Barry Manilow is an iconic American singer and songwriter with a career spanning over seven decades. He is best known for numerous hit songs including "Could It Be Magic", "Looks Like We Made It", "Mandy", "I Write the Songs", "Can't Smile Without You", "Weekend in New England", and "Copacabana".
The song "I Don't Want to Walk Without You," which Manilow would later remake, was originally released in 1941. The song was written by Jule Styne and Frank Loesser.
Barry Manilow was born as Barry Alan Pincus on June 17, 1943.
The Jon Hendricks vocalese jazz standard "Cloudburst," which Manilow would later include on his debut album, was most famously recorded by Lambert, Hendricks & Ross in 1959.
Barry Manilow graduated from Eastern District High School in Brooklyn in 1961.
Barry Manilow married his high school sweetheart, Susan Deixler, in 1964.
In 1964, Manilow met CBS director Bro Herrod, who commissioned him to arrange music for a musical adaptation of "The Drunkard." Manilow ended up composing an entirely original score, which was used in the Off-Broadway production. This marked a turning point in his career.
In December 1965, Barry Manilow received a response from Playboy that gave him the courage to pursue a career in music, leading him to leave his wife and embark on a "wondrous musical adventure."
Originally released by The Four Seasons in 1965, "Let's Hang On!" was later covered by Barry Manilow for his album, "If I Should Love Again."
Barry Manilow's marriage to Susan Deixler was annulled in 1966.
In 1967, Barry Manilow took on the role of musical director for the WCBS-TV series "Callback."
The WCBS-TV series "Callback," for which Manilow served as the musical director, premiered on January 27, 1968.
In 1969, Barry Manilow signed with Bell Records, a subsidiary of Columbia Pictures.
Bette Midler hired Manilow as her pianist at the Continental Baths in New York City in 1971 after seeing his act.
The song "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" by Looking Glass was released in 1972 on Clive Davis' Epic label, prompting the title change of Manilow's song to "Mandy."
Manilow produced Bette Midler's debut album, "The Divine Miss M," in 1972.
Bell Records released Manilow's debut album, "Barry Manilow," in July 1973.
In 1973, Barry Manilow received his first Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year for his production work on Bette Midler's album "The Divine Miss M".
Manilow's work on "The Divine Miss M" earned him a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year in 1973.
Although initially hesitant, Manilow recorded "Mandy" (originally titled "Brandy") on August 20, 1974, at the insistence of Clive Davis.
Clive Davis founded Arista Records, a new record label under Columbia Pictures, in November 1974.
Manilow's breakthrough single, "Mandy," hit number one in January 1975, becoming Bell Records' final chart-topper.
On March 22, 1975, Barry Manilow appeared on American Bandstand to promote his second album. This marked the beginning of a fruitful friendship and professional relationship with the show's host, Dick Clark.
Manilow's professional partnership with Bette Midler lasted until 1975.
The release of "Barry Manilow II" in 1975 marked the beginning of Barry Manilow's streak of top 40-charting albums.
In 1976, Barry Manilow recorded "Barry Manilow Live" at the Gershwin Theatre.
The first of four variety television specials starring Barry Manilow premiered on March 2, 1977. This first special, featuring Penny Marshall as his guest, was a massive success, drawing in 37 million viewers and earning nominations for four Emmy awards.
Manilow's triple-platinum 1977 live album, "Barry Manilow Live," featured a special segment called "A Very Strange Medley." This medley showcased a collection of commercial jingles that Manilow had written, composed, or sung during the 1960s.
Barry Manilow began his relationship with TV executive Garry Kief, who later became his manager, in 1978.
In 1978, "The Second Barry Manilow Special" aired, featuring Ray Charles as his guest. This special also garnered four Emmy nominations, further cementing Manilow's presence in the entertainment industry.
In 1978, a one-hour special of Barry Manilow's sold-out concert at the Royal Albert Hall was broadcasted in the UK. This performance, part of his Even Now Tour, highlighted his growing international fame.
Originally released in 1978, "Copacabana" would go on to be one of Barry Manilow's most popular and enduring hits. He would later create a film based on the song in 1985.
On February 11, 1979, a recording of Barry Manilow's concert from his sold-out Even Now Tour at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles was aired on HBO's "Standing Room Only." This marked a notable moment as it was one of the first instances where a pay-television show rivaled network primetime specials in terms of viewership.
On May 23, 1979, ABC aired "The Third Barry Manilow Special," featuring John Denver as his guest. The special was nominated for two Emmy Awards and secured a win for Outstanding Choreography, showcasing the high production value and artistry of Manilow's performances.
In 1979, Ray Stevens released the song "I Need Your Help Barry Manilow," which satirized Manilow's musical style and the melancholy themes in many of his hit songs.
Barry Manilow's album, 'One Voice', peaked at number 9 on the Billboard 200 chart upon its release in 1979.
Barry Manilow's television special, "One Voice," received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Music Direction at the 32nd Primetime Emmy Awards in 1980. The special featured Dionne Warwick as his guest.
In 1980, Barry Manilow released his self-titled album, "Barry," which, while not reaching the top ten in the US, still produced two top 10 hits. That same year, a concert from his sold-out shows at London's Wembley Arena was broadcasted internationally.
In 1981, Barry Manilow released the album "If I Should Love Again," which featured two top 40 hits that topped the AC charts. That same year, his sold-out concert at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena was broadcasted nationally on Showtime and locally on Philadelphia's PRISM network.
In 1982, a concert from Barry Manilow's sold-out Royal Albert Hall show was broadcasted in England. This performance also led to the release of the live album and video, "Barry Live in Britain."
On August 27, 1983, Barry Manilow held a groundbreaking open-air concert at Blenheim Palace in Britain. This event, attended by an estimated 40,000 people, marked the first of its kind at the venue and was recorded for broadcast on Showtime.
In a remarkable act of philanthropy in December 1983, Barry Manilow endowed the music departments of six prominent universities across the United States and Canada. This generous contribution aimed to support and inspire the next generation of musical talent.
Barry Manilow explored a new musical direction with the 1984 release of "2:00 AM Paradise Cafe," a jazz and blues album recorded live in the studio. Showtime aired a documentary that same year, chronicling the album's creation and featuring Manilow collaborating with jazz icons such as Sarah Vaughan and Mel Tormé.
Barry Manilow released his rendition of "When October Goes," a song featuring lyrics by Johnny Mercer, as a single in 1984. The song was included in his album "2:00 AM Paradise Cafe."
In 1984, Barry Manilow achieved a significant milestone by setting a box-office sales record at Radio City Music Hall. His ten-night run grossed nearly $2 million, making him the highest-grossing artist in the venue's 52-year history.
In 1985, Barry Manilow made a significant career move by switching from Arista Records to RCA Records. He embraced a more international sound with his debut album on the label, "Manilow," incorporating French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese influences. A concert special filmed in Japan that same year featured Manilow playing "Sakura" on the koto, a traditional Japanese instrument, further demonstrating his global musical exploration.
In 1985, Barry Manilow starred in "Copacabana," a CBS film based on his 1978 hit song. The film also featured Annette O'Toole and Joseph Bologna. A soundtrack album for the film was released by RCA Records.
In 1985, Barry Manilow starred in "Copacabana," a television movie based on his hit song of the same name. The film was executive produced by Dick Clark, further solidifying their collaborative partnership.
In October 1986, Barry Manilow, alongside Bruce Sussman, Tom Scott, and Charlie Fox, dedicated themselves to lobbying against a proposed copyright bill in Washington, D.C. They argued that the bill, if passed, would negatively impact songwriters and composers by jeopardizing the blanket license system for music used in syndicated television show reruns.
In 1987, Barry Manilow returned to Arista Records and released "Swing Street," an album featuring a blend of traditional and techno jazz. Notably, the album includes the autobiographical song "Brooklyn Blues" and the Latin-infused duet "Hey Mambo" with Kid Creole, produced with Emilio Estefan, Jr.
In March 1988, CBS aired "Manilow's Big Fun on Swing Street," a television special featuring songs and guests from his albums "Swing Street" and "2:00 am Paradise Cafe." The special, which included appearances by Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Phyllis Hyman, and others, was nominated for two Emmy Awards and won for Outstanding Art Direction.
Barry Manilow participated in the "That's What Friends Are For: AIDS Concert '88" where he performed "Please Don't Be Scared" and "Mandy/Could It Be Magic." This year also marked his contribution to the Walt Disney Pictures animated film "Oliver & Company." Bette Midler's character sang Manilow's composition "Perfect Isn't Easy."
Barry Manilow concluded his show "Barry Manilow at the Gershwin" on June 10, 1989. The show ran for 44 performances at the Gershwin Theatre.
During a June 22, 1989, appearance on "The Tonight Show," Barry Manilow addressed and denied rumors spread by an American tabloid about an alleged engagement to porn star Robin Byrd. He clarified that they were just friends.
On November 12, 1989, Barry Manilow held a benefit concert in Columbia, South Carolina, to aid victims of Hurricane Hugo, raising funds and donating to relief organizations.
Barry Manilow began releasing a series of cover tunes in 1989, beginning with tracks on the album "Barry Manilow."
Barry Manilow originally recorded "When the Good Times Come Again" for his 1989 self-titled album.
The release of the album "Barry Manilow" in 1989 marked a turning point in his career. This album, featuring songs like "Please Don't Be Scared" and "Keep Each Other Warm," signified a departure from his previous focus on original material and indicated a shift toward covers and compilations.
In 1990, Manilow released the Christmas album "Because It's Christmas." The album included a notable collaboration with the pop trio Exposé, where they recreated Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters' version of "Jingle Bells."
In 1990, a television special titled "National Eolia Special: Barry Manilow On Broadway" aired in Japan. The special featured Manilow performing various songs, including "Eolia," a song used in a Japanese commercial for an air conditioner company.
Barry Manilow released "Showstoppers" in 1991, an album featuring a collection of Broadway songs.
Barry Manilow produced Nancy Wilson's album "With My Lover Beside Me" in 1991. The album features music composed by Manilow set to previously unused lyrics by Johnny Mercer.
On February 19, 1992, Barry Manilow provided testimony before the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and Judicial Administration House Committee, expressing his support for H.R. 3204, The Audio Home Recording Act of 1991.
President George H. W. Bush signed the Audio Home Recording Act of 1991 on October 28, 1992, enacting it into law.
After attending a Barry Manilow concert on December 23, 1993, Arizona Court of Appeals Judge Philip Espinosa sued the singer, alleging the concert caused him tinnitus.
Manilow was invited by Johnny Mercer's widow in 1993 to complete the music for a collection of Mercer's unfinished songs.
PBS aired the special "Barry Manilow: The Best of Me" which was filmed at Wembley Arena in England. Manilow, alongside lyricist Bruce Sussman, launched "Copacabana," a musical based on previous Manilow adaptations. The musical ran for two years on London's West End.
On January 15, 1994, Barry Manilow canceled a performance at an event in Atlantic City, New Jersey, citing concerns that it was not the non-partisan event he was promised.
On February 8, 1994, Barry Manilow sued Los Angeles radio station KBIG for $28 million, claiming their advertisement mocking his music damaged his professional reputation. The station later agreed to pull the ad.
Manilow released the album "Singin' with the Big Bands" in 1994.
Manilow composed the Broadway-style musical score for the animated film "Thumbelina," released in 1994.
In 1995, "The Pebble and the Penguin," an animated film featuring a musical score composed by Manilow, was released.
Barry Manilow's first appearance on the program "Live By Request" aired on A&E. The broadcast proved highly successful, garnering an estimated 2.4 million viewers and becoming one of A&E's most-watched music programs.
In 1996, Barry Manilow released "Summer of '78," an album containing a collection of songs from the late 1970s, including a new version of the Paul Davis hit "I Go Crazy."
The first episode of Manilow TV, aired in October 2009, featured Barry Manilow's performances from April 20-21, 1996, at Wembley Arena in London.
VH-1 aired a one-hour special titled "Barry Manilow: The Summer of '78" This special featured Manilow performing his hits and songs from his then-latest album, "Summer of '78," solo on the piano.
In July 1997, Barry Manilow settled the lawsuit filed against him by Judge Philip Espinosa over alleged tinnitus caused by a concert, with Manilow donating $5,000 to the American Tinnitus Association.
The trial for the lawsuit filed against Barry Manilow by Judge Philip Espinosa, who claimed to have developed tinnitus after a Manilow concert, was set for September 23, 1997.
Manilow and Sussman collaborated again on "Harmony: A New Musical." Preview performances took place at the La Jolla Playhouse in California and concluded on November 23, 1997.
Barry Manilow released the album "Manilow Sings Sinatra" in 1998.
Following Frank Sinatra's death, Barry Manilow released the tribute album "Manilow Sings Sinatra" in 1998.
Manilow received a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards for his album "Manilow Sings Sinatra."
On April 11, 2000, The Nashville Network (TNN) aired the two-hour "Manilow Country", a special featuring country stars like Trisha Yearwood and Neal McCoy singing Manilow's hits with a country twist. This was TNN's first High Definition (HD) broadcast and became one of their highest-rated concert specials.
In June 2000, DirectTV aired the two-hour concert special "Manilow Live!" featuring his band, an orchestra, and a choir. This HDTV special documented his concert tour and was released on video. This same year, Manilow's contract with Arista Records ended, and he signed with Concord Records.
In February 2002, Manilow returned to the charts with the Arista Records release of a greatest hits album, "Ultimate Manilow".
Barry Manilow's greatest hits collection, "Ultimate Manilow", was released on February 23, 2002.
Produced by Manilow, "Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook" was released on September 30, 2003, marking the first collaboration between the two in over 20 years. The album went gold, leading to their later collaboration on "Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook" in 2005.
On December 3, 2003, A&E aired "A Barry Manilow Christmas: Live by Request," where Manilow performed live Christmas songs with a band and orchestra. Guests included Cyndi Lauper, José Feliciano, and Bette Midler (in a pre-taped segment).
In 2003, a planned tryout run of the musical "Harmony" in Philadelphia, preceding a potential Broadway transfer, was canceled due to financial challenges.
During his third appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on September 15, 2004, Winfrey announced Manilow as one of the most requested guests on the show. He promoted his "One Night Live! One Last Time!" tour.
In 2004, Manilow released two albums: "2 Nights Live!" and "Scores: Songs from Copacabana & Harmony," an album of songs from his musicals. "Scores" was his final creative project with Concord Records.
Following a legal dispute with producer Mark Schwartz, Manilow and Sussman successfully regained the rights to their musical "Harmony" in 2005.
In 2005, in response to Hurricane Katrina, Barry Manilow's Fund for Health and Hope tripled donations from fans, raising $150,000 for the American Red Cross in 48 hours.
The Barry Manilow Scholarship, awarded to the six highest-achieving students in lyric writing, concluded after being awarded for four consecutive years (2002-2005).
Manilow's covers album, "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties," was released on January 31, 2006, under Arista Records. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, his first album to do so.
In March 2006, PBS aired "Barry Manilow: Music and Passion," a recording of his Hilton concert. Manilow was nominated for two Emmys and won for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.
Starting in June 2006, Australian officials used Barry Manilow's music as a tactic to deter youth gangs from gathering late at night in a residential area.
Manilow's sequel album, "The Greatest Songs of the Sixties," was released on October 31, 2006. The album, including hits like "And I Love Her," debuted at number two on the Billboard 200.
Manilow returned to New York City in January 2007 for three shows at Madison Square Garden, incorporating footage of one of his earliest television performances.
Manilow released "The Greatest Songs of the Seventies" on September 18, 2007, continuing his decades-themed series.
"Barry Manilow: Songs from the Seventies," a PBS concert special based on his album, was taped in his hometown of Brooklyn in October 2007.
Manilow released his third Christmas album, "In the Swing of Christmas," in November 2007. It achieved Gold certification and received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album in 2008.
The PBS special "Barry Manilow: Songs from the Seventies" premiered in December 2007 and was rebroadcast in the new year of 2009.
Barry Manilow's 2011 album '15 Minutes' was influenced by Britney Spears' personal struggles in 2007.
In December 2008, Barry Manilow narrated the animated Christmas special, Cranberry Christmas, aired on ABC Family and sponsored by Ocean Spray.
Manilow appeared as a mentor on "American Idol" on February 3, 2009, during Hollywood Week to provide guidance to the contestants.
In October 2009, Barry Manilow launched Manilow TV, a monthly subscription service where he shared concerts from his archive.
On December 30, 2009, Barry Manilow ended his residency at the Hilton with a show titled "Ultimate Manilow: the Hits" after 300 performances for 450,000 fans.
In 2009, Manilow received an Honorary Clio Award at the 50th Anniversary Clio Awards in Las Vegas. This prestigious award recognized his significant contributions to the advertising industry as a jingle writer and singer in the 1960s.
In 2009, Barry Manilow's single, "Christmas Is Just Around the Corner", was released as a bonus track on the re-release of his album 'In the Swing of Christmas'.
On January 26, 2010, Barry Manilow released the album 'The Greatest Love Songs of All Time'.
On December 11, 2010, Barry Manilow performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway.
On March 13, 2011, Barry Manilow performed at the 2011 Laurence Olivier Awards at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
Barry Manilow finished working on his album '15 Minutes' in March 2011.
Starting March 2011, Barry Manilow began hosting "They Write the Songs", a BBC Radio 2 documentary series exploring the work of popular composers.
On March 16, 2011, Barry Manilow announced the completion of his album '15 Minutes'.
In May 2011, Barry Manilow recorded his concert at the O2 Arena in London for a CD and DVD release.
In June 2011, Barry Manilow revealed that his new album, '15 Minutes', was influenced by Britney Spears' experiences with fame.
On October 27, 2011, Barry Manilow visited Joplin, Missouri, after a devastating tornado, and his Manilow Music Project donated $300,000 to help restore the music program and instruments lost at the city's high school.
In November 2011, Barry Manilow recorded his shows at the Paris Las Vegas for a TV special and DVD release.
In 2012, Barry Manilow's concert at the O2 Arena was released on CD and DVD.
In January 2013, Barry Manilow returned to Broadway after over two decades with his concert series "Manilow on Broadway".
On July 4, 2013, Barry Manilow performed live at the U.S. Capitol for the PBS program 'A Capitol Fourth'. This marked his second appearance on the show.
On September 6, 2013, "Harmony: A New Musical" began its second run at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre.
On November 12, 2013, Barry Manilow performed at the BBC's Children in Need Rocks 2013.
Barry Manilow released 'Night Songs', an album of standards performed with piano and synthesized bass, on March 11, 2014.
On October 28, 2014, Barry Manilow released 'My Dream Duets', which later received a Grammy nomination.
Barry Manilow and Garry Kief married in 2014 following the legalization of same-sex marriage in California.
In 2014, Barry Manilow's musical "Harmony: A New Musical" was performed in Los Angeles.
Barry Manilow kicked off his "One Last Time!" tour on February 11, 2015, at the CenturyLink Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.
Barry Manilow's marriage to Garry Kief became public in 2015, despite their efforts to keep it private.
Manilow continued to receive Grammy nominations through the decades, with his last nomination coming in 2015.
In April 2017, Barry Manilow publicly came out as gay in a People magazine interview, sharing his positive surprise at his fanbase's support for his marriage to Garry Kief.
In 2017, Billboard recognized Barry Manilow's consistent presence on the Billboard 200 chart since his 2002 album "Ultimate Manilow".
In 2017, Manilow stated that his first marriage ending was not due to sexual orientation, emphasizing his love for Deixler.
In 2019, Barry Manilow's musical "Harmony" was scheduled to debut in New York at the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene.
On February 14, 2020, Barry Manilow released "Night Songs II", marking his sixth consecutive decade with a top 40-charting album.
The New York run of Barry Manilow's musical "Harmony" was canceled on March 29, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In April 2020, Barry Manilow's song "When the Good Times Come Again" started its climb up the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
Barry Manilow sold his song catalog to Hipgnosis Songs Fund in August 2020.
In February 2022, New Zealand authorities adopted a similar approach, playing Barry Manilow's music to disperse protesters camped outside the parliament building in opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Barry Manilow's musical "Harmony" was rescheduled for a Spring 2022 run in New York.
In June 2024, Barry Manilow is scheduled for a fourteen-night residency at the London Palladium, billed as his final UK concerts.