Barry Manilow

Barry Manilow – Biography

Barry Manilow was born June 17, 1943 in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were Harold Pincus and Edna Manilow and when Barry was born, he was originally named Barry Alan Pincus. He later adopted his mother’s maiden name and changed his name to Barry Manilow.

Manilow graduated from Eastern District High School, a school near Brooklyn, and from there he enrolled into a performing arts school, Juilliard which he paid his way through by working part time at CBS. This was where he met director Bro Herrod in 1964.

Recognising his talent, Bro Herrod requested Manilow to arrange some songs for a musical adaptation of the melodrama, The Drunkard. However Manilow took the bold step of re-writing the whole original score. Impressed, Bro Herrod used this composition and the musical eventually went on an eight-year run at New York’s 13th Street Theatre. The success propelled Barry Manilow’s career to a new height as a pianist, producer, and arranger.

By 1967, Manilow was already an established musical director, arranger, producer and singer.

From 1970 to 1971 he was accompanying Bette Midler and other artist in their concerts playing the piano. He later produced 2 albums for Midler.

In 1974, Manilow recorded hos first album with Bell Records which ultimately merged with other labels to form Arista Records. Though many artist were not given new contracts by the new company, Barry Manilow was the exception. The new boss of the company was impressed by Barry Manilow when he performed the opening act at a Dionne Warwick concert.

Under the new set up, Barry Manilow went on to record string of hit singles and albums that lasted through the rest of the 1970s to the early 1980s. In 1978 alone, five of his albums were on the best-selling charts all at the same time.

He has recorded a string of Billboard hit singles and multi-platinum albums that have resulted in his being named Radio & Records number one Adult Contemporary artist and winning three straight American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist. Between 1974 – 1983 Manilow had three number 1 singles and 25 that reached the top 40.

Throughout his career, Barry Manilow has sold more than 80 million records worldwide.

References:
Wikipedia
The Official Barry Manilow Web Site

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Tagged as: 70s Male Artists, Barry Manilow

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