Barry Manilow

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Barry Manilow <tr style="text-align: center;"><td colspan="3">Image:Barry Manilow2 1979.jpg Barry Manilow at the premiere of The Rose, November 7, 1979, photo by Alan Light </td></tr>
Background information <tr><td>Birth name</td><td colspan="2">Barry Alan Pincus</td></tr><tr><td>Born</td><td colspan="2">June 17, 1943</td></tr><tr><td>Origin</td><td colspan="2">Brooklyn, New York City</td></tr><tr><td>Genre(s)</td><td colspan="2">Pop,</td></tr><tr><td>Occupation(s)</td><td colspan="2">Singer-songwriter, musician</td></tr><tr><td>Instrument(s)</td><td colspan="2">Vocals, Piano, Keyboards</td></tr><tr><td>Years active</td><td colspan="2">1973 - present</td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 1em;">Label(s)</td><td colspan="2">Bell Records Arista Records RCA Records Concord Records</td></tr><tr><td>Website</td><td colspan="2">http://www.manilow.com/</td></tr>

Barry Manilow (born Barry Alan Pincus in Brooklyn, New York on June 17 1943) is an American singer and songwriter best known for his hit recordings "I Write The Songs", "Mandy" and "Copacabana (At The Copa)". In 1990, Rolling Stone proclaimed him "the showman of our generation". He has sold more than 75 million records worldwide.

Manilow dominated the charts for much of the 1970s with a string of major hit singles and multi-platinum albums. His music has often been considered by some to be "kitsch" or "camp", owing to its difference in style from the majority of the pop or rock charts. Manilow is often treated by his critics like a Rodney Dangerfield of music who "gets no respect". He recently featured in X Factor.

1 Early life
2 Career
3 Television & Cable
- 3.1 Guest appearances
4 Movies
5 Trivia
6 Discography
- 6.1 Albums
- 6.2 Hit Singles
7 See also
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Early life

Manilow was born to humble origins in Brooklyn, New York on June 17, 1943. Shortly after his birth, his father, Harold Pincus (born to a Russian-Jewish father and Irish mother) and his mother Edna Manilow divorced. The young Manilow was then brought up by his mother and grandparents, Russian-Jewish immigrants who had a strong influence on his life. He began singing shortly before his Bar Mitzvah at the age of 13. At this point, he legally changed his surname to his mother's maiden name of Manilow. He took up the accordion, but preferred and switched to the piano - a move which would one day prove to be vital for his future career.

[edit] Career

[edit] 1970s

Early in his career, Manilow was a commercial jingle writer/singer, writing the theme music for State Farm Insurance, "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there" and the "Stuck on Band-Aid" song, among many others. Reportedly he also wrote the breakthrough McDonald's ad campaign theme, "You Deserve a Break Today". He then worked as a pianist, producer and arranger, accompanying Bette Midler among others at the Continental Baths in New York City.

Manilow got his first record contract with Arista Records, and, in an attempt to gain more appeal to teens, they took three years off his announced age when he was really 32 (in 1975) and made him 29 years old. Arista public relations staff announced his birth to be in 1946, eschewing his actual birth year of 1943.

Manilow's first album was released by Bell Records (later known as Arista Records) in 1973. The album contained an eclectic mix of piano-driven pop, Big Band remakes, and guitar-driven rock. His second album, which was named Barry Manilow II (Bell/Arista, 1974) contained Manilow's huge breakthrough hit "Mandy". This led to a string of hit singles and albums that lasted through the rest of the 1970s, ending in the early 1980s. While Manilow is known as a songwriter, he did not write "I Write The Songs", which was actually written by Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys (written about Brian Wilson).

Image:Barry Manilow 1979.jpg

Manilow's major solo hits of the 1970s include "Mandy" (1974), "Copacabana (At The Copa)" (1978) and "I Write The Songs" (1975). Several years after its release, Manilow's Copacabana was turned into a stage musical that ran for two years in the West End. The show toured the US in 2000 and 2003. His greatest UK hit was "I Wanna Do It With You" (1982) which reached no. 8 in the UK charts, his only top ten hit there.

Manilow also did not compose, or receive any composer credit on, many of his most popular hits: "Mandy", "Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again", "Weekend in New England", "Looks Like We Made It", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Ready to Take a Chance Again."

[edit] 1980s

Manilow is also well-known for his 1975 cover of "Bandstand Boogie", the Les and Larry Elgart-arranged song that was the longtime theme for the TV show American Bandstand. Bandstand executive producer/host Dick Clark used Manilow's version as the show's opening and closing music from 1978 to 1987. Manilow performed this version live at an Emmy Awards tribute to the stroke-affected Clark in 2006

In 1980, Manilow released the self-titled Barry, which was his first album to not reach the top ten in the United States, stopping at #15. Nevertheless, the album still spawned a hit - "Bermuda Triangle", which was somewhat of a novelty song about the infamous stretch of sea that some believe to be cursed. If I Should Love Again followed in 1981, spawning three singles - the most successul being "The Old Songs", which went to number one in the US. A live album, Barry Live in Britain, recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in London, followed in 1982. After his landmark concert at Blenheim Palace in August of 1983, Manilow started to venture into a jazz-driven style, starting with the 1984 album 2:00 AM Paradise Cafe. The album was recorded with jazz greats Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme and Gerry Mulligan. Manilow would return to the genre in 1987, with the release of Swing Street. The techno-jazz-inspired album contained performances with Dianne Schuur, Phyllis Hyman, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, and Tom Scott.

From 1985 to 1986, Manilow was involved with the pop album Manilow (RCA, 1985), and began a phase of international music, as he performed songs and duets in French, Italian, Portuguese and Japanese, among other languages. The 1980s saw a number of singles released, such as "Bermuda Triangle" 1981, "Let's Hang On" 1981, "Stay" 1982 and "Please Don't Be Scared" in 1989. The only one of these songs to chart in the U.S. was "Let's Hang On".

[edit] 1990s

In the 1990s, Manilow switched from being primarily a singer-songwriter to a cover artist. Beginning with his 1990 Christmas LP Because It's Christmas he began recording "event" albums, guided by Arista's President, Clive Davis. The albums include: 1991's Showstoppers, a collection of Broadway tunes, to a big band album, Singin' with the Big Bands (1994), a 1970s collection Summer of '78, and the decade ended with Manilow recording a tribute to Frank Sinatra Manilow Sings Sinatra (1998), shortly after Sinatra's death.

Manilow's music connected with a new generation when top British boy band Take That reached number 3 in the UK charts with "Could It Be Magic" (1992) . Later, Irish boy band Westlife reached number 1 with "Mandy" (2003), in a version clearly based on Manilow's hit version (differing only in that they omitted the piano introduction and inserted a different non-fade-out ending).

[edit] 2000s

After the turn of the century, Manilow's contract with Arista Records was not renewed due to new management. He then got a contract at Concord Records, a jazz-oriented label in California, and started work on the long-anticipated Here at the Mayflower album. The album was another eclectic mix of styles, almost entirely composed and produced by Manilow himself. 2004 saw the release of both a live album, 2 Nights Live! (BMG Strategic Marketing Group, 2004), and a soundtrack album of his musicals Scores (Concord, 2004). Two Christmas albums, many live albums and compilations have rounded out a very large body of music.

In 2004 he embarked on his "One Night Live! One Last Time!" final tour. Some fans were unhappy that Manilow charged his fans $1,000 to meet him after the show, but most knew that the majority of the money was earmarked for different charities, which Manilow is actively involved in supporting. Ticket sales were robust, landing Manilow's tour into the Top Ten club for box office grosses in 2004.

Manilow co-wrote, with lyricist Bruce Sussman, a musical, Harmony, which was originally scheduled to preview in Philadelphia in 2003. After financial difficulties and a legal battle, Manilow and Sussman won back the rights to the musical. It is currently unknown when the musical is slated to reach Broadway.

On the heels of his Farewell tour, Manilow opened a standing show in Las Vegas in 2005 at the Las Vegas Hilton, where he will reside in the penthouse where Elvis lived for eight years (Newsweek/MSNBC). Manilow made an appearance (performing "Can't Smile Without You", "Mandy", "I Write The Songs" and songs from his latest album) on The Oprah Winfrey Show on April 7, 2005.

Manilow returned to the Arista label and released a new album on January 31, 2006 called The Greatest Songs of the Fifties. The album includes classic songs from that decade, like "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" and "Unchained Melody". It was an unexpected hit, debuting at number 1 in the Billboard 200, marking the first time a Manilow album debuted at the top of the album chart as well as the first time a Manilow album has reached number 1 in 29 years [1]. It was eventually certified Platinum in the U.S., and sold over three million copies worldwide. A sequel album, The Greatest Songs of the Sixties was released on October 31 2006, including songs such as "And I Love Her" and "Can't Help Falling in Love". It repeated the success of its predecesor, debuting at #2 in the Billboard 200.

On November 23 2006, Manilow appeared live on a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and performed the song "What the World Needs Now" on the television broadcast of the parade.

[edit] Television & Cable

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, ABC aired four variety television specials starring and executive produced by Barry Manilow. The Barry Manilow Special with actress Penny Marshall and Manilow's backup ladies Lady Flash as the guest stars premiered on March 2, 1977 to an audience of 37 million, was nominated and won him his first Emmy and vaulted him into being a household name. The special was nominated for four Emmys <ref>Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, [2], accessed November 8 2006</ref> in the categories of "Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special", "Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special", "Outstanding Achievement in Video Tape Editing for a special", and won in the category of "Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Special" against Doug Henning for Doug Henning's World of Magic (NBC), Carol Burnett for Sills and Burnett at the Met (CBS), Neil Diamond for The Neil Diamond Special (NBC), and Shirley MacLaine for The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go From Here (CBS). Manilow also was among Tony award <ref>The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards: Past Winners Search, [3], accessed November 18 2006</ref> winners Lily Tomlin, Diana Ross, National Theatre For the Deaf and Equity Library Theatre honored with a 1977 Special Award. He received it for Barry Manilow on Broadway, his 12 day stay at the Uris Theatre from December 21, 1976 to January 2, 1977, <ref>Internet Broadway Database, [4], accessed November 14 2006</ref> where the concert parts in his special were filmed.

Manilow followed up in 1978 with The Second Barry Manilow Special with Ray Charles as his guest. This special was nominated for four Emmys <ref>Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, [5], accessed November 8 2006</ref> in the categories of "Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Special", "Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special", "Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special", and "Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction". Manilow and Charles together debuted the popular soul version of "It's A Miracle" as a duet.

ABC on May 23, 1979 aired The Third Barry Manilow Special with guest John Denver which was nominated for two Emmy awards <ref>Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, [6], accessed November 8 2006</ref> for "Outstanding Achievement in Tape Sound Mixing" and won for "Outstanding Achievement in Choreography" against The Martha Graham Dance Company, Clytemnestra Dance (PBS) and The Muppets Go Hollywood (CBS) most likely for the big production number of "I Write The Songs" in the special. Manilow and Denver together sang a greatest hits medley of The Everly Brothers.

In 1980 his One Voice special with Dionne Warwick as his guest was nominated for an Emmy <ref>Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, [7], accessed November 8 2006</ref> for "Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction". Manilow and Warwick sang "I'll Never Love This Way Again" and "Deja Vu" from Dionne her latest release which he produced. He also sang the special's title song with a choir. All four of his ABC specials had high ratings.

On cable, Home Box Office (HBO) on February 11, 1979 aired a concert from Manilow's sold out dates at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, California which was the first pay-television show to seriously challenge network primetime specials in the ratings. Manilow wore his famous Desi Arnaz-styled ruffled jacket during a raunchy "Copacabana" number with backup ladies Lady Flash. A one-hour concert special from the same tour also aired in England from Manilow's sold out concert dates at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC).

In 1980, England aired a concert from Manilow's sold out shows at the Wembley Arena while he was on his One Voice tour. In 1981, Manilow's sold out concert at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania aired nationally on Showtime and locally on Philadelphia's now defunct PRISM, a local sports and movie channel. In 1982, England aired a concert from his sold out Royal Albert Hall shows where he premiered the song "Stay" as a trio sung with Kevin DeSimone and James Jolis, his then back-up singers who are also the song's co-writers. The live album and video Barry Live in Britain also came from his Royal Albert Hall shows.

In 1983, Showtime aired Manilow's record attendance breaking August 27, 1983 outdoor concert at Blenheim Palace in England where an estimated 40,000 were on hand. Manilow danced and also played jungle drums during showstopper "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" after intermission. In 1984, Showtime aired a special of Manilow recording his 2:00 AM Paradise Cafe album with jazz legends Gerry Mulligan, drummer Shelly Manne, vocalists Sarah Vaughn and Mel Torme, guitarist Mundell Lowe, pianist Bill Mays, and bassist George Duvivier. In 1984 and 1985, England aired two one-hour specials from his NEC concerts where he danced and played the clarinet during showstopper "That's Why They Call Her Sugar" and during the other NEC show sung "Jingle Bell Rock" with the audience. In 1985, Japan aired an 84 minute concert Manilow did there where he played "Sakura" on the koto.

In March 1988, CBS aired Manilow's Big Fun on Swing Street special that featured songs and special guests from his Swing Street and 2:00 AM Paradise Cafe albums including Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Phyllis Hyman, Stanley Clarke, Carmen McRae, Tom Scott, Gerry Mulligan, Diane Schuur, Full Swing, and Uncle Festive a band within Manilow's band at the time. The special was nominated for two Emmys <ref>Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, [8], accessed November 9 2006</ref> in categories of "Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic): For a Variety/Music or drama series, a miniseries or a special" and won in the category of "Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music program" against Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour (NBC), The Magic of David Copperfield X: The Bermuda Triangle (CBS), We The People 200: The Constitutional Gala, and Women of the Night II (HBO). England also aired another NEC one-hour concert special Manilow did while on his Big Fun Tour de Force tour.

In 1989, Showtime aired the one-hour special Barry Manilow SRO On Broadway where Manilow was at the Gershwin Theatre, formally called the Uris Theatre the same theater where Manilow's concert shots from his first ABC television special were filmed. The special was a sampling of Barry Manilow Live On Broadway a 90 minute video of the same show that was released the following year. Barry Manilow at the Gershwin was a show he did from April 18, 1989 to June 10, 1989 where he had 44 total shows. <ref>Internet Broadway Database, [9], accessed November 14 2006</ref> He followed this set of shows up with a sold out world tour of the Broadway show.

In the 1990s while Manilow's career dipped, he had five noteworthy specials. In 1990, Japan aired National Eolia Special: Barry Manilow On Broadway where he sang the title song "Eolia", which was a hit song there as a commercial for an air conditioner company of the same name, as well as other songs from his 1989-1990 Live on Broadway tour. In 1993, PBS aired Barry Manilow: The Best of Me, taped at Wembley Arena in England that year, to fundraise. The BBC also played a one-hour version of the same show with "Please Don't Be Scared", a bonus song or "lucky strike extra" as Manilow says, not seen in The Greatest Hits...and then some, the video release of the show.

In December 1996, A&E aired Barry Manilow: Live By Request, the first of two Live By Requests he does. The broadcast was A&E's most successful music program, attracting an estimated 2.4 million viewers. The show was also simulcast on the radio. In March 1997, VH-1 aired Barry Manilow: The Summer of '78, a one-hour special of Manilow solo at the piano being interviewed and playing his hits as well as songs from Summer of '78 his latest release at the time.

On October 23, 1999, NBC aired the two-hour special StarSkates Salute to Barry Manilow taped at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada featuring Kristi Yamaguchi, Elvis Stojko, Philippe Candeloro, Alexei Yagudin, Caryn Kadavy, Denise Biellmann, Oksana Kazakova and Artur Dmitriev, and Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze skating to Manilow's music. Manilow also performed as well.

At the turn of the twenty-first century, Manilow got off to a good start with two specials, Manilow Country and Manilow Live!, taped two consecutive days at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville, Tennessee. On April 11, 2000, The Nashville Network (TNN) aired the two-hour Manilow Country, which featured country stars Trisha Yearwood, Neal McCoy, Deana Carter, Jo Dee Messina, Lorrie Morgan, Kevin Sharp, Lila McCann, Gillian Welch and Jaci Velasquez singing their favorite Manilow hits with a "country" twist. Manilow performed as well. The special was TNN's first high definition broadcast and became one of TNN's highest rated concert specials. In June 2000, DirectTV aired the two-hour concert special Manilow Live! where Manilow had his band, a 30-piece orchestra, and a choir. This HDTV special documented his most recent concert tour with the greatest hits of his career and was released to video.

In 2002, Manilow's career rebounded with the release of Ultimate Manilow, his bestselling greatest hits album released that year. On May 18, 2002, Manilow returned to CBS with Ultimate Manilow his first special at the network since his 1988 Big Fun on Swing Street special. The special was filmed in the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California and was nominated for an Emmy <ref>Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, [10], accessed November 9 2006</ref> in the category of "Outstanding Music Direction". On December 3, 2003, A&E aired A Barry Manilow Christmas: Live by Request, his second of two concerts for the series. The two-hour special had Manilow taking requests for Christmas songs performed live with a band and an orchestra. Also on the special were guests Cyndi Lauper, Jose Feliciano, and Bette Midler.

In March 2006, PBS aired Barry Manilow: Music and Passion, a concert taped exclusively for them to fundraise. It was at the Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he has a long contract with them as the house show. Manilow was nominated in the category of "Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program" category where he won his second career Emmy against late night television comedians Steven Colbert, Craig Ferguson, David Letterman and actor Hugh Jackman. The special was also nominated for "Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Special."

[edit] Guest appearances

As a celebrity, Manilow has guest starred on: Donny & Marie in 1977 when he surprised Marie Osmond with a beagle puppy from his then dog Bagel's litter as a birthday present. On May 8, 1978 he appeared on the ABC special The Stars Salute Israel At 30 where he sang the Candide song "Make Our Garden Grow" as well as "Copacabana" dancing with then Lady Flash backup singer Lorraine "Reparata" Mazzola.

In 1982, he appeared on Goldie & Kids a special where he acted in skits and sang "One Voice" and "I Am Your Child" with hostess Goldie Hawn. On September 17, 1987 he appeared in the star-studded CBS special We The People 200: The Constitutional Gala taped at the Philadelphia Civic Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to debut his song "Let Freedom Ring" where President Ronald Reagan was in attendance. In 1988 he performed at That's What Friends Are For: AIDS Concert '88, a benefit concert scam for the Warwick Foundation headed by Dionne Warwick and shown on Showtime a couple years later. At the charity "fundraiser" at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. he sang "Please Don't Be Scared" and "Mandy/Could It Be Magic".

On January 2, 1993 he was a guest on the NBC special Dame Edna's Hollywood where he sang "I'll Be Seeing You" and with Dame Edna Everage "Can't Smile Without You" as the finale that included Robin Leach, Burt Reynolds, Cesar Romero, and Sean Young, the other guests on the special. On May 17, 1993 he made a guest appearance on the CBS show Murphy Brown as the surprise entertainment where he sang "I Am Your Child" for Murphy's one-year-old child's birthday party. That year he also appeared in England on Surprise! Surprise! with Cilla Black where he surprised a young fan at his concert singing "If Tomorrow Never Comes" to the fan sitting on stage before his concert audience. On that same episode, Manilow also sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" with Black on stage, a duet they recorded that year.

In one 2001 episode of Ally McBeal he was both a hallucination of Ally's and himself on stage, and in 2003 on the NBC show Will & Grace as himself backstage in between tour stops. On April 20-April 21, 2004 Manilow reunited with Debra Byrd his former backup singer who is now the vocal coach at American Idol when he appeared as a guest judge and worked with the top seven finalists for the popular FOX variety prize show where the season three contestants sang his songs as the theme for the week. Manilow performed on the second day on the results show when Jennifer Hudson was voted off in the season when Fantasia Barrino was the winner. On December 8, 2004, he was a guest on the NBC special A Clay Aiken Christmas, where he sang three song sets including "Because It's Christmas" as a trio with Yolanda Adams and host Clay Aiken.

On February 3, 2006 Manilow was the guest singer on the ABC variety prize show Dancing with the Stars where he sang three songs on the results show when Tia Carrere was voted off in the season when Drew Lachey was the winner. On March 21-March 22, 2006 Manilow returned to American Idol in season five when 1950s music was the theme to coincide with his latest release of The Greatest Songs of the Fifties. He again helped the top eleven finalists to fine tune their performances and he sang on the results show when Kevin Covais, who is also known as "Chicken Little", was voted off in the season when Taylor Hicks was the winner. In November 2006, he appeared on cable on Logo in the reality show Jacob and Joshua: Nemesis Rising as himself in Las Vegas for a recording session with the twins.

[edit] Movies

Manilow also wrote original songs for films <ref>BarryNet - The Man - At The Movies, [11], accessed November 2 2006</ref> such as the 1972 war drama Parades where his song "I Am Your Child" was used, the 1978 slap-stick comedy Foul Play starring Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase where "Ready To Take a Chance Again" and "Copacabana" originated. In 1978 the song "Ready To Take A Chance Again" from Foul Play was nominated for an Oscar <ref>The Official Academy Awards Database, [12], accessed November 18 2006</ref> in the category of "Best Original Song". The 1980 drama Tribute starring Jack Lemmon and Robby Benson where his song "We Still Have Time" was featured and the Walt Disney Pictures cartoon movie Oliver & Company (1988) where Bette Midler's character sung Manilow's song "Perfect Isn't Easy".

He also co-wrote the Broadway-style musical scores for the Don Bluth animated films Thumbelina (1994) and The Pebble and the Penguin (1995). Manilow was also contracted to score a third Don Bluth movie, Rapunzel, but it is not known to ever have been released or made. Manilow was supposed to be the voice of a cricket in it. On March 26, 1995, he was dishonored with a Razzie <ref>Golden Raspberry Award Foundation, [13], accessed November 18 2006</ref> in the category of "Worst Original Song" for "Marry The Mole" sung by Carol Channing in Thumbelina against "The Color of The Night" from the movie of the same name and "Under The Same Sun" from On Deadly Ground.

Manilow has appeared in two movies. He portrayed Tony Starr in a 1985 CBS made-for-television film based on Copacabana that had Annette O'Toole as Lola Lamarr and Joseph Bologna was Rico. The movie in 1986 was nominated for two Emmys <ref>Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, [14], accessed November 17 2006</ref> in the categories of "Outstanding Achievement in Choreography" and won the category of "Outstanding Directing in a Variety or Music Program" against Neil Diamond...Hello Again (CBS), The 58th Annual Academy Awards (ABC) and The Gospel at Colonus Great Performances (PBS). He also portrayed himself in a cameo in the 2002 Kathy Bates and Rupert Everett dark political comedy Unconditional Love, in which his hit "Can't Smile Without You" plays a key role in the plot.

[edit] Trivia

In the 1970s Manilow dated singer Lorna Luft, with whom he still maintains a strong friendship.

In 1980, popular country and parody singer Ray Stevens recorded, and released a Barry Manilow parody, "I Need Your Help, Barry Manilow", Written by Dale Gonyea and sung in a similar way to Manilow's crooning style. The picture sleeve of the single is itself a parody of the cover of Manilow's Barry Manilow II album. The song's subject is a man who is in the midst of a series of personal crises and needs some cheering up:

I need your help, Barry Manilow

I'm all alone and don't know what to do

Sing me a song, sing it sad and low

No one knows how to suffer quite like you!

In 1989, an American tabloid claimed Manilow was engaged to porn star Robin Byrd. On a June 22, 1989 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson <ref>[15] The Official Tonight Show Website: Guest Search 6/22/89</ref>, Manilow was asked by Johnny Carson about the headline story. He told Carson he is just friends with Byrd and an innocent picture was taken. After the meeting, his band gave him a video of Debbie Does Dallas starring Byrd, as a present for his birthday. Manilow added that he can't watch his friend <ref>Robin Byrd with Barry Manilow</ref> doing that. It turned out to be a publicity stunt for Byrd who used Manilow to gain greater fame.

On January 15, 1994, three hours before showtime Manilow abruptly cancelled a concert at the Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, disappointing thousands of fans who had braved freezing temperatures to see him perform at an Ethnic Pride and Heritage Festival to benefit the Community Foundation of New Jersey as well as United Hospitals Medical Center Foundation and Newark Museum in Newark during the pre-inaugural activities for then New Jersey Governor-elect Christie Whitman. Manilow said in a statement that he was specifically told in writing the concert would be part of a non-partisan event. "...I would not have agreed to endorse Ms. Whitman in this way having never met..." <ref>"MANILOW PASSES ON GALA", The Palm Beach Post, January 17, 1994.</ref> Donald Trump stepped in and shuffled his entertainment schedule at Trump Plaza and dispatched Paul Anka to substitute for Manilow. The charities went after Manilow for the $200,000 advance he took for the concert which he refunded over a month later.<ref>"MANILOW MIX-UP RESOLVED", The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 12, 1994.</ref> The Trentonian newspaper gave the "Geek of the Week" award to Manilow, and Trump banned him from Atlantic City for a dozen years.

On February 8, 1994, Manilow sues Los Angeles radio station KBIG (104.3 FM), seeking $13 million in damages and $15 million in punitive damages because their ad was causing irreparable damage to his professional reputation. The ad, a 30-second spot introduced that January 31, suggested that people listen to KBIG because it does not play Manilow's music. The lawsuit, was filed in Orange County Superior Court by Manilow's attorney C. Tucker Cheadle of Hastings, Clayton & Tucker in Los Angeles.<ref>Volzke, Jonathan. "DON'T PLAY BARRY? THEN PAY BARRY RADIO: Singer sues KBIG for touting no-Manilow format", The Orange County Register, February 11, 1994.</ref> Two days later, KBIG/104.3 FM agreed to drop the commercial poking fun at the singer, but a lawyer representing his business interests stopped short of agreeing to withdraw a $28 million lawsuit.<ref>Lycan, Gary. "KBIG stops needling Manilow CONTROVERSY: The Los Angeles radio station backs down after mocking the singer in ads", The Orange County Register, February 11, 1994.</ref>

In 1994, Arizona Court of Appeals Judge Philip Espinosa sued Manilow over the volume of a December 23, 1993 concert he attended with his wife. <ref>"People, Places & Things in the News: Barry Manilow", Associated Press, March 29, 1997.</ref> The judge said in a lawsuit he has had a constant ringing in his ears and nearly blew his ears out. Espinosa sought unspecified damages, and the trial was set for September 23, 1997. The suit also names Manilow's production company, an Arizona concert promoter and the city of Tucson, which runs the convention center where the concert was held. In July 1997, to settle the suit it was reported <ref>"Small Victory Against Loud Music", Associated Press, July 12, 1997.</ref> that Manilow donated $5,000 to American Tinnitus Association, an ear-disorder association.

In June 2006, Australian officials blast Manilow's music between 9pm until midnight every Friday, Saturday and Sunday <ref>"Barry Manilow Annoyed that his Music May Annoy Others", World Entertainment News, July 18, 2006.</ref> to deter gangs of youths from congregating in a residential area late at night. In a tongue-in-cheek statement <ref>Manilow, Barry. "Barry's Response to Australia's Plan", BarryNet, July 18, 2006.</ref> released on July 18, 2006 Manilow wrote: "...Frankly, I think that if you played ANYONE'S music for that long you'd drive any rationally minded human being out-of-their mind! But, have they thought that the hoodlums might like my music? What if some of them began to sing along with "Can't Smile Without You"? Or lit candles on "I Write The Songs"? Or, heaven forbid, dance around the grounds to the infectious beat of "Copacabana"? What if it attracted more hoodlums and not rid them of the ones that were already there? What if it brought people together? What if put smiles on their faces? What if the absurdity of this plan began to hit everyone at the same time and everyone began to laugh and become friends"? That's what my music usually does for people. The council may have their adjectives mixed up. My music has been called "Catchy" (easy to remember because of having an effective melody, not "Catchy" (Able to be caught)..."

Underwent arthroscopic hip surgery the day after the 2006 Emmy Awards on August 28.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

1973 Barry Manilow (re-mixed and re-released in 1975 as Barry Manilow I) US #28
1974 Barry Manilow II US #9
1975 Tryin' to Get the Feeling US #5
1976 This One's for You US #6
1977 Barry Manilow Live US #1
1978 Even Now US #3, UK #12
1978 Greatest Hits US #7, UK #3 (as Manilow Magic - The Best Of Barry Manilow)
1979 One Voice US #9, UK #18
1980 Barry US #15, UK #5
1981 If I Should Love Again US #14, UK #5
1982 Barry Live in Britain UK #1
1982 Here Comes the Night US #32, UK #7 (as I Wanna Do It With You)
1983 Greatest Hits Vol. II US #30, UK #10 (as A Touch More Magic)
1984 2:00 AM Paradise Cafe US #28, UK #40
1985 The Manilow Collection / 20 Classic Hits US #100
1985 Manilow US #42, UK #40
1987 Swing Street US #70
1989 Barry Manilow US #64
1990 Live on Broadway US #196, UK #19
1990 Because It's Christmas US #40
1991 Showstoppers US #68
1993 Greatest Hits: The Platinum Collection UK #37
1994 Singin' with the Big Bands US #59
1996 Summer of '78 US #82
1998 Manilow Sings Sinatra US #122
2001 Here at the Mayflower US #90, UK #18
2002 Ultimate Manilow US #3, UK #8
2002 A Christmas Gift of Love US #55
2004 2 Nights Live! US #27
2004 Scores US #47
2005 The Essential Barry Manilow (Legacy Recordings)
2006 The Greatest Songs of the Fifties US #1, UK #12
2006 The Greatest Songs of the Sixties US #2

[edit] Hit Singles

Year	SINGLE	US Hot 100	US AC	UK
1974	"Mandy"	#1 (1 week)	#1	#11
1975	"It's A Miracle"	#12	#1
1975	"Could It Be Magic"	#6	#4	#25 (1978 release)
1975	"I Write The Songs"	#1 (1 week)	#1
1976	"Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again"	#10	#1
1976	"This One's For You"	#29	#1
1976	"Weekend In New England"	#10	#1
1977	"Looks Like We Made It"	#1 (1 week)	#1
1977	"Daybreak" (Live)	#23	#7
1977	"It's Just Another New Year's Eve"		#33
1978	Can't Smile Without You	#3	#1	#43
1978	Even Now	#19	# 1	#
1978	"Copacabana (At The Copa)"	#8	#6	# 22 (1993 release)
1978	"Ready To Take A Chance Again"	#11	#5
1978	"Somewhere In The Night"	#9	#4
1979	"Ships"	#9	#4
1979	"When I Wanted You"	#20	#1
1980	"I Don't Want To Walk Without You"	#36	#2
1980	"Bermuda Triangle"			# 15 (1981 release)
1980	"I Made It Through The Rain"	#10	#4	#37 (1981 release)
1981	"Lonely Together"	#45	#7	# 21 (1980 release)
1981	"The Old Songs"	#15	#1	# 48
1981	"Somewhere Down The Road"	#21	#1
1982	"Let's Hang On"	#32	#6	#12 (1981 release)
1982	"If I Should Love Again"			# 66
1982	"Stay" (live)			# 23
1982	"Oh Julie"	#38	#24
1982	"I Wanna Do It With You"			#8
1982	"Memory"	#39	#8
1982	"I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter"			#36
1983	"Some Kind Of Friend"	#26	#4	#48
1983	"Read 'Em And Weep"	#18	#1	#17
1984	"You're Looking Hot Tonight"		#25	#47 (1983 release)
1984	"When October Goes"		#6	#85
1985	"Paradise Cafe"		#24
1985	"Run To Me" (Duet with Dionne Warwick)		#12	#86
1985	"In Search Of Love"		#11	# 80
1986	"He Doesn't Care (But I Do)"		#22
1986	"I'm Your Man"	#86		#96
1988	"Brooklyn Blues"		#13
1988	"Hey Mambo"	#90
1989	"Keep Each Other Warm"		#7
1989	"Please Don't Be Scared"			# 35
1989	"The One That Got Away"		#25	#78
1990	"If I Can Dream"			#81
1990	"If You Remember Me"		#41
1990	"Some Good Things Never Last" (with Debra Byrd & Dana Robbins)			#79
1990	"Because It's Christmas"		#38
1992	"Another Life"		#33
1994	"Let Me Be Your Wings" (with Debra Byrd)			# 73
1997	"I'd Really Love To See You Tonight"		#26
1997	"I Go Crazy"		#30
2001	"Turn The Radio Up"		#25
2003	"River"		#17
2006	"Unchained Melody"		#25
2006	"Love Is A Many Splendored Thing"		#32