Portland Maine We're Back

Hey Portland we're Back Barry yelled after Brooklyn Blues. You know we've been crossing the US from west to east. It's like we're following the warm weather. I  really want to thank all the local fan clubs who have brightened up our dressing rooms. You guys do an amazing job.  Now thanks to you guys we've gotten some pretty cool stuff. Like tee shirts with pictures and names of the cities we visited. Handmade stuff like scarves, a One Voice logo quilted wall hanging and such. Dog bones for Maggie and Max which they're going to devour.  Delicious homemade cookies and fudge. I have to especially thank the clubs who remembered I love popcorn. Because of you guys I've been snacking  my way across the country with the tins of popcorn you've given me. My manager Marc has given me the nickname Mr. Popcorn. Since I eat so much of it. I'm just crazy about popcorn so you can call me a popcorn fanatic.  Barry went on to do more of his songs. Then he decided to throw Portland a curve ball.  Barry announced that they were compiling video footage from this entire tour for a full length concert movie. The movie will be shown on the big screens throughout the world. The concert movie will include backstage, on the bus, sound checks and actual concert footage. Plus there will be some footage of the local fan clubs decorating the dressing rooms. That's why photo and video guy Chris Marx was hanging around the dressing rooms when the local fan clubs came to decorate.  So this is kind of like a day in the life type of thing. When the movie come out on DVD it will come with a coffee table book loaded with photos. The only trouble I've had so far with this road trip is scheduling concert dates. I scheduled a date in New Orleans only to find out the promoter had double booked the venue. He booked Tom Jones and me for the same venue on the same day. Then it happened again with a venue in Concord New Hampshire. This time it was Wayne Newton. Barry then continued on with the show. He ended his show with Copacabana and One Voice. The audience got so loud chanting Barry name that Barry came back out and surprise them with Life Has It's Ups And Downs and Shadow Man from Here At The Mayflower. Barry was sort of bummed out about the Central Park Concert having to be canceled. Why didn't the park commissioner tell him about the big country festival happening there on July fourth. But then somehow someone from the Chicago Park District found out that Barry wasn't busy July fourth. So they called Barry's manager Marc to talk to him about July fourth. The Chicago Park District head wanted to know if Barry was interested in doing a concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Saturday July fourth with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra. Marc said he'd talk to Barry and then get back to them. Marc made the call to Barry. Hello said Barry. Hello said Marc. So now what's up said Barry. Nothing bad actually it's something good. The head of the Chicago Park District called to ask if you were interested in performing on the fourth of July. Oh really said Barry. Yes really said Marc. The Chicago Park District was wondering if you were available to perform on July fourth with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra.  Plus there is a
the chorus that can back you up during Let Freedom Ring and One Voice said Marc. Call them back and tell them I'll do the July fourth with the symphony and chorus said Barry. Make sure you get me an address where I  can send  the set list and sheet music to. Then I'll send them the set list and sheet music after June twentieth.  So on to the next city Barry and company went which was Manchester Vermont. Where they were going to play the Paramount Theatre on Sunday June seventh. Then it was on to Albany on Tuesday  June ninth the Palace Theatre. Philadelphia on Thursday June eleventh and Friday June twelfth Kinnzel Center for the Performing Arts. After that it was the Carnegie Hall benefit for the Manilow Music {Project Sunday June fourteenth Barry was having special guests that night. His dear friends singer Melissa Manchester, trombonist Brian Culbertson and saxophonist Michael Lington were joining him on stage. Then it was one night at the Metropolitan Opera house for the Great Performance taping. Then the Saturday night  fan club members only concert at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. Actually Barry wanted to do four nights at Radio City Music Hall. There again Tony Bennett and Lady GaGa  had Radio City Music Hall for the whole week Sunday June 14 thru Saturday June 20. Also there was the Barry Manilow Fan Club's Convention in New York City. Which started  on Wednesday June seventeenth and went  thru Sunday June twenty-first. The convention was taking place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel next door to Grand Central Station. Oh and Barry was taking part in the convention like he always did when there was one. The birthday party on Wednesday June seventeenth after the concert at the Metropolitan Opera House concert. The Thursday afternoon seminar on songwriting with Barry and his songwriting partners. Plus the brunch and Q&A on Sunday.  And yes Barry was going to the brunch to eat with everyone. Barry had also
autographed a bunch of stuff for the Barry Bingo to benefit the Manilow Music Project. The last bingo game would be for a pair of tickets to see Here At The Mayflower on opening night.