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| February 4, 2010 | KABC-TV | Barry Manilow to be honored by LACHSA |
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| Barry Manilow is being honored by the L.A. County High School for the Arts, a school he has supported for a long time. In April, LACHSA will honor Manilow for his contributions at the school's 25th anniversary celebration (April 17, 2010 - 7:30pm - Ahmanson Theatre). The celebration will feature performances by Manilow, other celebrity entertainers, famous alumni and award-winning student ensembles. Alumnus Josh Groban and opera legend Marilyn Horne will make special presentations for two of the Honorees. A gala reception will follow in the Grand Hall of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Tickets to the event are available to the public at all different prices. To get more information about the event and tickets you call (213) 225-7584, or go to the Arts High Foundation Web site. |
| January 24, 2010 | New York Times | "BARRY MANILOW: The Greatest Love Songs of All Time (Arista)" by Stephen Holden |
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| Musical chicken soup for anxious hearts: that is the reliable pop panacea that Barry Manilow has been dispensing for nearly 40 years. His voice, at 66, is still boyishly eager and conveys the same soothing message: “I am your friend through thick and thin.” It is convincing enough to have made him as critically indestructible as Johnny Mathis, a singer whose voice projects a more ethereal version of the same reassurance. Their longtime popularity attests to a persistence of a belief in true love and happy endings, despite all evidence to the contrary. “The Greatest Love Songs of All Time” is pure Manilow schmaltz, a hearty, all-purpose musical tranquilizer for grandparents and children alike. The tasteful, unfussy arrangements on songs like “Love Is Here to Stay,” “I Only Have Eyes for You” and “How Deep Is the Ocean?” are considerably better than those heard on most traditional pop albums. “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love” sounds much like Mr. Manilow’s 1978 hit “Can’t Smile Without You,” but with a softer beat. Mr. Manilow is a melody man who respects the mostly great tunes enough to sing them with only minor variations from the notes as written. Some arrangements are light pop-swing with horns and strings (“You Made Me Love You,” “It Could Happen to You”). “I Only Have Eyes for You” refers to earlier versions by the Flamingos and Art Garfunkel. “The Twelfth of Never” pays homage to Mr. Mathis’s 1957 hit rendition. Mr. Manilow’s friendly “Love Me Tender” strips away the groaning sexual subtext associated with Elvis Presley. The closing number, “When You Were Sweet Sixteen” (1898), ties it all together. His disinterest in subtext and his rhythmic timidity are what keeps Mr. Manilow from being Frank Sinatra. Inside his dream world there are no mood swings. A friendly, nostalgic bonhomie prevails. Mr. Manilow begins a residency at the Paris Las Vegas on March 5; parislasvegas.com. |
| January 14, 2010 | Las Vegas Sun | "Barry Manilow to preview new Paris show at Keep Memory Alive gala" by Robin Leach |
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| Six days before Barry Manilow launches his new two-year contract on the Strip, the superstar entertainer will give a sneak preview of the songs and music at the annual Keep Memory Alive gala. The celebrated music legend will perform Feb. 27 for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health fundraiser at the Bellagio. The first of his annual 78 performances at the Paris begins March 5. Manilow follows last year's one-night-only reunion of Siegfried & Roy at Keep Memory Alive. KMA Chairman Larry Ruvo made the announcement yesterday at a downtown secret summit of hotel owners and executives with Cleveland Clinic doctors who unveiled plans for Las Vegas to become a "medical mecca" similar to Houston. "We are deeply touched and appreciative of Manilow's incredible generosity at this crucial time," Ruvo said. "He has personally donated all of the costs associated with the performance. What a fantastic way to arrive on the Strip, which has been his dream for so many years. His kindness helps us fulfill our dreams, too." Star chefs Wolfgang Puck and Thomas Keller are teaming up this year for the gala. Other celebrities, including The Sopranos star Steve Schirripa and comedian Brad Garrett, have agreed to join auctioneer Christian Kolberg and Las Vegas Sun celebrity and entertainment reporter Robin Leach, who will be hosting the event. In addition to his own foundation, The Manilow Fund for Health and Hope, other work includes The Prince's Trust, United Way, The Starlight Foundation and several leading organizations for AIDS prevention and research. He is the national spokesman for The Foundation Fighting Blindness and a member of the Music Center of Los Angeles. He also created the Manilow Music Project as part of his Manilow Fund for Health and Hope to help head off budget cuts to arts and music programs in schools. His foundation gave $500,000 in musical instruments, sheet music and music stands to 21 schools in California's Coachella Valley. When he opens here at the Paris days after the KMA gala, he has promised to make music donations to Las Vegas Valley schools and already has begun identifying schools and programs with those needs. "Just call your local schools and ask them what they need," Manilow said. "Get 'em a new set of drums! Anyone can make a difference. Music changes a young person's life." Manilow wrapped his [five]-year run at the Las Hilton last month. He performed to sell-out crowds beginning in 2005 with his Manilow: Music & Passion and then expanded it to Ultimate Manilow: The Hits in September 2008. In addition to the preview of his all-new production, Manilow will feature material from his new album "The Greatest Love Songs of All Time," which will be released Jan. [26]. He will unveil the album live on QVC on a satellite feed Tuesday from the Paris. During the special QSessions Live broadcast, the Grammy-, Tony- and Emmy-winning artist will perform a selection of songs from the album and give viewers an inside look at the inspiration behind the collection. Manilow also will offer shoppers the opportunity to purchase a week before the album release a five-track bonus disc of songs he put together especially for QVC viewers. Teaming up once again with longtime collaborator and Arista Records founder Clive Davis, now chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment, the album features Manilow's interpretations and arrangements of classic love songs, including "Love Is Here to Stay," "The Look of Love" and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." Manilow's 2006 QVC appearance marked the highest single-day sales by a music artist in QVC's history, and he still holds the record as the highest single-hour music sales event in QVC's 23-year history. "I unabashedly can say that this CD is the most beautiful album I've ever made," Manilow said. "Everyone involved in creating this one was committed to making the most romantic album possible. It's a real beauty. I've always loved this style of music. Given the opportunity to make an album of songs like these was an honor and a rich creative experience for me. I hope the songwriters would have been proud of how we treated their masterpieces. The final cut of the CD is very special. It's a song called 'When You Were Sweet Sixteen.' In my research, I found that this song was the very first pop love song ever written. It was written in 1898, and many versions of it have been done. When you hear it, I think you'll understand why it still holds up over a hundred years later." As the founder and president of Arista Records for its first 25 years, Clive was a perennial collaborator with Manilow on virtually all of his recordings. They first worked together on "Mandy," Manilow's debut No. 1 single, after he became the first performer signed by Clive when Arista was launched in 1974. Although it was back in June 2002 that he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside Michael Jackson, Randy Newman and Sting, Manilow still says the highlight of his long and successful career will be headlining on the Las Vegas Strip. "I am delighted to be in Vegas," he said. "That was always my dream, and now I am very happy with the show we will be opening at the Paris. It is a pleasure to share its magic in advance with the supporters of Keep Memory Alive." |
| January 12, 2010 | Press Release
SOURCE: QVC, Inc. | Barry Manilow Debuts GREATEST LOVE SONGS on QVC: Legendary Performer to Debut THE GREATEST LOVE SONGS OF ALL TIME With Special QVC Performance Live from Paris Hotel in Las Vegas |
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| J'adore Paree! Live from Paris Las Vegas, Barry Manilow is scheduled to return to QVC on Tuesday, January 19 at 9 PM (ET) to unveil his much-anticipated new album, THE GREATEST LOVE SONGS OF ALL TIME (Arista). During the special QVC Presents QSessions Live broadcast, the Grammy-, Tony-, and Emmy Award-winning artist will perform a selection of songs from the new album while offering viewers an inside look at the inspiration behind the collection. Manilow will also offer shoppers the opportunity to purchase a five-track bonus disc of songs he put together especially for QVC viewers, a week before street date. "Barry Manilow continues to be a favorite among our viewers," said Rich Yoegel, director of merchandising for QVC. "Performing his brand-new songs live from Las Vegas, this show promises to be one that no one will want to miss." Teaming up, once again, with longtime collaborator and Arista Records founder Clive Davis (now Chief Creative Officer, Sony Music Entertainment), Manilow's THE GREATEST LOVE SONGS OF ALL TIME features his loving interpretations and arrangements of classic love songs, including "Love is Here To Stay," "The Look of Love," and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." Manilow, whose 2006 QVC appearance marked the highest single-day sales by a musical artist in QVC history, also continues to hold the record as the highest single-hour music sales event in QVC's 23 years. THE GREATEST LOVE SONGS OF ALL TIME will be available starting January 19 through QVC at 800.345.1515 or www.QVC.com, while supplies last. About Barry Manilow The Greatest Love Songs of All Time is Barry Manilow's follow-up to the mega-bestselling series of "Decades" albums that he masterminded with Clive Davis. The series began in January 2006 with The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties, which entered the Billboard 200 album chart at #1, and was certified RIAA platinum. The Greatest Songs Of The Sixties (October 2006) entered at #2. When the RIAA platinum The Greatest Songs Of The Seventies entered at #4 (September 2007), Barry Manilow was distinguished as the only artist to chart three Top 5 debuts during 2006-2007. The most recent entry in the series, The Greatest Songs Of The Eighties, was released November 2008. Beyond the sensational "Decades" series, Arista is the home to Manilow's biggest hits including "Mandy," "It's a Miracle," "Could It Be Magic," "I Write the Songs," "Looks Like We Made It," "Can't Smile Without You," "Copacabana (At the Copa)," "Somewhere In the Night," "Ships," "I Made It Through the Rain," and many, many more. With worldwide record sales exceeding 80 million, Barry Manilow is ranked as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time, according to R&R (Radio & Records); with no less than 25 consecutive top 40 hits to his credit between 1975 and 1983, on the Billboard Hot 100. Manilow has worked on over 40 albums over the course of his career as a singer, songwriter, arranger and producer. About QVC QVC, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Interactive Group (Nasdaq: LINTA), is one of the largest multimedia retailers in the world. QVC is committed to providing its customers with thousands of the most innovative and contemporary beauty, fashion, jewelry and home products. Its programming is distributed to more than 167 million homes worldwide. The company's Web site, QVC.com, is ranked among the top general merchant Internet sites. With subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, and launching in Italy in 2010, West Chester, Pa.-based QVC has shipped more than a billion packages in its 23-year history. QVC, Q, and the Q Ribbon Logo are registered service marks of ER Marks, Inc. |
| January 13, 2010 | RTT News | Barry Manilow Returns To QVC |
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| Barry Manilow will make his triumphant return to the QVC network on Tuesday, January 19. QVC's QSessions Live will broadcast the 66-year-old crooner performing songs from his new album, The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time, live from the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. "Barry Manilow continues to be a favorite among our viewers," said Rich Yoegel, director of merchandising for QVC. "Performing his brand-new songs live from Las Vegas, this show promises to be one that no one will want to miss." The Greatest Love Songs of All Time includes the tracks "Love is Here to Stay," "The Look of Love" and "I Can't Give You Anything but Love." Manilow will also offer shoppers the opportunity to purchase a five-track bonus disc of songs one week before the album hits stores. The singer put the disc together especially for QVC viewers. In 2006, Manilow's QVC appearance marked the highest single-day sales by a musical artist in QVC history. He continues to hold the record. |
| December 20, 2009 | The Desert Sun | "Barry Manilow's generosity the mark of a true superstar" by Fred Saunders |
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| What elevates a superstar above the everyday, powerful and extolled performer? What separates the legendary from the merely famous? In a year marred by Wall Street greed, beggarly banks, and investment scoundrels, the best, most-obvious answer might just be generosity. This holiday season, Animal Samaritans was fortunate enough to be one of the charities to benefit from Barry Manilow's A Gift of Love concert series at the McCallum Theatre. With worldwide music sales of more than 75 million and hits spanning over four decades, it's clear Barry Manilow has nothing to prove. So why did he do it? I suspect it's because at the core of his music — his gift — is a compassionate heart. Anyone with a pulse knows times are tight. Many local nonprofit organizations are cutting staff and services in an effort to simply stay afloat. Even then, we know some won't make it. According to The Desert Sun, Barry's concert series raised close to $500,000 for 25 Coachella Valley charities. Barry, if you're listening, thank you, thank you, you've made a meaningful difference. The more than $22,000 you raised for Animal Samaritans alone is greatly appreciated. Without such kindness many of our programs would cease. Our no-kill Animal Shelter is a prime example. No one makes a profit by housing, feeding and providing free vet care to homeless animals. Animal shelters are notorious money rains. Our humane education program, which provides services in both English and Spanish to more than 20,000 local school children each year, is another non-revenue generating cost center. In our Animal Assisted Therapy Program we pair suitable therapy dogs and cats with disabled children, hospital patients, and nursing home residents. It's alive and well because of charitable giving. For the second year in a row, we've given more than $100,000 back to the community in the form of free animal spay and neuter services to senior pet owners, and for the reduction of feral cat colonies. What's more, we are near completion on our new, state-of-the-art veterinary clinic — and the loan must be repaid. Again, charitable contributions play a pivotal role in our success. Many communities have famous actors, athletes and musicians living among them, but here in our desert we have a genuine superstar. Barry Manilow's compassion and generosity reminds us that not all icons are self-absorbed, and that, as strange as it sounds in this day and age, some stars love helping others even more than money or fame. |
| December 20, 2009 | USA Weekend | "5 Christmas songs (that make the whole world sing!): Barry Manilow shares why he loves this season so much; Plus, the top adult-contemporary recording artist of all time picks his favorite holiday tunes" by Brian Truitt |
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| Growing up in a poor household in Brooklyn, N.Y., Barry Manilow never had a bunch of gifts waiting to be unwrapped around his family's aluminum Christmas tree that was adorned with blue tinsel and ornaments. There was no need for them: For him, the real presents were the Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and other big-band Christmas albums that his stepfather would bring home around the holiday season. To this day, those two aspects -- family and great tunes -- remain Manilow's Christmas traditions. "I love the season because it's the only time of the year when everybody stops yelling at each other for a couple of weeks," says Manilow, who begins a headlining stint at the Paris Las Vegas hotel March 5. "Things calm down, people are all concerned about giving, charity and spirituality, and it's just a lovely time of the year." Manilow, the top adult-contemporary artist of all time, has shown his love for the Christmas tunes his Irish stepdad and Russian/Jewish mother enjoyed both on his records and in performance. He has released three holiday albums since 1990 -- the most recent is October's "In the Swing of Christmas" -- and his "Happy Holiday!" DVD came out last month. In the spirit of the season, Manilow gives us his five holiday favorites: The Christmas Waltz
"Frosted windowpanes" and "painted candy canes" set the scene for this musical Christmas card from the big city, and they come alive thanks to the sweet croon of Frank Sinatra. "One of the most beautiful Christmas songs ever written, done by the greatest male singer of all time," Manilow says. The Christmas Song
Perhaps no yuletide-ready song is as vividly wintry as this Mel Torme track, with chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose and folks dressed up like Eskimos. It has been sung -- many times, many ways -- but none as popular as Nat King Cole's 1946 recording, which became "the definitive version of this romantic song." Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
It's one of the most performed holiday songs, but many people don't realize there have been several different versions. Sinatra made it a seasonal classic in the late 1950s, but Ol' Blue Eyes had tweaked the original -- made famous by Judy Garland in the 1944 movie musical "Meet Me in St. Louis" -- to make the lyrics a little less melancholy. Yet it's Garland's take that Manilow thinks is "the greatest rendition of this holiday song ever." Silver Bells
Silver Bells first appeared in the Bob Hope film "The Lemon Drop Kid" in 1951, and even though Bing Crosby's early-'50s version with Carol Richards is the standard, this popular tune has been covered by everybody from the animated Alvin and the Chipmunks to Kenny Rogers to Twisted Sister to Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth. Manilow recorded his own take -- singing all of the harmonies himself -- on his recent album "In the Swing of Christmas." "I had a ball doing all 21 voices on this holiday classic," he says. Happy Holiday/White Christmas
Bing Crosby debuted Irving Berlin's White Christmas in December 1941, and over the years it has become one of the most beloved songs of all time -- Christmas or otherwise. For Manilow's second seasonal album, 2002's "A Christmas Gift of Love," the crooner doubled the Christmas spirit by pairing White Christmas with another Berlin classic, "Happy Holiday." "It's the most joyful rendition of these great Irving Berlin songs I could come up with," he says. "I dare you not to smile." |
| December 18, 2009 | Chicago Sun-Times | "Barry Manilow delivers a Christmas-cabana" by Miriam Di Nunzio |
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| The late, great impresario Ed Sullivan would have summed up Barry Manilow’s holiday tour as only Sullivan could: “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got a really big shew tonight.” Truth be told, Manilow, who opened a three-night concert gig at the Rosemont Theatre on Thursday night, has been doing really big shows for most of his four-decade career: The kitschy, campy, pull-out-all-the-stops arena tours of his ’80s heyday; the big, bold, brassy scaled-back theater tours of the ’90s; the Las Vegas showroom extravaganza of the new millennium (first at the off-Strip Las Vegas Hilton, and starting in March at the Strip-centric Paris Resort & Casino). Rolling Stone years ago called Manilow “the showman of our generation.” They were on to something. The holiday show/greatest hits hybrid that Manilow presented at the Rosemont, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and four backup singers, boasted everything from Christmas trees and twinkling lights to Santa Claus and tiny caroling moppets (the Evanston Children’s Choir on this night), even a shower of confetti “snow” ... Was it everything you’d expect from a Manilow show? You bet. A heaping helping of pure, unadulterated feel-good, wish-this-show-could-go-on-for-two-hours-more entertainment from the master showman. Looking very holiday-ish and dapper in a Christmas-red jacket, black pants and black shirt, the 66-year-old entertainer kicked things off with his signature duo of “Happy Holidays”/“White Christmas.” “Consider me your skinny, Jewish Santa Claus!” he proclaimed ... Manilow peppered the warm-and-fuzzy holiday tunes with a smattering of his greatest hits, including a medley of “Daybreak,” “Somewhere in the Night” “This One’s for You.” As the evening progressed, Irving Berlin’s “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” and Joni Mitchell’s “River” held court with “Weekend in New England” and “Copacabana.” When Manilow settled in at the grand piano and set in motion a gorgeous rendition of “Mandy” it reminded us of what he was capable of. His passion for every note, and the musicians who bring them to life, has been evident on every album he’s released since that song hit the charts. He was absolutely in his element throughout the concert as the orchestra delivered everything from jazz and pop to swing and big band. The tight 70-minute show went along at a brisk pace, and ended [with] “Because of Christmas” ... Manilow’s legacy to pop music will be way more than the camp of “Copacabana” [or] “Can’t Smile Without You.” It goes way deeper than that. “That’s why I write the hits, because I want the stuff I care deeply about to get out there,” Manilow said in a 1983 Playgirl interview. “The stuff” for him is and always has been the music. Listen to the gorgeous strains of “Even Now,” (one of the most beautiful ballads you’ll ever hear) and the anguish of the lyrics that come through as hauntingly as the notes that carry them. And who else could craft a willowy pop song around Chopin’s Prelude in C Minor (the mega-hit “Could it Be Magic”) and get away with it? And what of Manilow the composer? He’s in the Songwriters Hall of Fame — right alongside the likes of Leonard Bernstein, Cole Porter, Kurt Weil, Stephen Sondheim, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Irving Berlin and Joni Mitchell. In a 2004 interview, after Manilow made a guest appearance on “American Idol,” I asked him if he was “cool again.” “I’ve always been cool,” he replied with a chuckle... BARRY MANILOW; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday night; Rosemont Theater, 5400 N. River; Tickets: $10.37-$259.62; Call: (800) 745-3000; www.ticketmaster.com |
| December 15, 2009 | The Desert Sun | "Barry Manilow's McCallum Theatre concerts raise $464,750 for charities" by Bruce Fessier |
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| Barry Manilow's five-night “A Gift Of Love” has translated into a season full of Christmas presents for local charities. The series of benefit concerts last week at the McCallum Theatre raised $464,750 for 25 Coachella Valley charities, Manilow's manager, Garry Kief, announced Monday. That's just less than Manilow's goal of $500,000 for local charities. But McCallum board chairman Harold Matzner, who helped advertise the five concerts, called the fundraising total “amazing.” “These are good people, Garry Kief and Barry Manilow,” he said. “They've got no agenda except to help people. That's a lot of work, a lot of energy, a lot of commitment, a lot of planning. Five shows and they were outstanding shows. They did a terrific job.” The concerts sold out all five nights, including two weekend shows that faced some of the toughest entertainment competition of the season. Each charity received a different amount of money because concertgoers were allowed to designate a portion of the $750 and $1,000 premium tickets to the charities of their choice. Manilow's Music Project received the most money with $25,000 to be used to provide instruments for Coachella Valley students. The Desert AIDS Project received $24,000, Temple Isaiah received $23,000, and Animal Samaritans got $22,250. Manilow said in a statement, “At this time of the year, I couldn't be happier to give back to this community that I love so much.” |
| December 11, 2009 | Thaindian News | "Barry Manilow Is Charged Up About His New Show" by Ranjan Bhaduri |
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| Eminent singer and song composer Barry Manilow is upbeat about his new show. In a recent interview he said that the last 5 years that he spent playing at Hilton are possibly the best time of his career. He is about to open a new show next year in Paris. The 66-year-old singer said that the thought of taking his upcoming show to Paris gives him an adrenalin rush. At present he is working with Jeff Hornaday and Madonna. The former is the choreographer of Paul McCartney. The huge Theatre des Arts that can accommodate will be revamped for his show. Barry Manilow also said that he checked out the theater and was pretty impressed with it. He thinks it will be the perfect venue for his show. Barry Manilow has revealed that his compositions for the grand show will be based on the theme of love. He added that Paris is a city known for its romantic image and the show will reflect it. He is leaving no stone unturned to make this production a memorable one. In his illustrious career Barry Manilow has achieved many awards and created new milestones. The sale of his records is approaching 100 million. Despite the unprecedented success of his albums Barry Manilow remains grounded. There was a time he worked for Bette Midler but even then he did not think of getting the success and emerging a superstar. His fans are pining their hopes on the album ‘Greatest Love Songs of All Time’. They expect it to be a classic masterpiece from the ace singer. |
| December 11, 2009 | SDGLN.com | "Barry Manilow: Bringing hope and love to the holidays" by Mona de Crinis |
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| Barry Manilow is a giver. And this month, a slew of local charities are going to reap big benefits from his generosity. They’re going to have a very merry Christmas. Or should that be a very ‘Barry’ Christmas? Either way, Manilow’s got a philanthropic plan for the holidays that’s a definite win-win for the desert community. The pop music icon and Coachella Valley resident, together with the Manilow Fund for Health and Hope, recently presented "A Gift of Love...," a five-night holiday concert series at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert. The series kicked off on December 4, and continued December 5, 7, 8 and 9, and focused on 25 desert charities—each night benefiting five selected non-profits. Manilow performed his popular hits in addition to special holiday songs featured on his new Christmas album, In the Swing of Christmas, released this past fall, as well as from earlier holiday collections, Because It’s Christmas and A Christmas Gift of Love. Although he’s quite proud (and rightfully so) of all three holiday albums, Manilow says he’s thrilled about his most recent release. "This one’s got a jazzy influence," he explains during a recent interview, sitting on the McCallum stage a few weeks before his show. "It’s different. I tried some new things, and I’m really excited about it." There’s definitely some warm and fuzzy synergy when you think ‘Barry Manilow’ and ‘the holidays.’ So it’s not surprising that Manilow says he’s particularly fond of ‘the most wonderful time of the year.’ The man loves him some Christmas! "It’s a time when people don’t scream at each other for at least a couple of days," he says jokingly. Then, in a more serious timbre, Manilow identifies the positive qualities of the holiday as a time for giving, a time for joy, a time for love, and a time for celebration. It’s a music-filled holiday, he observes, then adds with a big grin, "And I’m really good at it! Maybe it’s because I just really love this time of the year." In addition to the holiday concert series and recently released Christmas album, Manilow just performed his first ever solo concert at the Hollywood Bowl in October. And for all you hopeless (and hopeful) romantics out there, the man who writes the songs that make the whole world sing will be releasing an epic album, The Greatest Love Songs of All Time, in January 2010, a perfect musical accessory come Valentine’s Day. For his performance at the McCallum, Manilow took great care in choosing the 25 organizations that would benefit from this magnanimous offering of time and talent. "We tried to cover everything, from Desert Paws to the Stroke [Recovery] Center," he says. But this is not the first time Manilow has thrown his gilded hat into the philanthropic ring. His devotion to charitable endeavors is legendary, even though much of it is given discreetly without much much fanfare. When asked why he’s so driven to give back to the community, Manilow laughs and says, "Jewish guilt." Non-profits are really struggling because of the economy, he adds after a moment. "Not only are people not buying things, they’re not donated to charities," he says. "And they’re really hurting. I’m hoping that by giving something to 25 charities, it will help." Manilow is quick to point out that "A Gift of Love..." is only a drop in the proverbial bucket when it comes to organizations in need, and praised others in the valley willing to take out their checkbooks. One of the causes near and dear to his heart, Manilow admits, is Guide Dogs of the Desert. He recalls how moved he was when he visited the organization during a graduation ceremony where puppies who had been living with foster families for the first year of their lives were given back to Guide Dogs to begin their training. "It’s so emotional!" he says emphatically. AIDS is another area in which Manilow’s fierce passion to make the world a better place is clearly evident. After all, he says, he lived it. "I was there from the beginning," he remembers. "A lot of young people weren’t there at the beginning of it. I was there in the ’70s when suddenly this very strange thing started happening to friends of mine. Even though I was on the road most of the time, I was very much aware of it. By 10 years into it I had lost half my phone book. All these people that I had worked with and that I knew were gone, and at a relatively young age. I had never thought that I would be that close to death; it was shocking ... So whenever anybody asks me to do something for this disease, I’m there." But it’s not just the AIDS community that has benefited from Manilow’s quiet generosity. In 2008, he donated over $500,000 in musical instruments to schools in the Coachella Valley as part of the Manilow Music Project, which was created under the umbrella of his larger non-profit Manilow Health and Hope Fund in response to the needs of local schools and their depleted music programs. "I don’t know what I would’ve become without music in my schools," he says of growing up in Brooklyn. "If I didn’t have music classes, I don’t know what I would’ve done. I was pretty average in my studies; didn’t have that many friends ... then I found band classes. I found where I wanted to be, but also I became a better student. And I know that whether or not these kids are going to become famous musicians, it makes them better people; makes them better students. It helped me become the person I am today."
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| December 11, 2009 | Chicago Sun-Times | "Barry Manilow orchestrates special concerts for Chicago" by Bill Zwecker |
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| In a recent phone chat, music legend Barry Manilow shared a lot of thoughts about his long "love affair" with Chicago, the way he goes about writing "the songs the whole world sings," his new albums, his new gig in Las Vegas and his excitement about his upcoming concerts at the Rosemont Theatre, Thursday through Dec. 19. Chicago Sun-Times: You have a long history of performing in Chicago. What are your first thoughts when you think of our town?
Barry Manilow: I have to admit it's the weather. I first came to Chicago very early in my career and the first time I was there, the hotel operator rang me up with a morning wake-up call: "Good morning. It's 8 a.m. It's 12 degrees with a wind chill factor of 14 below." Fourteen below! Who the hell wants to know that? But I also want to say how much I love Chicago and Chicago audiences. I got to know Chicago before I was well-known. I played piano around town. I will always remember Mr. Kelly's. That's where I really broke out. I was there for a year. CST: You have an album being released Jan. 26 titled "The Greatest Love Songs of All Time." Picking the ones that made the final cut had to be tough.
BM: You're right. We started out with hundreds of them, then whittled them down to 40 or 50. I worked on this with [producer] Clive Davis and that was such a big help. We finally got down to the 15 songs I recorded. I have to admit a lot came from the '30s and '40s and '50s. You can't top Gershwin or Irving Berlin. That's why we've got songs like "How Deep Is the Ocean," "I've Got a Crush on You" and "Our Love Is Here to Stay." CST: Clive Davis is arguably the most successful music producer and "talent picker" of contemporary music of the last half-century. What's his secret?
BM: It boils down to an uncanny knack of actually hearing exactly what the public wants to connect with at a certain point in time. I don't think even he knows how he does it, but he'll hear an artist or a song and just go, "That's it! You're the one!" He's a genius at that. The only other person who I know who has that instinct is Bette [Midler]. CST: Tell us about your shows next week at the Rosemont Theatre.
BM: You know, I did a big show at the Hollywood Bowl with a 60-piece orchestra. It was the first time I ever did anything like it and it was fabulous. So I want to do that again and I thought Chicago would be the perfect place to do it. We're coming with a 56-piece orchestra to the Rosemont Theatre, and I can't wait. CST: I understand there is a show in the works inspired by your music? What's the latest?
BM: It's not really a musical or stage show. There are people who have come to me with an idea for a movie. It would be about a group of individuals who, separately, have been affected by a song of mine in different ways. It all would culminate in them coming to a concert of mine. I would be in it, of course, performing those songs at the concert. It's just in the early stages, but I think it could be very funny and very moving at the same time. We'll see. CST: Is there anything you haven't done that you're dying to do?
BM: Even though I did two shows -- two musicals -- they never made it to Broadway, for various reasons. That's one thing I dream about. Having a show that makes it to New York -- to Broadway. CST: You also are going to have a new showplace in Las Vegas. What's that all about?
BM: I'm going to Paris! After five wonderful years at the Hilton, I'm excited about a new show at the Paris Las Vegas. We open March 5 and I will do 78 shows every year there for the next two years. I know a lot of Chicagoans go to Vegas, so I hope a lot of them will come out and see me there. CST: You have raised a lot of money to provide schools with musical instruments. Obviously, this is a cause near and dear to you.
BM: I think it is a responsibility for people like me -- people who are entertainers -- to get out there and remind everyone what a crime it is that arts programs have been slashed or eliminated at so many schools. If it wasn't for music classes, I would never have become what I've become. When I was growing up, some kids had gym -- that wasn't my thing. Neither was joining a gang. So I joined the school orchestra and that became my gang. It's where I learned to interact with friends and that's where I discovered music and how it would truly become my life. Most people don't know that all they have to do is call up their local middle school or high school and ask them what they need. A set of drums or even a music stand -- that doesn't cost very much. They may even have an old trumpet or violin sitting up in the attic. Give it to a school -- it could change a kid's life forever! CST: What's Barry Manilow's idea of a perfect day?
BM: That's easy. Doing absolutely nothing except playing with my two dogs, my Labs. That's pure bliss. |
| December 12, 2009 | The Desert Sun | Man, oh man, oh Manilow |
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| Palm Springs should be proud to have Barry Manilow as a resident. His “Gift of Love” concert, presented five times at the McCallum Theatre to raise money for 25 local charities, was a smashing success — theatrically and, we're confident, financially. The best-selling adult contemporary artist of all time performed with a 56-piece orchestra. He did “I Am Your Child” with students from Palm Springs High School. And he sang “Because It's Christmas” with the All Valley Choir, composed of singers from throughout the valley. Manilow established himself as the desert's leading musical philanthropist last year when he launched the Manilow Music Project to donate $500,000 to music programs in our three local school districts. The goal of the Gift of Love concerts was also to raise $500,000. We won't know until at least Monday how close he came. The singer donated a tree to the ninth annual Christmas Tree Lane fundraiser for ACT for MS held in Indian Wells. Lee Ames of La Quinta had the winning bid at $2,100 and donated the tree to Gilda's Club in Cathedral City, which provides support services to those with cancer and their families. Goodwill all around. Manilow's generosity goes beyond the Coachella Valley. Every Friday night for the next two years, 10 people may pay an extra $1,000 to meet Barry before the show and sit in the front row at the Paris Las Vegas. Proceeds will help buy instruments for Las Vegas middle- and high-school kids. The seven Palm Springs High School students — six on stringed instruments and one on oboe — rehearsed with Manilow for 10 days before the concert, said band director Brian Ingleson. They received standing ovations at every concert. “When you're dealing with a legend like Barry, these kids are getting a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said. The Coachella Valley has long been blessed with generous stars from show business. Manilow ranks in the top echelon. |
| December 12, 2009 | The Desert Sun | "Manilow's 'Gift' a magical treat for the valley" by Louisa Castrodale |
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| The ancient Greeks were fascinated by the studies of astronomy and music. The felt that they were two sides of the same coin. Astronomy was seen as the study of observable, permanent, external objects, and music was seen as the study of invisible, hidden, internal objects. Music has the way of finding those invisible moving parts inside of our hearts and souls, and helping us to find the balance inside of us. Which brings me to Barry Manilow. I was fortunate enough to attend one of his benefit concerts this weekend, titled, “A Gift Of Love.” The show was magnificently staged, complete with a large orchestra, glittering costumes, and Manilow in fine voice. Before I knew it, he was singing “I Write The Songs” and I was 10 years old again, playing and singing that song on the piano for my late father, choking up on the memory. And then, there was “Copacabana” and I was standing in the aisles, waving my light stick and dancing with my friends, like a teenager at the disco once again. Our kids on stage with the star - Finally, there was the moment he brought out students from Palm Springs High School with him, and the played, “I Am Your Child.” The tears flowed unabashedly for me, as I watched the same young students on the stage of the McCallum, that I had witnessed rehearsing just a few days earlier in their band room. One of them, I have known since she was very young and there she was on stage! Manilow is right. All of them are our children! I am sure that Barry Manilow has so many choices and requests available to him when it comes to donating his time and money, yet he has decided to give it to children. In doing so, he has become our “warrior” of sorts. Why do I use that particular reference? Because he is fighting for something righteous and worthwhile, and he speaks for those who don't have a voice. Fighting the good fight for us - When Barry Manilow stands up and says to the world, “Hey, we need to pay attention to music programs,” people listen. He is fighting the good fight for us, and it does my heart good. He knows something about why music matters... To Barry Manilow, I offer my deepest gratitude. I know it's not much, in return for all that you've done, but I do it anyway, on behalf of all of the students and arts educators that have benefited from your generosity. Thank you for being one of the artists who work with the insides, to see if we can get those big invisible pieces inside of ourselves lined up, so that we can be healthy, happy and well. God bless you and happy holidays! |
| December 8, 2009 | American Songwriter | Barry Manilow Chooses “The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time'" by Kevin Richards |
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| Song-belter Barry Manilow has hooked up with music mogul Clive Davis for a new studio album, titled The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time, which is due January 26 on Arista Records. Produced with Michael Lloyd (who did the Dirty Dancing soundtrack), the album “presents loving interpretations and arrangements of classic, nostalgic love songs for the Manilow and music fan alike,” and draws its material from movie soundtracks, Broadway, jazz, and American standards. So what are the greatest love songs of all time? There’s “As Time Goes By” (originally written by Herman Hupfeld for the Broadway musical Everybody’s Welcome and re-introduced in the film classic Casablanca), Irving Berlin’s ”How Deep Is The Ocean,” “You Made Me Love You” (written by James V. Monaco), George Gershwin’s “I’ve Got A Crush On You,” Fats Waller’s “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” “The Shadow of Your Smile” (written by Johnny Mandel), “When You Were Sixteen” (written by James Thornton and revived and popularized by Al Jolsen in 1929), “The Theme From Love Story (Where Do I Begin)” (written by Francis Lai), “Nevertheless, I’m In Love With You” (written by Harry Ruby), Gershwin’s “Our Love is Here To Stay,” Johnny Mercer’s “Fools Rush In,” and “It Could Happen To You” (written by Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen). Manilow also works his magic on “The Look Of Love” (written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David), “We’ve Only Just Begun” (Written by the songwriting team of Roger Nichols and Paul Williams), and “The Twelfth of Never” (written by Jerry Livingston and Paul Francis Webster). “The real joy in creating this album was taking these classic songs that everyone knows and using my chops as an arranger to deconstruct then recreate them to make them my own,” explains the Grammy, Tony, and Emmy-winning artist. Says Clive Davis: “Barry and I have a mission to bring to a new generation the great songs that are the soundtrack of our lives. This album does just that and Barry is sounding better than ever.” Clive Davis has collaborated with Barry on virtually all his recordings. In 1974, Manilow was the first signing to Davis’ Arista Records; Davis helped him score a #1 with his debut single, “Mandy.” The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time is the latest in a series the pair have cooked up since 2006 (The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties through 2008’s The Greatest Songs Of The Eighties.) We anxiously await Manilow’s Greatest Songs Of The 00’s! |
| December 10, 2009 | Las Vegas Sun | "Barry Manilow discusses his 'new beautiful show' at the Paris" by Robin Leach |
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| Award-winning singer-songwriter Barry Manilow says the past five years of playing in Las Vegas at the Hilton were the best of his career. He didn’t want to leave town when his contract expired, and he’d always had a dream to play on the Strip. Both wishes come true when he opens at the Paris in March with a new extended deal. Said 66-year-old Barry: "I am so excited to take my brand new show to Paris Las Vegas. This is the first time I have ever been on the Strip, and we’re putting together a brand new beautiful show. I thought the Paris Las Vegas, what’s more romantic than that, so we are putting together the most beautiful show I can imagine. I will be singing as many of the hits, of course, as I can and loads of new songs. I hope everyone can make it there, because I think it’s going to be really great." He’s working with Madonna and Paul McCartney’s director/choreographer Jeff Hornaday, who staged their world tours and High School Musical. The 1,500-seat Theatre des Arts will undergo changes for Barry’s shows. He’s bringing his singers from the Hilton and plans to expand his band in the new location. "It was time for a change, and moving to the Strip is like being in Times Square," Barry added. "I’ve checked out the theater already, and I love the room." Barry is the first artist contracted for a show run there since the Mel Brooks musical The Producers closed there in February last year. The mega-best-selling entertainer is already underway with rehearsals for the new production at the same time he is finishing his new album "The Greatest Love Songs of All Time" set for release Jan. 26. Barry has included his own renditions of "The Look of Love" by Burt Bacharach, "We’ve Only Just Begun" by The Carpenters and "12th of Never" by Johnny Mathis on the album, which features jazz and American standards. "As Time Goes By" from the classic Casablanca and the theme from Love Story also are among the [16] fantastic love songs. Arista Records mogul Clive Davis, Barry’s longtime collaborator, commented: "Barry and I have a mission to bring a new generation the great songs that are the soundtrack of our lives. This album does just that, and Barry is sounding better than ever." "The Greatest Love Songs of All Time" comes right on the heels of his just-released Christmas album -- his third -- "In the Swing of Christmas." Recording magic in the studio enabled his voice to be [dubbed] many times over to become a 21-piece choir! Some of the "greatest love songs" will be the backbone of his new show. "It's going to be romantic," Barry said. "Paris is a romantic city, so the Paris Hotel has to reflect the love. I want this to be the most beautiful production of my career." |
| December 9, 2009 | antiMUSIC | Barry Manilow Covers Love Songs on New Album |
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| Barry Manilow's brand new studio album entitled The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time is set for release on January 26th. On The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time, produced with Michael Lloyd (Somewhere in Time and Dirty Dancing), Manilow presents loving interpretations and arrangements of classic, nostalgic love songs for the Manilow and music fan alike. The album selections include jazz and American standards, as well as songs from the "Great White Way" and silver screen including: "As Time Goes By" (originally written by Herman Hupfeld for the Broadway musical Everybody's Welcome and re-introduced in the film classic Casablanca), Irving Berlin's "How Deep Is The Ocean," "You Made Me Love You" (written by James V. Monaco), George Gershwin's "I've Got A Crush On You," Fats Waller's "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "The Shadow of Your Smile" (written by Johnny Mandel), "When You Were Sixteen" (written by James Thornton and revived and popularized by Al Jolsen in 1929), "The Theme From Love Story (Where Do I Begin)" (written by Francis Lai), "Nevertheless, I'm In Love With You" (written by Harry Ruby), Gershwin's "Our Love is Here To Stay," Johnny Mercer's "Fools Rush In," and "It Could Happen To You" (written by Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen). The album also features great renditions of "The Look Of Love" (written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David), "We've Only Just Begun" (Written by the songwriting team of Roger Nichols and Paul Williams), and "The Twelfth of Never" (written by Jerry Livingston and Paul Francis Webster). "The real joy in creating this album was taking these classic songs that everyone knows and using my chops as an arranger to deconstruct then recreate them to make them my own," explained Manilow. The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time will be released on January 26th, 2010 A special pre-order campaign at the www.manilow.com website and at Amazon will ensure that fans will receive The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time in its very first week of release. Be sure to tune in this week to see Barry Manilow perform a holiday favorite from his just-released Cd In The Swing Of Christmas on The Jay Leno Show on December 10th. Complete Track Listing: 1. As Time Goes By
2. How Deep Is The Ocean?
3. You Made Me Love You
4. We've Only Just Begun
5. The Twelfth Of Never
6. I've Got A Crush On You
7. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
8. The Shadow Of Your Smile
9. When You Were Sweet Sixteen (1898)
10. The Look Of Love
11. Theme From Love Story (Where Do I Begin)
12. Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You)
13. Our Love is Here To Stay
14. Fools Rush In
15. It Could Happen To You
16. I Only Have Eyes for You
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| December 5, 2009 | The Desert Sun | "Barry Manilow delivers holiday gift to his loyal fans, local charities" by Bruce Fessier |
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| Barry Manilow launched the Coachella Valley holiday concert season Friday with a splash only slightly more reserved than the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Manilow, the Palm Springs resident who is the best-selling adult contemporary artist of all time, has been performing special one-time performances to benefit a Coachella Valley charity almost annually for more than a decade. This year, he outdid himself by creating a unique benefit concert at the McCallum Theatre and performing it over five nights to benefit 25 local charities selected by his Stiletto management team. Manilow, dressed in a red sports jacket over a black shirt, tie and pants, followed mentalist Gerry McCambridge onto a stage decorated with two Christmas trees surrounded by presents and a large green wreath hanging over center stage. He kicked off the concert with “Happy Holidays/White Christmas,” just as he started a 2003 “Live By Request” concert from New York City that became his latest DVD, “Barry Manilow Happy Holiday!” He was accompanied by a 56-piece orchestra with strings and horns. “It's so great to be here celebrating the holidays at home,” he exclaimed, which proved to be the perfect introduction to his second song, “(There's No Place Like) Home For the Holidays.” Fans came from as far as Australia and Europe for the holiday concert that sold out the 1,123-seat McCallum after an aggressive promotion by Manilow and the charities who were benefiting from his five-night engagement. Vicky Harrison of Cathedral City said the Desert AIDS Project gave her her first opportunity to see Manilow in concert. The program featured Manilow standards such as “Daybreak,” “Somewhere In the Night” and “Looks Like We Made It,” as well as songs from his three Christmas CDs, including his latest, “In the Swing of Christmas,” which earned a Grammy nomination last year for its Hallmark release. Manilow, who says he just loves Christmas music, told an audience of Manilow fans mixed with curious McCallum regulars, “Consider me your skinny Jewish Santa Claus.”He thrilled fans with his big power ballads, but also swung Christmas tunes like “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” The concert was expected to raise $500,000 for the 25 charities, which would equal the value of the musical instruments Manilow donated to Coachella Valley schools last spring. The concerts continue tonight at the McCallum. |
| December 4, 2009 | Press-Enterprise | "Barry Manilow gives the gift of holiday shows" by Vanessa Franko |
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| Barry Manilow started giving the gift of the holidays for 25 local charities on Friday night with the help of some local students. The Norco Choir from the Riverside Community College District's Norco campus joined Manilow for the song "Because It's Christmas" during the first of the singing superstar's "A Gift of Love" concerts on Friday night at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert. The concerts are helping to raise funds for Inland groups. The choir will join him again tonight, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the first run of hometown shows for the Palm Springs resident. Choir Director Dina Humble, who is a faculty member at the Norco campus, has conducted for Manilow in the past. Humble said Manilow wanted a multi-generational choir to accompany him on "Because It's Christmas" and said that some school children from Palm Springs also would perform with them. She said the choir has 55 students. A core group of about 40 will be performing each night. The choir just performed its own concert on Thursday night, which sold out, Humble said. "It's a wonderful opportunity for the students to sing with a mega superstar," Humble said. In an interview at the McCallum last month, Manilow said he had wanted for some time to do a run of concerts there, but wasn't able to work it out with his schedule. He is wrapping up his successful run at the Las Vegas Hilton and will be moving to Paris in Las Vegas with a new show in February. The singer, who had top hits with such songs as "Copacabana," "Mandy" and "I Write the Songs," is donating proceeds from the McCallum shows to 25 charities in the area. "We tried to pick charities that represent all walks of life, from the AIDS organizations to Gilda's Club to Guide Dogs of the Desert," Manilow said. He attended a graduation ceremony in Snow Creek to see the guide dogs, which are raised by volunteers and are trained to be service animals. "You'd never see people bawl harder," he said. "It was so moving." |
| December 4, 2009 | Spinner | "Barry Manilow Never Expected Fame and Fortune" by Steve Baltin |
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| Barry Manilow is the biggest selling adult contemporary artist of all time and one of this decade's comeback kids with a string of No. 1 albums 30 years after he was one of the most familiar faces of the '70s. It turns out that no one is more surprised by this than Manilow himself. "I never even thought Barry Manilow would have one album. I never thought in my life that I would have this career," the incredibly modest superstar tells Spinner. "I thought maybe if I were lucky I would be a songwriter or a musician or maybe an arranger or maybe a producer, like I did for Bette Midler and so many of the other singers that I worked with. But as a soloist, as a performer? No, never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought this would be where I wound up." Where Manilow has ended up is back in Las Vegas. The singer will begin a new two-year residency at the Paris Las Vegas on March 5, 2010, conveniently coinciding with the release of his 'Greatest Love Songs of All Time' album. As one would expect from the mix of Paris, love songs and Manilow, he promises a lot of romance. "I got the greatest love songs, Paris, the most romantic city and this gorgeous room in Vegas, so what I put together with this guy named Jeffery Hornady, who's a wonderful producer/director, is a beautiful, beautiful show," he says. "Every day we get together and the show becomes more and more beautiful. I think it's going to be one of my favorite productions." While the love songs will be a part of the show, all of the Manilow standards will still make their presence felt. "It's all the classics, as many as I can, because we're talking about Las Vegas and these audiences really want to hear the hits," he says. "Certainly I would never take out things like 'Mandy, ' I Write the Songs,' 'Copacabana.'" We know Manilow is a worthy addition to the rich Vegas legacy, the town made famous by the likes of the Rat Pack -- Sinatra, Sammy, Dean, etc. Is there anybody that he looks to in building a Vegas show? "I do my own thing. I just have to do what feels good for me," Manilow says. "The greats, well, they are the greats. I couldn't even come close to Sinatra, to Judy, to Elvis, I put them up on a pedestal and that's them." |
| December 3, 2009 | Press-Enterprise | "Barry Manilow brings a gift to the desert" by Vanessa Franko |
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| Every night that he performs on stage, Barry Manilow has the time of his life. "When the curtain goes up, it's so glamorous, it's so exciting," he said in a recent interview at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert. "If that didn't happen, I'd probably hang up my platform shoes." Manilow, best known for hits such as "Copacabana," "Mandy," "I Write the Songs" and "Looks Like We Made It," has sold upwards of 27 million albums in the United States alone, and his roles as a singer, songwriter, producer, arranger and musician have linked him to everyone and everything from playing piano for Bette Midler to acting as a mentor on "American Idol." "I can't even imagine phoning it in or treating it like a job," he said. Manilow, 66, is originally from New York and now makes his home in Palm Springs when he's not on tour or spending time doing his popular Las Vegas shows, which he will wrap at the Hilton later this month and reboot at the Paris Las Vegas in [March]. [On December 4th], Manilow begins his first of five holiday shows at the McCallum. Manilow said he has wanted to do shows at the McCallum for awhile, but this year was the first time he could make it work with his schedule. He performs Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The shows, billed as "A Gift of Love," are fundraisers for 25 area charities, including the Mourning Star Center, the Desert AIDS Project, United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire and Desert Paws. "I love this town. They treat me so great here. They don't treat me like a celebrity; they treat me like a guy," he said. Another of the performer's passions is the Manilow Music Project, which supports music education in schools and has routinely donated tens of thousands of dollars worth of musical instruments to students in the Coachella Valley and beyond. He credits a school music program in Brooklyn as being the outlet that clicked for him. "That's why it's so important to me to keep musical instruments in the schools. That's what it will do for kids ... Music classes keep kids coming back to school," he said. Manilow said he found his footing through music classes. He wasn't on a sports team. He didn't want to join a street gang. "My band is my gang," Manilow said. "My band is my sports team." In recent years, Manilow has hit it big with a string of albums on which he gives vision and voice to songs from the 1950s through the 1980s, but writing songs is what drives him. "I've still got more to say," Manilow said. "I've still got a lot of ideas." He is working with super-producer Clive Davis on a "The Greatest Love Songs of All Time" album. "There's George Gershwin and then there's everybody else," Manilow said in describing what makes a perfect love song. But also in the works is a new album of originals, "more rock 'n' roll than I've ever done before, very guitar-oriented" Manilow said. He said he wanted to tackle the album, which he said is energetic and tells a story, because he thought it would be "challenging and scary." Manilow said it has lived up to those expectations, and he's still figuring out how to make it work. Pushing himself is something he needs to do as an artist and a songwriter, he said. "On my deathbed, I'll be yelling, 'Wait, I've got one more idea,'" he said. |
| December 3, 2009 | Playbill | "Barry Manilow to Play Two-Year Stint at Paris Las Vegas" by Andrew Gans |
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| Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow, whose tunes fill the musicals Harmony and Copacabana, will open a new resident show in Las Vegas in March 2010. On March 5, 2010, Manilow will throw open the doors to the Paris Théâtre at Paris Las Vegas with a reimagined stage show. The Grammy Award winner will play 78 shows a year for the next two years. The shows are produced by AEG Live in conjunction with Paris Las Vegas. Tickets for performances through July 18, 2010, are now on sale. Jeffrey Hornaday ("Flashdance," "A Chorus Line," "High School Musical") will direct the show in the 1,500-seat venue. Audiences can expect many of the hit tunes from Manilow's 35-year career. In a statement Manilow said, "The audience in Vegas is always energized and electric, so I know that the Paris Las Vegas is going to be a special run. I'm planning something new for this performance; definitely not to be missed." Tickets are available on-line at Ticketmaster.com, in person at the Paris Théâtre box office, or by calling (800) 745-3000. Ticket prices are $250, $175, $125 and $95. Visit www.parislasvegas.com for more information. |
| December 2, 2009 | Las Vegas Sun | "Barry Manilow: Still the romantic - He is to bid a grateful adieu to the Hilton as he prepares his new show at Paris — he promises the old songs will look more ‘beautiful’" by Joe Brown |
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| Where do you go after “Ultimate”? If you’re Las Vegas headliner Barry Manilow, whose current Las Vegas act is called “Ultimate Manilow,” you head to Paris. Paris Las Vegas, that is: Manilow announced Tuesday that he’s packing up and headed for the heart of the Strip with an all-new show of his mostly-old hits. Tickets went on sale Tuesday, and an online auction for front-row seats is taking bids starting at $295. “This is an exciting day,” says the 66-year-old singer-songwriter-arranger, calling from New York, where he appeared on the “Today” show Tuesday and will help light the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center tonight. Manilow seems somewhat bemused by the amount of interest. “There’s a lot of interest in what’s happening with entertainment in Vegas,” he says, with convincing humility. “It was time for a change,” Manilow says simply about the shift in venues. “And the Paris people were interested. I just wanted to flip things around a little bit.” Manilow insists on expressing his gratitude to his home away from home — his final shows at the Las Vegas Hilton are Dec. 28-30. “The experience I had at the Hilton was the greatest five years I can remember,” says Manilow, who has consistently been one of the top-selling acts in town. “I will always look back and be very, very grateful to these people at the Las Vegas Hilton who were so beautiful to me.” Manilow is moving to the very heart of the Strip. “It never even dawned on me that we were anywhere away from the heart of Las Vegas” at the Hilton, he says. “But going over there (to the Paris) and I realized, ‘Wow, this is like Times Square or something.’” Manilow says he’ll bring along his backup singers, and hints that he may expand his longtime band. There will be some changes to the 1,500-seat Paris Theatre, which has been dark since the musical “The Producers” folded in February 2008. “I really did love the room when I checked it out,” Manilow says. “We’re not demolishing it, but we are making changes to the structure of the room. And the people at the Paris wanted to do their own restructuring on the showroom.” For the as-yet-untitled new show, Manilow hired director/choreographer Jeffrey Hornaday, whose credentials Manilow calls “just hair-raising” — Hornaday staged world tours for Madonna and Paul McCartney, as well as one of the “High School Musical” movies. Manilow says they have sketched out and storyboarded “a beginning, middle and end” for the staging. “I wanted to make it romantic,” Manilow says of the upcoming show. “I thought, you know, Paris is the most romantic city, and I’ve got this new album coming out called ‘The Greatest Love Songs of All Time,’ and all this was kind of telling me where it wanted to go. I just decided I want to make this the most beautiful production I know how to create. So, of course I’m going to sing ‘Looks Like We Made it,’ of course I’m going to be doing all the hits. But they’re going to look more beautiful.” Manilow says he’ll leave space to wing it — spontaneity is rare in the big headliner shows. “The audiences in Las Vegas are very kind to me, and they allow me to do whatever I want to do,” he says. “I know they want to hear the hits, so I give them as many as I can. But whenever I want to throw in some obscure album cut, they are fine with it. There are blocks in the middle of the show, where I said, ‘guys just give me some gorgeous lighting and leave me alone to play around.’” Manilow recently released his third Christmas album, “In the Swing of Christmas,” with a jazz-trio format — at one point a multitracked Manilow becomes a 21-voice caroling choir. “I love these things,” Manilow says. “The first one was kind of a romantic one, and the second one was a big-band album. What I like about (Christmas songs) is the songwriting of that style — Irving Berlin, Johnny Mercer, ‘White Christmas,’ ‘Home for the Holidays’ ...” Manilow’s original intent was to mentor and showcase a young musician — he calls pianist Matt Herskowitz “the new Dave Brubeck, a brilliant young guy who plays piano like he has four hands.” When even Manilow didn’t have the juice to land Herskowitz a contract in the current market, it turned into a Christmas album. When he began his Vegas run, Manilow says, he would fly back to sleep in his Palms Spring home after every show. “That got to be a bit extravagant, so now I stay in Vegas during the run.” Manilow, always forward-thinking about merchandise — you can buy Manilow water and wine and the glasses to drink them in and even a thong (a “B-string”) to wear while you’re drinking them — has Paris-branded T-shirts, tote bags and key chains available for pre-order. If You Go... Who: Barry Manilow. When: 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday beginning March 5-28, May 1-30, June 4-6, July 2-18. Where: Paris Theatre at Paris Las Vegas. Tickets: $95 to $250. manilowparis.com |
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