights a week, features a cast of 14 in a theater especially designed for Manilow. Tickets run from $95 to $225. (The Desert Sun, 3/27/2006) http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060327/UPDATE/60327007 Close shave for Bucky on 'Idol' - Close call for Bucky Covington, one of three North Carolinians in the final rounds of "American Idol." The long-haired rocker from Rockingham was among the bottom three contestants in Wednesday night's show. Covington, 28, sang Buddy Holly's "Oh Boy," which peaked on the charts at No. 10 in 1958. When he reached Kellie Pickler, the Albemarle Sonic waitress, was safe. Pickler won compliments from the judges Tuesday for singing Patsy Cline's 1957 breakthrough hit "Walkin' After Midnight." Also safe was Chris Daughtry, 26, of McLeansville who sang the Johnny Cash standard "I Walk the Line," delivering a stylized version of the 1958 song similar to the cover version recorded by the band Live. This week's theme was songs of the 1950s. Barry Manilow made a guest appearance Wednesday, singing "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing," the title theme song from the 1955 romantic film starring William Holden and Jennifer Jones. (The Charlotte Observer, 3/23/2006) http://www.bradenton.com/mld/charlotte/news/14163023.htm?source=rss&channel=charlotte_news Can Older 'Idol' Singers Find Success? - "American Idol" contestant Taylor Hicks, 29, and other "Idol" finalists edging near 30 are testing the limits of just how old an aspiring pop star can be and still gain acceptance from the music industry and the public. The top-rated Fox show is attracting a bigger audience than ever in its fifth edition as it offers a wider range of talent, which producers say is why they raised the audition age limit from 24 to 28 last year. The change opened the door for half of the dozen finalists: Besides Hicks, who turned 29 after making the cut, there's Mandisa, also 29; Bucky Covington, 28; Chris Daughtry, 26; Elliott Yamin, 27, and Ace Young, 25. "There's a lot of really good singers we were turning down because of the age limit, and we realized it was silly," said executive producer Ken Warwick. "You're certainly not over the hill by 28" ... At age 28, James Blunt of Britain became music's latest hot property with the hit ballad "You're Beautiful." Mariah Carey, 36, had her biggest hit yet with her comeback album, "The Emancipation of Mimi." Madonna is a dance music chart-topper at age 47. The latest album from Barry Manilow, 59, was holding its own on the charts this month, hovering right above the Black Eyed Peas. In an appearance on "American Idol," Manilow threw his weight behind the veterans, calling Hicks "one of the best male vocalists you have on the show" and suggesting he might hire Mandisa if the contest didn't pan out for her. (AP: Muzi.com, FoxNews.com, MSNBC.com, 3/23/2006) http://dailynews.muzi.com/news/ll/english/10006185.shtml http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,188961,00.html http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11980595/from/RSS/ And then there were 10 - With the Wednesday removal from "American Idol" of 16-year-old Kevin Covais, who had been adored by Paula Abdul and compared by host Ryan Seacrest to the animated Chicken Little, only 10 singers remain. Lisa Tucker, 16, and Bucky Covington, 28, were also at the bottom of the barrel, but managed to escape elimination. Tucker's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" was called "cutesy," and Covington's "Oh, Boy!" was decreed "nothing more than a pointless karoake performance." Celebrity coach Barry Manilow treated the audience to "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" from his new album, "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties." (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 3/23/2006) http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/tv/264120_tv24.html?source=rss "Idol" scores Wednesday - The "American Idol" results show, featuring a performance by Barry Manilow, averaged 27.3 million viewers and an 11.3 rating/26 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary data released Thursday by Nielsen Media Research. That was enough to make "Idol" the top show in primetime and lift Fox to a commanding win over the other networks. (Reuters/Hollywood Reporter, 3/23/2006) http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060324/tv_nm/ratings_dc_1 "Chicken Little" Look-A-Like Gets The American Idol Boot - American Idol viewers and voters don't want "cute" as Idol hopeful Kevin Covais was voted off the blockbuster talent show. Even though the 16-year-old Long Island, New York native was praised as having "more moxie than most people I've met in my entire life," by judge Paula Abdul, he was kicked off the fifth season of Idol. Host Ryan Seacrest once compared Covais to cartoon character Chicken Little. The wee vocalist sang his version of Nat King Cole's "When I Fall In Love" with the help of special guest vocal coach Barry Manilow. (ChartAttack, 3/23/2006) http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2006/03/2304.cfm American Idol / March 22 ... [included] a recap from Barry Manilow helping the contestants to prepare and a recap of the performances. Ryan had a small talk with Barry before he performed, and Barry gave a compliment to all the contestants that they are very talented, dedicated and motivated. After the small talk Barry performed the song "Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing.", which in his opinion shows perfectly how music was performed in the 1950's. It was a very good vocal of Barry ... After the performance all the contestants came up on the stage to thank Barry while Ryan was talking to the camera (even Bobby Bennett came on the stage, though he got voted off a few weeks ago). (Curlio.com, 3/22/2006) http://www.curlio.com/new_showarticle.php?id=8309&page=last Barry Manilow to Appear on American Idol - Following the success of his number 1 album "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties", Barry Manilow will appear on this week�s American Idol. The show will include a gratuitous free plug performance of his new single "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" from the "Fifties" album fitting the theme for the night with the 11 performers singing songs from the 50's. "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties" has now sold more than 1 million units in the USA. In the last 30 years, Manilow has sold more than 75 million albums. (Undercover, 3/22/2006) http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2006/mar06/20060322_barrymanilow.html Barry Manilow, who helped "Idol" hopefuls prepare for Tuesday night's 1950s theme, will be front and center when one of his advisees is knocked out of the competition Wednesday (March 22). Manilow, whose The Greatest Songs of the Fifties was certified platinum this week, will perform "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" on this week's elimination show. (MTV.com, 3/22/2006) http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1526842/20060322/moby.jhtml?headlines=true&rsspartner=rssYahooNewscrawler American Idol: Kellie Pickler and Kevin Covais Show Up to Sing - I give tremendous credit to Barry Manilow for his talents as a coach. In my opinion, he raised the level of performance and entertainment value of every contestant. Last night was the first time this season every single performance was worth watching ... Mandisa showed once again she is the most consistent performer with her version of Dinah Washington's "I Don't Hurt Anymore." I was moved by Chris Daughtry's performance of Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line" ... On to my biggest surprises of the night. We got to see Barry Manilow be the first coach, it seems, to help Kevin Covais really identify what's special about him as a performer, and Kevin nailed it. Although it's not my favorite type of music, that vulnerability thing in the beginning of his performance of "When I Fall in Love" was riveting. Then... Kellie Pickler blew away my concerns, at least for now, about the authenticity of her country bumpkin shtick and turned in her best performance of the show so far. She climbed right inside Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight" and showed us all what she really can do as a performer. (About.com, 3/22/2006) http://top40.about.com/b/a/207911.htm American Idol Contestants shine on '50s night - It's '50s night tonight and the Idols had a little coaching during the week from one of the masters of song, Barry Manilow � and boy did it show. Manilow gave some heart, soul and the expertise of a true showman to these Idols and it made for great performances from everyone. (Asheville Citizen-Times, 3/22/2006) http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200660321054 With Manilow's guidance, 'Idol' Paris is fit for the '50s - "This week is my favorite," said judge Paula Abdul during Tuesday's edition of "American Idol." Why? Because the 11 contestants sang 1950s songs under the guidance of Barry Manilow. How did Paris Bennett, 17, the former Edina High student, do?The song: "Fever," Peggy Lee's classic from 1958 ... Barry Manilow said: "This girl has got an enormous career ahead of her." (Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul), 3/21/2006) http://www.startribune.com/459/story/322220.html American Idol updates the 50s with help from Barry - Barry Manilow helped the contestants on American Idol update 50s songs tonight. They must have liked having Barry on the show last year, and honestly I think he helps out the contestants by working with them ... Barry was picked to help out with the 50s week because he has a new album out, covering classic 50s songs. Mandisa kicked off the show with "I Don't Hurt Anymore." Mandisa wanted the song to start soft, while Barry wanted it to start big. He admitted that she was right ... Barry thought that Bucky Covington would have a ball singing "Oh Boy" and it looked like he did ... Barry was worried about Paris Bennett doing "Fever" because it's a mature song, but she has such depth and power in her voice it was shocking ... Chris Daughtry chose "I Walk the Line" because the lyrics have relevance for him. Barry hadn't heard anything like Chris' version before ... Katharine McPhee [performed] "Come Rain or Come Shine." Barry told her to make sure she sang the song to someone ... Barry thought Taylor Hicks had one of the greatest voices he's ever heard. He [changed] the ending of Taylor's pick, "Not Fade Away" ... Barry didn't think Lisa Tucker should know "Why do fools fall in Love" as well as she does. He called her a powerhouse ... Kevin Covais and Barry thought his choice of "When I fall in Love" was appropriate for him ... Elliott Yamin wasn't fond of Barry before he met him, but afterwards he was a true Barry Fanilow. Barry told Elliott to stop singing the words but to crawl into the meaning of the song "Teach Me Tonight" ... Kellie Pickler didn't know what to do this week until her Grandpa told her to do a Patsy Cline song. Barry wasn't familiar with "Walking After Midnight" as he's from Brooklyn ... Ace Young chose to perform one of my favorite songs of all time, "In the Still of the Night." Barry [had] Ace end the song with the falsetto. (Curlio.com, 3/21/2006) http://www.curlio.com/new_showarticle.php?id=8299&page=last Favorites fall into place on "American Idol" - A week ago, the "Idol" finalists were awestruck at the chance to work with Stevie Wonder ... This week, the guest celebrity was Barry Manilow ... Manilow's sold about a trillion records and has a nightly show in Vegas. Some of the contestants took his advice with skepticism ... Others gave him a chance, with Elliott Yamin becoming a convert. "I just wasn't a fan of his work," he told host Ryan Seacrest, "but by the end of the session I was a true Barry Fanilow." (MSNBC.com, 3/21/2006) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11950012/from/RSS/ American Idol Top 11 Features Music Of The 50s Theme - The competition on television's hottest show heats up when the 11 finalists (Kevin Covais, Bucky Covington, Chris Daughtry, Taylor Hicks, Elliott Yamin, Ace Young, Paris Bennett, Mandisa Hundley, Katharine McPhee, Kellie Pickler, Lisa Tucker) compete head-to-head again on Tuesday, March 21 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed). The theme for the performance show will be "music of the 50s," with a special performance by renowned artist Barry Manilow. Tune in the following night to see Manilow perform and find out who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who must go home on the live results show Wednesday, March 22 (9:00-9:32 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. (Reality TV Magazine, 3/21/2006) http://www.realitytvmagazine.com/blog/2006/03/american_idol_t_3.html Can 'Idol' get hotter with Manilow? - Barry Manilow will return to "American Idol" next week as contestants take on music of the 1950s, Fox said Thursday. Manilow will work with contestants for the performance episode Tuesday and will do one of his signature numbers for the results show Wednesday. Last Tuesday's episode drew a national audience of nearly 33 million, making it the most-watched performance show in the show's five-year history, Fox said. Wednesday night's show was watched in 18 percent of the nation's households, according to overnight ratings from Nielsen Media Services. In Charlotte, where the show consistently outperforms the national average, it was viewed in 26 percent of the region's households. - Mark Washburn / TV-Radio Writer (Charlotte Observer, 3/17/2006) http://www.thestate.com/mld/charlotte/news/14119612.htm?source=rss&channel=charlotte_news Next 'Idol' challenge: The fab '50s - Barry Manilow will return to "American Idol" next week as contestants take on music of the 1950s, Fox announced Thursday. Manilow will work with contestants for the performance episode Tuesday and will do one of his signature numbers for the results show Wednesday, the network said. (Charlotte Observer, 3/16/2006) http://www.sunherald.com/mld/charlotte/news/14108136.htm?source=rss&channel=charlotte_news An Evening with Larry King and Friends - The Larry King Cardiac Foundation will once again create a Hollywood on the Potomac at its annual fundraising gala dinner. Hosts Larry King and Shawn Southwick-King celebrate their "Save a Heart a Day" campaign on Friday, March 24 at The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC. The live auction will feature ... a guitar signed by The Eagles, DVDs of TV Specials signed by Barbara Streisand, glitter sandals signed by Bette Midler, guitar and tour book autographed by Neil Diamond, and CDs autographed by Eric Clapton, Harry Connick, Jr. and Barry Manilow. (Press Release: Larry King Cardiac Foundation, 3/20/2006) http://biz.yahoo.com/pz/060320/95946.html Barry Manilow Live in Las Vegas: Departs October & November 2006 - 5 days from �659 - Barry Manilow's unparalleled career is made up of virtually every facet of music, including performing live, composing, arranging and producing. A 2002 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Manilow has triumphed in every medium of entertainment. He has received Grammy, Emmy and Tony Awards and has even been nominated for an Academy Award. The Rolling Stone magazine proclaimed Manilow 'the showman of our generation.' If ever an entertainer embodied that accolade, it is indeed Barry Manilow! Included: Return flights from the UK to Las Vegas with airport to hotel transfers; Three nights accommodation at the Four Queens Hotel (upgrades available); Ticket to see Barry Manilow Live at The Las Vegas Hilton (ticket up-grade available); This break is operated and organised by Newmarket Promotions. To book direct please call 0845 226 7744 quoting YEP (Leeds Today, 3/20/2006) http://www.leedstoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?sectionid=1648&articleid=989598 His Name is Barry! He is a showman - It's nice to know that even in this kooky, crazy, digitized downloadin' world of ours, there's still a place for Barry Manilow. True, for the past several years, he has been in the news mainly for busting his nose by walking into a wall. But Barry's back, baby! His CD, "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties," debuted -- to everyone's surprise -- at No. 1 on U.S. pop charts. Bonus trivia: Barry's true believers are nicknamed "Fanilows." (The Oregonian, 3/19/2006) http://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/oregonian/index.ssf? /base/entertainment/114246330912250.xml&coll=7 Frank Sinatra Jr. puts a voice on That Face!, his first studio album in 10 years. The album, due June 6 on Reprise, was recorded live in Hollywood's Capitol Studios with a full orchestra. Sinatra ... sings Barry Manilow's I Was a Fool... (USA Today, 3/16/2006) http://www.usatoday.com/life/2006-03-16-coming-attractions_x.htm?csp=34 Best Bets - 9 p.m. Barry Manilow: Music and Passion Ch. 54 -- Manilow celebrates his 100th show in Las Vegas performing many of his biggest hits. (San Jose Mercury News, 3/9/2006) http://www.realcities.com/mld/mercurynews/living/14055531.htm?source=rss&channel=mercurynews_living Watching Manilow - Barry Manilow isn't just wowing fans at the Las Vegas Hilton, he's attracting scores with his PBS special, "Barry Manilow: Music and Passion," which is now airing. 8 p.m. today: PBS channels 14 and 16 from Dayton and Oxford, Ohio, channel 20 from Indianapolis and channel 49 from Muncie. Midnight Friday: PBS channel 20. 9:30 p.m. March 19: PBS channel 16. To check your local listings, visit www.pbs.org. (Palladium-Item, 3/9/2006) http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006603090335 http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006603090308 http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006603090310 Back for an encore - KCET reprises the concert special "Barry Manilow: Music and Passion" (8 p.m. KCET, Thursday, March 9, 2006). (CalendarLive.com, 3/8/2006) http://www.calendarlive.com/tv/cl-et-tvhighlights9mar09,0,4513915.story?coll=cl-home-more-channels KPTS about to start membership drive - Wichita public television KPTS, Channel 8, will launch its most important membership drive of the year Friday in hopes of attracting 600 new members by March 22. The station currently has about 11,000 members, said Jay Sanderson, station spokesman ... Sanderson said Channel 8 [will] be trying to attract new viewers with several other new shows not seen during pledge periods before. Among them [are] "Barry Manilow: Music and Passion" (6 p.m. March 12)... (The Wichita Eagle, 3/6/2006) http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/kansas/entertainment/television/13976340.htm?source=rss&channel=kansas_television Highlights This Week ... Monday, March 6th: Barry Manilow: Music and Passion, 8 p.m. KCET. Barry Manilow knows how to give fans what they want: songs sung well in a visually exciting show. (Calendar Live, 3/4/2006) http://www.calendarlive.com/tv/cl-tv-highlights5mar05,0,7055904.htmlstory?coll=cl-tv-features WPSU offering a bit of nostalgia - "Public television remains the place for programs that you will not find anywhere else," said Greg Peterson, director of programming for WPSU-TV and station manager for WPSU-FM. "It is the one place that viewers can find top-notch quality, substance over form." Three times each year, WPSU-TV conducts membership drives to invite viewers to become members and contribute financially to the station. Its latest drive begins Saturday and ends March 26. The centerpiece of the March campaign is the special "Barry Manilow: Music and Passion" taped last December in Las Vegas. Manilow's new album has skyrocketed in sales, bringing him back to the level of popularity he enjoyed in the 1970s. "The Manilow organization has been very gracious in helping public television," Peterson said. "They have given every station broadcasting the program a package to auction off. It includes two tickets to Manilow's Vegas show, a backstage pass to meet him and a night's stay at the hotel where he is performing. Our auction starts at a minimum bid of $1,000." (Centre Daily Times, 3/3/2006) http://www.philly.com/mld/centredaily/entertainment/weekend/14004711.htm?source=rss&channel=centredaily_weekend

Club Copa has "Just Arrived" at Roosevelt High School - Roosevelt High School's President Players and director Carl Defoe present "Copacabana" March 16-18. "Copacabana," written by Barry Manilow, is the story of Stephen, a songwriter, and his imagination. As he writes, the audience is removed from reality and introduced to the process inside Stephen's mind. His imagination conjures up the story of Lola, an aspiring Copa girl, and Tony, an aspiring songwriter and Copa boy, who fall in love during their auditions for Copa. "It reminds me of the old MGM musicals," said senior Michael Torbet, who plays the dual role Tony/Stephen. "There's a lot of dance in it," said senior Kate Podell, who plays Gladys. The musical, which is based on the Manilow song "Copacabana," is not your typical Broadway musical. "We usually do strict musical theater and this is different," said Kate, who describes the music as "more pop." "I've never really done pop music, but it's cool to do something new," she said. (Poughkeepsie Journal, 3/8/2006) http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/LIFE/603080314/1005/NEWS Barry Manilow checks in at No. 4 - Barry Manilow's take on classic '50s tunes landed him near the top of the Canadian album charts this week. The 59-year-old crooner's "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties" debuted at No. 4 with sales of 7,000, according to data compiled by Nielsen Soundscan. Manilow is the latest in a long list of artists including Rod Stewart, Carly Simon, Paul Anka and Queen Latifah to reap the rewards of covering classic tunes from yesteryear. (JAM! Showbiz (Canada), 3/8/2006) http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/M/Manilow_Barry/2006/03/08/1478485-ca.html As the La Quinta Playhouse presents [its] final show of its maiden season, organizers say the young theater will be back next year. They just don't know where. The nonprofit theater has been performing in a large tent in Old Town since last year. Organizers hope to move to a permanent space at the city's future SilverRock development. The La Quinta Playhouse launched with a December 2004 production of "A Christmas Carol" at the La Quinta Resort and Club. Palm Springs resident Barry Manilow, who recently enjoyed a chart-topping comeback with his "Greatest Songs of the Fifties" album, took in a Playhouse performance of "The Fantasticks" in October. Playhouse Vice President Priscilla Rendino said he sat in the back row for privacy and congratulated the cast and crew afterwards. (The Desert Sun, 3/6/2006) http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060306/NEWS01/603060321/1050 Could It Be Magic?: "The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties" - Barry Manilow (Arista) - Someone else may have written the songs on this album of Fifties standards, but it moved 297,282 copies in two weeks, scoring Manilow his highest chart spot since 1977. (Rolling Stone, 3/9/2006 issue, Page 104) -- AND -- Party Of The Year: Clive Davis hosts his legendary Pre-Grammy Party - With the most stage time, Barry Manilow performed a medley of hits and "Unchained Melody" for the star-studded crowd. (Rolling Stone, 3/9/2006 issue, Page 25) In it's 3rd Week on Billboard's Top 200 Albums... Barry Manilow's The Greatest Songs of the Fifties (which debuted at #1 two weeks ago) holds the #3 slot for a second straight week, moving more than 116,000 units (MTV.com, 2/22/2006). Adult contemporary singer Barry Manilow's The Greatest Songs of the Fifties, his second chart-topper in his three-decade career, stuck to Number Three (Rolling Stone, 2/22/2006). BARRY MANILOW's hit album THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE FIFTIES stands firm in third place (ContactMusic, 2/22/2006). Barry Manilow's hit album 'The Greatest Songs of the Fifties' stands firm in third place (Fox-6 News, 2/22/2006). Barry Manilow's "Greatest Songs of the Fifties" held onto the No. 3 spot after selling 116,000 copies in its third week of release (CalendarLive, 2/23/2006). http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1524688/20060222/jaheim.jhtml?headlines=true&rsspartner=rssYahooNewscrawler http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9363387/jaheim_bumps_jack_from_the_top?rnd=1140671122296&has-player=true&version=6.0.7.881 http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/third%20time%20lucky%20for%20jaheim_22_02_2006 http://www.fox6.com/entertainment/music/story.aspx?content_id=0C3659AA-78ED-4351-891F-48943C726EDE&rss=music http://www.calendarlive.com/music/la-wk-albums23feb23,0,3727278.story?coll=cl-music-features Fox's 'American Idol 5' eliminates its first four semifinalists - The fifth season of American Idol began this week, with Tuesday and Wednesday's first performance shows culminating in last night's live results show that eliminated the four American Idol 5 semifinalists [including] Bobby Bennett from Wednesday's broadcast of the twelve male semifinalists' performances. Bennett, a 19-year-old from Denver, CO, had sung Barry Manilow's "Copacabana" (Reality TV World, 2/24/2006) ... Bennett, a 19-year-old Barry Manilow fanatic from Denver, endured criticism from Cowell for his theatrical rendition of "Copacabana." "It was a nightmare that would have Barry Manilow screaming in horror," Simon said. But Bennett shook it off. "I will always like Simon," he said. "He was a little rough, but that's okay." (Fox News, 2/24/2006) http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/fox-american-idol-5-eliminates-its-first-four-semifinalists-3979.php http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,185881,00.html Top 10 Tracks To Download This Week (February 22, 2006) from Bill Lamb - One of the best things about today's online music services is the opportunity to purchase individual songs for unlimited listening regardless of whether or not they have been released as a single. Each week I uncover some of the best pop tracks to download from online music services. These are some of the best tracks from recent pop album releases ... #1 Barry Manilow featuring Phyllis McGuire - "Sincerely/Teach Me Tonight" ... 50 years ago Phyllis McGguire hit the pop charts with her sisters on one of the definitive recordings of "Sincerely." She joins Barry Manilow for a powerful, contemporary version of the song. (About.com, 2/22/2006) http://top40.about.com/od/toptrackstodownload/tp/10down022206.htm Barry Manilow has a new DVD distribution deal, and the first release, "Manilow: Music and Passion," arrives March 28. The concert comes from the 100th performance of his Las Vegas Hilton show and the set also includes behind-the-scenes stuff and interviews. (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 2/22/2006) http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137834279132 WTCI-Channel 45, the community's public television station, will begin their annual membership campaign, SpringFest 2006, on Saturday, March 4. SpringFest includes musical concerts and other special programs, highlighting "the best public television has to offer." A variety of musical programs WTCI will premiere include... Barry Manilow: Music and Passion. (The Chattanoogan, 2/22/2006) http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_80853.asp Phyllis McGuire and her two sisters, Christine and Dorothy, became a legend as singing sensations beginning back in 1952 ... The McGuire Sisters were at the peak of their success in 1968 and then they retired -- for 17 years. Visiting NYC together after that, the sisters found themselves constantly stopped by fans, asked for autographs and so they decided to "come back." They rehearsed in Vegas for six months and returned to show business. Another big hit! ... Today, Phyllis finds herself on the No. 1 DualDisc CD that is topping the Billboard charts. She is the only vocalist Barry Manilow selected to sing two numbers with him for his "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties" album. Christine and Dorothy are retired, but Phyllis popped right up to warble "Sincerely" and "Teach Me Tonight" with Barry. It is just great! ... She is ecstatic about the success of Barry's album. As for Barry, who was once the piano backup for a girl named Bette Midler, his "comeback" is simply that he never went away. He remains perennially young, lives in Palm Springs, but is frequently at the Hilton International Hotel in Vegas, where he has a longtime supersonic contract. (Southwest Florida's Herald Tribune, 2/20/2006) http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060220/NEWS/602200635/-1/RSS01 It's a miracle, come true - Maybe not, given Barry Manilow's multiplatinum track record. In any case the Las Vegas Hilton is hot (hot! we tell you) following news that Manilow's new album, "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties," is No. 1 on the Billboard charts. Hilton spokesman Ira David Sternberg says ticket sales have picked up "across the board" and the hotel is benefiting from the unique mix of a star headliner, committed to a single showroom, riding the momentum of a No. 1 album. "It's not as if he's touring all over the country. There's no where else to find him but here," Sternberg said. Manilow returned to the stage Wednesday night; his one-year Hilton anniversary is Feb. 23. "He's at one venue, and he's at that venue for an extended period of time." Also announced Wednesday, Rhino Entertainment has teamed with Manilow and Stiletto New Media to market Manilow's performances on DVD. First up is "Manilow: Music and Passion," which will be released on March 28.The DVD documents Manilow's 100th show at the Hilton and was filmed in high-definition for a special to be aired on PBS. Along with his long list of hits, Manilow performs "Unchained Melody," and "Venus" from his latest album. That PBS special airs at 8 p.m. March 9. (Las Vegas Sun, 2/16/2006) http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/commentary/2006/feb/16/566618143.html

[ More Barry Briefs | Return To Previous Page | Click Here for Articles and Reviews ]

This Page Created August 4, 2006 (Last Updated February 12, 2007)

Barry Manilow International Fan Club and the BarryNet, ©2006-2007