I'd been a fan since "Mandy", but this was my first live concert. They brought us inside 12 hours later and we got to line up along the sides of the room - which meant that I was standing right at the foot of the stage, under Barry's right arm. He just blew me away with the force of his energy and charisma ... I'd never seen anything like it. If he'd looked down and seen me, he would have thought, "Poor thing looks like a fish out of water", because my mouth was open in awe, throughout the entire performance. I couldn't believe I was that close to him, and how phenomenal he was (This would have been one of his $5 'rehearsal' shows that tour).

I remember he had a quiet, emotional segment where he talked about his father, just before singing "Sunday Father and Son". To show you how green I was, I remember being so deeply moved - literally to tears - that he would suddenly, spontaneously, share such an intimate, heart-rendering experience in his life, when I happened to be standing there (It wasn't until much, much later that I realized we weren't the only audience he shared that with!).

Favorite Show: I love all of Barry's concerts. I have seen him at least 20 times from Atlantic City to Radio City to Forest Hills to Madison Square Garden... He is The Best! - Gloria Watson (of New York) (9/29/2000)

"You don't put it in your mouth
You don't put it in your hair
Should you put it in your ear?
No, don't you put it there.

"When you have a cold
And you reach for Vicks
You wanna know where it goes?
You shove it up your nose!"

Thanks to Pat Trotta for sharing this little ditty!

First Show - Shelly (of Michigan) (2/13/98)

First Show - Jodi (of Detroit, MI) (10/3/99)

First Show (July 14) - Kristi Howell (of Michigan) (1/29/2000, 3/5/2000)

First Show - Brenda C. Jozwiak (St. Clair, MI) (2/11/2000, 11/26/2004)

My girlfriend (Monica) and I flew from Cincinnati to Detroit to see Barry perform at Pine Knob. - Andrea Marine (Cincinnati, OH) (4/7/2002)

First Show - Cheryl Zubelt (1/17/98)

First Show - Ginny Halter (Carpentersville, IL) (8/16/98)

First Show (July 20th) - Richard J. Vicek (Great Neck, NY) (12/2/98)

First Show - Maryann Mazurowski (Chicago, IL) (5/14/99)

First Show (July 19) - Denise Neihengen (Crystal Lake, IL) (3/11/2000)

First Show - Ruth Miller (Milwaukee, WI) (7/30/2000)

My first concert was a thrill because I had been a fan for at least four years -- a very long time in teen years -- and I was finally going to see Barry Manilow. With my sister and two friends, I took a bus from Milwaukee to Poplar Creek. When we found our seats we were in the last row before the grass section. I didn't care. I had brought my dad's heavy-duty binoculars, and those binoculars were used the entire evening. I honestly don't remember too many details. but I do recall the glowing white piano and Barry's wonderful stage presence all they way to the back row. - Sally (of Milwaukee, WI) (2/14/2003)

First Show - Barbara Smentek (Chicago, IL) (3/30/2003)

First Show - Felicia McTiernan (Charlotte, NC) (2/12/99)

First Show - Donna Kelly (Peekskill, NY) (7/20/99)

July 26: I was with my husband and was pregnant with our third child. She was destined to listen to Barry Manilow music. This was to be her first concert. After she was born she didn't sleep through the night until she was about two years old. When she would awaken, especially as an infant, the only thing that would soothe her would be my holding her and putting on my 8-tracks of Barry. She would cry if I tried any other singing artist. - Elena Abbene (Bedford, NH) (12/1/2001)

First Show - Rita Lowe (Howell, NJ) (2/15/2002)

First Show (July 26) - Gail Van Bergen (Toms River, NJ) (5/2/2002)

First Show - Heidi Cleveland (Raleigh, NC) (8/24/99)

First Show (August 2) - John W. Baldwin (College Station, TX) (2/17/2005)

First/Favorite Show (August 5th):  I was with a number of friends.  We had "lawn seats" at the outdoor amphitheater, brought a picnic supper, and sat back and enjoyed the show.  It was incredible! - Roberta Brown (4/19/98)

First/Favorite Show: I got to go up on stage with him when I was 5!! - Nanci Fox (of Oregon) (2/3/99)

First Show - Marlene Marsh (New Philadelphia, OH) (5/23/2001)

First Show - Kandice Kraemer (Denver, CO) (11/9/98)

Favorite Show:  Front Row seats and two nights of BARRY. - Denise Beaber (Ordway, CO) (9/8/99)

Ah, that summer night. I will never forget. When Barry sang "One Voice" and lit up the rocks with red lights, what a spectacular sight. I also had the pleasure of watching the moon rise over the Eastern plains as Barry sang "Weekend In New England." I was hooked. - Gina Priestley (Gorham, ME) (4/14/2000)

First Show: I saw Barry FIVE TIMES that week, once from the trees behind the Greek! - Linda Bonar (Valencia, CA) (3/28/2002)

First Show (August 31) - Kathy Dahlgren (Simi Valley, CA) (10/11/2002)

First Show (August 28): I waited in line for 13 hours for tickets months before. Twelve of my friends from school had all pooled their money and we all went to the concert together. From then on I was hooked! - Kathy Burdick (Corona, CA) (1/14/2003)

First Show - Debbie Alvarez (Sylmar, CA) (4/22/2003)

This concert has to be my favorite because Barry mentioned my friend Debbie and I from the stage as the show began. It happened like this: We had made buttons with pictures from the tour books, and we had pinned them on our Barry sweatshirts. We went to the concert that night, and ran smack into Paul Brownstein (Barry's assistant at that time). He was so excited about the buttons, he called Marty Panzer over to see them, and Paul took off backstage, saying that Barry had to see them. Well, we were a little excited about meeting Marty. I had him sign the picture of him in the tour book. Then we went in to find our seats. And when the show started, Barry was talking about "you people talk about us, but you don't know that we're watching you, too, and I saw you ladies with the buttons." With that, he ran his hand down one arm -- Debbie had more buttons than I did, and she had them pinned all the way down one sleeve!! We nearly fainted at his words. And during the intermission, we had so many people coming up to us, and asking if he knew us. We had to admit that while we had never really had the chance to talk to him, he was aware of us. After all, we had sent him a ton of presents (ask him about the footlocker with all the cards) over the previous year and a half, and we had talked to him very briefly during the taping of the One Voice special. So this concert really stands out as my favorite, although every time I've seen him has been exciting. - Cheryl (Sherbourne) Whitt (Las Vegas, NV) (7/25/2004)

First show:  The show was so "up" and exciting. The crowd was so full of energy. I guess my seat in the 31st row on the floor was OK, but even after calling all day to get through for tickets, the best my friend and I could do were separate seats two rows away from each other. - Michelle Bergstrom (Salt Lake City, UT) (9/25/98)

The day my dream (only once did I EVER dream about Barry) came true! Yes, I had a dream in January of 1979 (Oh that Chicago blizzard!) and so much of this dream was true to life when I did indeed meet Barry. Under the scaffolding, up the stairs through the black curtains, and then there was Aaron Gold (Chicago Tribune). Asked Aaron where Paul (Brownstein) was, he motioned. AND THERE HE (Barry) WAS! Plaid shirt, blue jeans and a smile as wide as the Grand Canyon! I clung ever-so-tightly to the two cameras hanging on my shoulders (afraid that I might bang him in the face ...talk with my hands, alot!). Barry congratulated me on my photography talent. MINE IS THE "1980 WORLD TOUR POSTER"!! Barry said that of all the pictures (poster-size and framed, yes, with GLASS!) that I gave him, this one stayed with him throughout his tour in one of his trunks amongst the sequins! I felt so very special! Told me not to give up on my dreams. Got a hug and then he was off to another room to thank the singers who sang "One Voice" with him. Dream? You bet! Thanks for the memories, Barry! It's been a great adventure and I hope that you never give up on your dreams either! Harmony ... Copacabana ... How about a Broadway play based on all those wonderful people at the Mayflower? - Marian Zaversnik (Lansing, IL) (3/22/2002)

First Show - Kim Vicker (Chester, VA) (7/29/2000)

First Show (October 3, Houston) - Carol Adams (Corpus Christi, TX) (10/25/98)

First Show (October 4, Dallas) - Dianne Garrett (Midland, TX) (4/30/99)

First Show (Houston, The Summit) - Lynne Fredrichsen (Houston, TX) (4/13/2000)

First Show (October 4, Dallas) - Gloria Ratley (Austin, TX) (5/16/2002)

First Show (Dallas) - Dana Holland (Frost, TX) (6/25/2002)

First Show (October 4, Dallas) - Debbie Marusak (Arlington, TX) (3/30/2003)

First Show (October 3, Houston) - Elizabeth Prater (Dayton, TX) (10/28/2005)

First Show (Dallas, Reunion Arena): I loved it! The best memory I have is that my mom (God rest her soul) took me for my first concert and it was Barry Manilow playing at the new arena in Dallas. I have loved his music ever since. God Bless you and your family Barry. Keep on Rockin'. - Tony Minton (Dallas, TX) (2/2/2006)

First Show: I was pregnant with my son. My husband finally gave in and took me to the concert. - Barbara Weaver (Pinellas Park, FL) (1/3/2001)

First Show - Anna Brooks (Seminole, FL) (11/14/2004)

First Show - Robin Sereghy (Las Vegas, NV) (11/11/98)

First Show:  My life has never been the same since the first Manilow concert I attended! - Janet Whittington (Jupiter, FL) (12/27/98)

First Show - Jim Moore (Anderson, SC) (4/3/2000)

First Show. - Laura W. (4/8/2002)

First Show - Michael Sternbach (Bayside, NY) (5/3/2002)

First Show - Susan Barrett (Hicksville, Long Island, NY) (5/23/2003, 11/1/2004)

First/Favorite Show: The concert in Champaign was just weeks after my family had moved to Springfield, IL, and days after my 16th birthday. My dream for the previous few years had been to see Barry live. My mom had to call long distance from where we lived in Ohio at the time to get tickets, and the best left by the time she finally got through were in the rafters (and the Assembly Hall isn't a tiny place!). My dad took me to the show, and of course, Barry didn't disappoint. He put on a great show. Since then, I've gotten much better seats, and the shows were always great fun, but the first one was special to me because of all the effort my folks put in to making my dream come true. - Ardith Flight (Urbana, IL) (2/28/99)

First Show - Mark Roberds (Indianapolis, IN) (8/17/99)

First Show:  The concert at the University of Illinois was set up on the basketball court... - L.A. Cole (Heyworth, IL) (9/4/99)

I have always loved Barry. This was my first time seeing him in concert. It was spectacular. I cried and cried and cried. It was a very moving experience for me. - Tracey (of Normal, IL) (3/25/2001)

First/Favorite Show: The most beautiful songs, sung by such a great singer. - Brian Grubb (Carmel, IN) (12/29/2000)

First Show - Margaret Rodecap (5/19/2004)

First Show - Donna Johnson (4/14/98)

First Show - Susan Slowikowski (Weirton, WV) (7/16/99)

First Show - Rose Danlovich (Pittsburgh, PA) (7/12/2002)

First Show - Wendy Dresser (Zephyrhills, FL) (1/22/2003)

First Show: On the radio they said there were more seats (available for the show) so I made my husband drive us there to get tickets. We got in! I loved the concert so much, and so did my husband. I've been a fan ever since! Been to eight concerts in Pittsburgh. Barry, you are the greatest! Thank you for the music. - Kathy Thurston (Pittsburgh, PA) (7/26/2003)

First Show - Mark & Susan Perencevic (Buffalo, NY) (3/19/2001)

First Show - Phyllis Duckworth (Buffalo, NY) (1/26/2002)

First Show: This concert was dynamite!! My group was told by the ushers not to get out of the seats and no dancing was allowed. That was alright until the 3rd song, then WOW! We couldn't sit any longer and danced and sang and had a great time. The ushers weren't thrilled, but I'm sure they got over it... Thanks for the great memories, Barry! - Bob Johnson (Denver, CO) (1/29/2003)

First Show - Joan Corbett (New Haven, CT) (6/15/2002)

First Show - Diane Glines (Manchester, NH) (2/26/2002)

First Show: This was the day of my 14th birthday. I was a fan and heard about the concert on the radio and I guess my mother got the tickets. I was almost "paralyzed" from excitement during the entire show. The next morning I was shoveling snow out of the driveway and all I could think was how much I wished I could be at the concert that next night. 24 years later, having seen many subsequent concerts I am still waiting to meet Barry face to face. Barry's music has always been my "home", the place that when I go there the music always takes me in. - Karen Decter (Paris, France) (6/14/2004)

It was the first time I saw Barry and fell in love; also the first concert I ever went to. I still have that wonderful feeling after all these years. - Lisa (of Boston, MA) (9/10/2005)

I have gone to see Barry everytime he has come to Toronto since 1980. This was the most special concert for me because not only was it my first Barry concert but my first concert ever. Tickets sold out so fast and I was in tears because I couldn't get a ticket anywhere. So my mom bought tickets from a scalper! What a magnificant night!! - Louise Maynard (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) (5/29/2003)

This was my first Barry concert, but I had been a fan since the first album was released. It was so special because at the time I lived in North Bay, Ontario, approximately 200 miles from Toronto, and a 5-hour drive by bus. I bus'ed it down and stayed with my brother. I was so excited during the entire trip down to Toronto, I couldn't read, sleep or eat. It was everything I expected, and more. Thanks, Barry, for a night to remember. - Georgina Miles (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) (1/18/2004)

First Show - Elizabeth Clinton (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) (7/10/2004)

First Show - Martyn Dolby (Toronto, Canada) (7/29/2004)

First Show - Andrea Harris (Bournemouth, England) (5/6/2000)

First Show - Elaine Cleaver (of England) (12/19/2000)

First Show - Katy (of England) (7/16/2001)

First Show - Ann B. Mooney (London, England) (10/20/2002)

First Show (November 27) - Jo Doyle (Essex, England) (10/19/2002)

First Show - Louise Kenward (Norfolk, England) (1/25/2004)

First Show - Caroline Dinnen (Sydney, Australia) (10/21/2005)

First Show - Keith Brian (Manchester, England) (1/22/2000)

First Show - Ann Hulstone (Manchester, Great Britain) (11/24/2000, 4/3/2001, 9/18/2003)

First Show: What a man! Never seen a concert like this before, and never have since. - Sue Gibbs (Ellesmere Port, England) (10/13/2002)

December 2: This was my first concert EVER! I'd seen the shows on TV but it never prepared me for 'LIVE'. After all these years I'm still hooked. Nothing comes close to hearing/seeing Barry Live. Roll on next tour! - Alison Morton (Liverpool, UK) (2/25/2003)

First Show (December 1) - Kathy Wild (Wakefield, UK) (7/2/2004)

First Show (December 2) - Julie Blakeman (Birmingham, England) (7/30/2004)

First Show (December 1) - Liz Taylor (Stockport, England) (5/23/2005)

First Show - Catherine Clarke (of England) (11/19/2005)

First Show - Simon (of England) (4/24/2006)