New York City Rhythm

 

Barry finally got the first twenty-five copies of his autobiography called Williamsburg. Barry used Williamsburg as the title because he wanted to pay tribute to the neighborhood he grew up in. Brian Murphy's autobiography was called Sweet Life (Adventures On The Way To Paradise.) Which Barry didn't consider an autobiography. Simply because Brian didn't tell his fans everything. Such as the gay issue and being in a thirty-eight year relationship with his manager Gregory Knoffler. Barry's book on the other hand was a true autobiography. Not a book where he wouldn't come clean about everything. He had poured through all his old baby pictures. Barry did find a few photos with his dad Harold Keliher and his mom Edna Manilow and him. It was his grandmother Esther Manilow who hated his dad Harold with a passion. Bow Barry knew that certain people were going to question his autobiography. Especially Suzie, Scott and loads of others in the Los Angeles and Palm Springs gay communities. Those were the people who still believed Barry was gay. Barry's book was coming out next week on Wednesday October 4th. That's the day Barry was going to start his book signing tour. Wednesday October 4th was Barnes and Noble Union Square store New York City from 1pm to 4pm. Thursday October 5th was Barnes and Noble in Philadelphia from 1pm to 4pm. Saturday October 7th was Barnes and Noble in Chicago 1pm to 4pm.Monday October 9th was Barnes and Noble in Los Angeles. Wednesday October 11th was Barnes and Noble in San Antonio. Thursday October 12th Barry and his songwriting partners would be at the Majestic Theatre to announce their first regional run of At The Mayflower. On Tuesday December 5th Barry and songwriting partners would be  in Philadelphia at The Forrest Theatre to announce At The Mayflower's second regional run. While in Montreal Barry was going to do a special night time book signing at Indigo Bookstore. The book David his manager had asked the owner of Indigo if the bookstore could stay open two hours more. He said yes to David. So instead of closing at 9PM the store would close at 11PM. Barry would be do the book signing from seven to ten. Then from ten to eleven Barry would answer  questions about his autobiography. Barry's opening part of his book started with the John F. Kennedy quote "We can't know where we're going until we know where we've been."  "This book is dedicated with love and gratitude to my Grandpa Joseph Manilow, Grandma Esther Manilow and Mom Edna Manilow for molding me into the man I've become." "To all my fans your going to love this journey from Williamsburg Brooklyn to Palm Springs California and back again to Brooklyn Heights Brooklyn. There are many highs and many lows. But I learned from each and everyone of them. Maybe you too  will find a little piece of yourself in this book Barack Alon Manilow." Barry had sent copies of his book Williamsburg to Garry, Kirsten, Vikki and Marc for their reactions. Vikki told Barry she could put it down and she stay up to read it from cover to cover.  Kirsten said about the same thing. Marc love it also. Garry loved the book but he also mentioned that certain people Suzie, Scott Nevins plus a whole boat load of people from the Los Angeles and Palm Springs gay communities were going to be very disappointed. That's because Barry wasn't coming out of the closet in his autobiography to admit he was gay. Garry always knew Barry was straight. Barry never hid his relationships with the women he dated. Just about everyone knew about Skylar Hertzbach who was a chief of onboard services for Amtrak's Adirondack route. Skylar was a lesbian who used Barry as a beard the entire time that he date her. Skylar was the girlfriend right before Barry met Dr. Carly Simon. Yet there were all these people from both Los Angeles and Palm Springs who always knew that Barry was gay. How would they know that said Barry. When I never acted, dressed or looked gay.  Yes I know gays can be guys in business suites as well as wearing outrageous clothes. Like  Elton John, Liberace and Boy George did. Then there's George Michaels and Ricky Martin who were the more class dressed  gay guys. Boy George was the only one who wore girly makeup.  Now on stage I did wear a little sparkle. It was in the black and white vests that I wore during the Copacabana Tour. Shoot I even went half cowboy during the Greatest Hits and Then Some, The Hits, Hits and Big Band Too tours. On the lower half I wore black boot cut jeans and black cowboy boots. I paired them with colorful patterned shirts and a tail coat first half. Second half white shirt with black band around the neck with patterned and striped vests and a black tuxedo jacket. Yes I still wore the black boot cut jeans and  cowboy boots during the second half of those shows. One thing I won't ever wear is a black shirt on stage like Brian does all the time. All he needs to do is button up his shirts, out on a tie and change his jacket. Now can we say he's ready to go to a funeral.  Barry also gave Carly and her BFF's his autobiography. BFF stood not for "Best Friends Forever" but for "Barry Friends Forever".  Rita and Zoey also got copies. Barry made sure they were all autographed. Carly told Barry that they were still going to stand in line on Wednesday for another autographed copy. Wednesday came and Barry's autobiography called Williamsburg came out. Barry got a call from Jack Thomas his only contact in Palm Springs. He told Barry that both Suzie and Scott Nevins were livid when they heard about the book. Jack just also happen to see Suzie talking to a west coast reporter for The National Enquirer. He overheard her tell the reporter that Barry's autobiography was filled with too many lies. Including the big one about him being straight when everyone knew he was gay. She told the reporter that Carly was your beard. No Carly is not my beard she's my wife said Barry. We got married in a traditional Jewish Orthodox Wedding. We were married on Sunday July 12, 2015. Which is the day we were supposed to get married. I signed the Ketuba and handed it to Carly during the ceremony. We both wear wedding bans to show everyone that we are married. Unlike some women who still keep and use their maiden name. Carly took my last name of Manilow as her last name. When she went back to the zoo she got a new photo ID tag that said Doctor Carly Manilow DVM.  I'll have to tell Marc, Eric and David to check out the next edition of The National Enquirer. In two weeks I'm doing a one hour program on Fox News channel called Objectified. It's an interview program. The show will be taped at a City Rhythm Sound recording studio in Manhattan. The studio is owned by my dear friend and record producer Eddie Arkin. That's where I recorded my album Williamsburg. Putting It Together (The Songs Of Stephen Sondheim.) was recorded at The Stephen Sondheim Theatre at the beginning of last year. It was me, my band and backup singers along with the New York Pops Orchestra. Eric, David and Garry did the specking parts at the beginning of the song Putting It Together. Then on Thursday of last week I did a duet on Somewhere with Cyndi Lauper. I also did a duet with Judy Collins on Send In The Clowns. We used the theatre during the day since Beautiful the Carole King musical was on stage every night. Man can  Cyndi really hit those high notes. I know a few people wondered why I didn't do that song with Barbara Streisand. I found out Cyndi Lauper is a closet Broadway musical lover. Then Cyndi found out I was doing this Stephen Sondheim album. She contacted me and asked if she could sing a song with me on this album. I told her I was doing Somewhere from Westside Story. It was originally sung as a duet by Maria and Tony in both the movie and the musical. I've been friends with Cyndi Lauper since my Live By Request Christmas special. I invited Cyndi Lauper, Bette Midler and Kenny G. to be on my Live By Request holiday show. Some of my other celebrity friends are Richard Marx, Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Melissa Manchester, Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft, Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell and Carole King. I'm thinking maybe one day doing a duet album called Barry Manilow and the Ladies. The ladies would be Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft, Melissa Manchester, Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Carole King and Nancy Wilson. Me and the ladies would do is a duet on one of their famous songs.  Judy Collins Both Sides Now, Liza Minnelli All That Jazz, Carole King You've Got A Friend, Joni Mitchell, Chelsea Morning, Lorna Luft I Feel A Song Coming On, Melissa Manchester Through The Eyes Of Love, Bette Midler Do You Wanna Dance, Cyndi Lauper Time After Time, Nancy Wilson The Last Dream Home, Anne Murray Now And Forever (You and Me.) and Carly Rae Jepson Call Me Maybe. That idea is just that an idea.