I won't be back to these cities again.

I Won't Be Back To These Cities Any More. Was the title of an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer paper. Fans saw the article and began to panic figuring Barry was giving up touring. The fans were all over everywhere. The BMIFC's Barry Network site, Barry's Facebook page and even their own Facebook groups/pages for him. The fan were freaking out major. Barry happened to go over to his Facebook page and saw them freaking out. Now just wait a darn minute thought Barry. When did I say I wouldn't be back to any of those cities. Barry went and read the article and realized it was about Brian Murphy not him. I kind of figured he was retiring from the road. When I was in Los Angeles last month Brian and I were presenters at the Grammy Awards. Brain and Gregory came to my after Grammy party at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. That's where he talked about the late planes, the hotels and the room service. He then mentioned about maybe going back to headlining in Las Vegas again. Brain told me he and Gregory Knoffler his manager were looking into two hotels/casinos the Alon or
Resorts World. Both of them won't open until two thousand eighteen some time. Brian has been around since nineteen seventy three. That was forty three years ago. No wonder Brian was getting so tired of being on the road. He does have some health issues to deal with. Brian has atrial fibrillation, hip problems and arthritis. While I don't have any health issues what so ever. Then I didn't start my recording career till nineteen eighty three. Nineteen eighty four was when I went on tour for the first time. My songwriting partners and I wrote some songs that were jazz flavored. However we could not come up with an idea for a musical we could put these song in. I shelved the songs. But I realized I wanted everyone to hear those songs. So I put them out on an album for everyone to hear. Then I
haven't been on the road the entire thirty three years of my recording and performing career. When
I have an idea for an album I create it put it out. Then I go out and promote it with a tour. I don't sit at the piano the entire two hours I'm on stage. But then again I don't do pelvic thrusts or any other dirty hot body moves like Brian dose. I could tell when I read the article that Brian's getting tired of all of that. It to bad his he doesn't have the back bone to tell his fans "NO I need some time off." Instead he just continues to tour all over the UK and US. Now my fans don't beg me to come here go there and all over everywhere said Barry. The thing is I kind of like going on the road to perform. It keeps me from getting too sedentary. I get to see different places. I do get plenty of exercise while I'm up on stage performing . Then I get to meet the fans who have supported my career for the last forty five years. Last year was a total blast we went by tour busses like the country artists do. That why next year when I'm playing Canada in March I'll be going by tour busses. Same with next summer when I do the outdoor sheds tour busses. Barry then went over to his Facebook page to post a very quick message. "Hi Gang it's me Barry. Just so you know what I'm up to right now. I'm getting ready to put out a new album for this coming fall. You guys are going to love it. Especially those of you who just loved my nineteen ninety one Showstoppers album. Right now. I'm in the studio with the New York Pops Orchestra,. Plus my band and backup singers. I'm recording a tribute album to my very favorite Broadway songwriter Stephen Sondheim. Stephen wrote Sunday In The Park With George, Follies, Sweeny Todd and others. He also wrote the score to West Side Story with Leonard Bernstein. The album is being called Barry Manilow The New York Pops Orchestra Putting It Together The Songs of Stephen Sondheim. This new album is filled with some of my favorite Stephen Sondheim songs. The title of the album Putting It Together comes from Sunday In The Park With George. Prior to me recording the song my friend Barbra Streisand recorded it on her first Broadway album. I asked both her and Stephen if I could use her version of the song. I got a yes one from each of them. I asked the New York Pops Orchestra if they wanted to be on this album. They were very thrilled to be a part of this album. They will also be on stage with me for my five night Radio City Music Hall run at the end of this year. That will be Wednesday December twenty eighth thru Sunday January first. I'm targeting the album release date for Tuesday October eighteenth of this year. You know what that means album debut the day before it's released. That will be Monday October seventeenth at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops Orchestra, my band and backup singers. I've invited a very special guest to sing a duet of Somewhere from West Side Story with me Barbra Streisand. Barbra did a duet of Somewhere with me on the album. I'm even asking her to open the show with me when I sing Putting It Together. I will let you all know when the tickets for Carnegie Hall go on sale. Ok I see two wagging tails that need to go outside. If you're saying hey wait a minute where's the third wagging tail. Carly's Beagle Charlie just passed away yesterday. He was ten years old and had a very bad heart. He's in doggie heaven with all the other dogs  both me and Carly had. For now love and sloppy wet kisses from me., Barry" He finished his Facebook message and then got up to take the dogs out. Yesterday Barry had to take Carly's Beagle Charlie to the veterinarians. Barry went to get the dogs up he found Charlie in his doggie bed unresponsive.  When he got Charlie to the office vet tech Tracy took Barry right back to examine room three. Charlie's doctor Dr. Landon came in. He knew right away what was wrong with Charlie. His heart had finally given out on him. Charlie had a heart problem for quite some time. Dr. Landon told Barry that Charlie heart just gave out. He explained about Charlie's heart condition and that Carly knew all about it. Barry called Carly at work to tell her what happened. Also that the veterinarians office would take care of Charlie. Barry left the office minus Charlie. Barry thought maybe he'd go to BARC early. So he headed over there. Once there he ran into Shirley and told her about Charlie. Barry decided to do some dog walking. He asked about Susie the female dachshund. Susie had been thrown out of a car pregnant. Luckily someone saw Susie being thrown out of the car and stopped to pick her up. She was brought to BARC where she gave birth to seven puppies. Four females and three males. Shirley told Barry everyone got adopted but the runt. He was one of the male puppies.  Barry decided to take him out for a walk. Once back inside he took off the leash. He picked the puppy up and petted his fur. You need a good home said Barry And  I know the perfect home for you mine and Carly's. Also Carly needs you. Just as much as you need her. Barry adopted
a cat Madeline. However Charlie, Maggie and Max all barked and growled at her.  Madeline the cat went back to the shelter.  Barry went to find Shirley to ask about adopting the little puppy. She told Barry  the adoption fee was the same for both dogs and cats.   He then told Shirley he wanted to adopt the little puppy. Carly has tomorrow off said Barry. Carly gives all her employs off on their birthday. If their birthday lands on their weekend off  she gives them Friday off. So I'm going to bring her here tomorrow to pick up the little guy in the morning. Barry left and went to Petco to get some stuff. He got Rachel 's dish beef dog food, Rachel Ray beefy dog treats, two dog bowls, leash,
a dog bed and some squeaky toys. Barry then went home. Once at home Barry put it all away in the dog closet. Down on the garden floor the dogs had their own closet where they kept all the dogs stuff.  Besides going and picking up the little puppy tomorrow Barry had a few other surprises up his sleeve for Carly's birthday. Barry thought about the last nine months. Marring Carly last year was the
one of the best things he ever did. Finally finding the girl of his dreams. Then marring her was the
right thing to do. Now sometimes you don't find the right person until your much older. Which is what happened in his case. He didn't find the right person until he was in his late sixties. That's when he found Carly. She was everything he had wanted and more in the right person. Just then he heard the front door open. Is any body home said Carly. Yes said Barry. The dogs were running out of dog food so I went to Petco to pick some up. Are you still ok after I called you about Charlie? he asked.  Yes I'm ok said Carly. Well tomorrow you're off said Barry and it's your birthday. I do have some surprises for you for tomorrow he said. On my lunch hour I made my reservations for my flight in July to London. I leave Friday July eighth from JFK on Delta flight 357 . My flight leaves at two fifteen am. That should get me into Heathrow airport at nine forty two. Janice and Vicki are very ticked off at me. Why? asked Barry. Because they wanted me to room with them for the BMIFC UK convention in June. I told them no I wasn't going to the convention. They wanted to know why I wasn't going to the convention. I said I have an anniversary on July twelfth and I want to celebrate it with Barry. Katie was the only one of the three who totally understood. Besides it's our first wedding anniversary,  Barry went into the kitchen to finish up dinner. Something smelled really good. Ok so what's for dinner? asked Carly. Spinach salad chicken piccata mushroom risotto with peas said Barry. Sounds yummy said Carly. Carly went upstairs to get out of her work clothes.