Sunday, December 31, 2017

Oh No Not Again.

Oh! No! Not again thought Barry as he was surfing the internet. Every once in a while Barry would Google himself and check the news section. That was to see if there were any new articles on him. Barry saw there was rehash of the gay issue once again. George Takei was congratulating him on coming out of the closet. Excuse me George but I'm a happily married man to my wife of three years and five months. I know who put the gay issue out there in the first place. That was Suzie who has always thought since we met in nineteen seventy eight that I was gay. I've told her I'm not gay but she still thinks I'm gay. she also thinks that every woman I ever dated was a beard. That's what Carly is according to her my latest beard. Then I guess Denise Kief is Garry's latest beard. That is part of the reason why Garry moved from Southern California to Portland Oregon. The constant finger pointing from Suzie and others. Also the constant pestering from Scott Nevins. Scott would not leave either me or Garry alone. Scott was always going after me. Then he was trying to fix Garry up with one of his gay friends. Scott's friend was a transvestite who was gay. Basically the guy like to wear women's clothing like Rue Paul does. Garry thought the guy was totally weird and  twisted. Now a few of my other friends think Suzie is a little odd. They wonder why she still thinks I'm gay even after I told I'm not. They also comment about the way she dresses it's way to sleazy. Daniel the last of my friends who lives in Palm Springs thinks at Suzie's age of 71 she shouldn't dress so reveling. Barry left his office to take the dogs outside. He picked up the number twos the dogs left in the snow. Then he put the  baggies with the stuff in it inside the garbage can under the back deck. He and the dogs went back in the house. Barry made himself some lunch. Grilled cheese sandwich with leftover tomato soup. He decided to eat in the living room. While he ate his lunch he re-watched his wedding video. He and Carly got married on Sunday July 13, 2014 at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Pier in Manhattan.  Their wedding was a traditional orthodox Jewish wedding ceremony that started at four pm. When it came time to putting a ring on Carly's finger Barry put a plain gold band on her right forefinger. Later on during the Yihud Barry and Carly's alone time they exchanged the platinum wedding rings with the hearts and engraved name on them. That was the main reason Carly wore two wedding rings on her left ring finger. Prior to getting married  Carly had gone to the cemetery where Barry's grandparents and mom were buried. She placed flowers on each of their graves. Carly told them she wished they could be here to see Barry get married. Barry had told Carly that his mom would have loved her. Carly had met Barry's mom years back when she, Abby, Rita and Zoey went to see Edna's cabaret act. Carly remembered Barry's mom saying she wished Barry would marry a nice Jewish girl like her. Well Barry did just that and married the girl his mom wished he'd married. Barry remembered Carly walking down the aisle to I Just Want To Be The One in Your Life sung by Barry's friend Melissa Manchester. After their Yihud alone time together. Barry and Carly went to the reception space to be introduced as Mr. and Mrs. For their first dance together as man and wife two more friends Debra
Byrd and Kion Harris sang Let Me Be Your Wings as Barry and Carly took to the dance floor. Their wedding cake was a six tiered white chocolate raspberry torte cake. It was white chocolate cake with raspberry filling covered in a white chocolate whipped cream frosting. Some of the guest asked if New York City baker Sylvia Weinstock made their wedding cake. After the seventh person asked Carly that. Carly got everyone's attention and told them their white chocolate raspberry torte cake
was made by Charm City Cakes owner Duff Goldman (The Ace Of Cakes). When Barry's friends
Bruce and Rob got married Buddy Valastro of Carlos' Bakery made their wedding cake. Bruce and Rob had a grasshopper wedding cake. It was a chocolate fudge cake with cream de menthe filling and chocolate fudge frosting. Bruce and Rob also had a candy bar table filled with all sorts of candy that guests could take home.  In the middle of re-watching his wedding video Barry got a call from Garry. Garry had heard that Brian Murphy is all but signed to return to The International Theater at the Westgate in February or March, having said he is prepped for two weeks throughout 2018. He went on to mention that the Westgate was also in talks with co-headliners Clinton Holmes and Earl Turner. As well as a rock musical fronted by Twisted Sister's Dee Snider. If those other two things come to fruition then Brian Murphy's fans won't be very happy. I know they were hoping that Brian would the Westgate's only headliner said Barry.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Guess Who Published Their First Book?

Guess who published their first book? Garry Kief that's who. In two thousand three Garry was on vacation when he met this woman. Denise Sherman was taking some photographs and caught Garry in one of her photos. She asked Garry if it was ok that he was in one of her photographs. Garry told her that was ok with him. She said where are my manners I'm Denise Sherman. Garry then introduced himself to Denise. He asked Denise what did do for a living she told Garry she was a photojournalist. That's a photographer who goes allover taking photos and puts them into a coffee table books said Denise. What do you for a living Garry? asked Denise. Right now I'm retired. But I use to run a company that managed celebrities careers called Stiletto Entertainment. My company manages the careers of Barry Manilow , Lorna Luft , Dave Koz,, Kenny G, Scott Baio actor, Fleetwood Mac rock and roll group and many more. I was also Barry Manilow's personal manager. My daughter Kirsten Kief-Bernstein now runs the company. Garry and Denise had a lot in common so they hit it off instantly.  Then a year later Garry popped the question to Denise and she said yes to marring him. So since two thousand five Garry and Denise have been happily married. One of Denise's favorite books was Travels With Charley: In Search Of America by author John Steinbeck. Back in nineteen sixty John Steinbeck took a road trip around the United States with his standard poodle Charley. John's travels with Charley was turned into that book. Denise has always wanted to retrace John Steinbeck's steps. By following the same route John Steinbeck took on his road trip around the United States with his dog Charley. Garry said to Denise why don't you jut do it. Do what? said Denise. Go follow John Steinbeck's route around America that he took with his dog Charley. But what about you? asked Denise. Garry said I snitched your copy of Travels With Charley. Read it from cover to cover and fell in love with  it. So what do you say we actually do this said Garry. Do what said Denise.  Go on a year long road trip and retrace John Steinbeck's travels with his dog Charley said Garry.  Garry took Denise outside to show her the Earthroamer XV-HD off road expedition vehicle that he bought. This is the perfect off road vehicle for us to take on our travels. It runs completely on solar power. It has everything we need. Plus it can go anywhere we want to go said Garry. I always wanted to go travel the country this way. Before Labor Day Garry and Denise drove across country to New York City. They were going to stay with Barry and Carly until after Labor Day when they would leave on their journey all around the United States. Right after Labor day two thousand fifteen Garry, Denise
and their dog Jake started on their journey. The book they collaborated on was called Travels With Jake (Following the path John Steinbeck took on his search of America.) Denise dedicated the book to John Steinbeck for giver her a sense of adventure. Also her husband Garry for allowing her to follow this dream. Garry dedicated the book to his wife Denise for fueling his love of  adventure and travel. Since two thousand three when he met Denise Garry's done more traveling than he did when he ran Stiletto Entertainment. Garry and Denise made sure that Rob, Kirsten, Barry, Carly, Marc, David and Eric all got autographed copies of their first book together. Garry knew this would not be their last trip together or their last book. Garry had suggested Barry take his journals from his two thousand fifteen Brooklyn Blues Tour and turn them into a book. What Barry did back then was the band, backup singers and him went on tour by tour buss. That's was what a lot of the country artists did. They started in Portland Maine and ended in Seattle Washington.. Barry was considering doing that again. Only this time start in Seattle Washington and go across the country to Portland Maine.
Also this time go different highways to se a different parts of America. When he did do this he was going to take their bull terrier Tucker with him. Garry called Barry to tell him he heard the Westgate caved into Brain Murphy's wishes. So Brian Murphy was headed back to Las Vegas Nevada and the Westgate formerly known at the LV Hilton and LVH. Three nights a week two weeks each month for a total of twenty-four weeks. Barry told Garry he felt sorry for Brian Murphy's fans couldn't afford to go to Las Vegas. When I go on my Paradise Café II Tour I'll give Brian Murphy fans a discount on my tickets. All they have to do is show their BMFC membership card to get a discount on my tickets. That's why Barry would never completely stop touring. That was also why doing only three months in Atlantic City suited him better. Each month he would do three weeks with four shows each of the three weeks he was there. That still left him time to play cities across the US for fans who couldn't afford Atlantic City. However because Barry wasn't charging  big bucks for his Tropicana tickets. He figured every one of his fans could afford to come see him in Atlantic City starting in December of 2018. That's where Barry was going to be for New Years Eve 2018 in Atlantic City. He and Vikki needed to work on a BMIFC  New Years Eve Party Weekend for December 2018 in Atlantic City at the Tropicana. Barry knew the fans would love that.

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Furry Children

Barry and Carly's furry children. Thunder cream colored Labrador Retriever male I year old. Maggie yellow Labrador Retriever female age 6 years old. Max black Labrador Retriever male age 4 years old. Tucker white Bull Terrier mal3e  7 months old.

Say What?

The Inqusitr online. "Barry Manilow Is Reportedly On His Deathbed After A Lifetime Of Smoking." "Sources claim that the "Sweet Caroline" singer is looking skinner."  His manager David sent Barry the link to this article from The Inqusitr so he could read it .What the He double hockey sticks said Barry.  First off I do not smoke. Yes my mom and stepdad smoked. However I don't smoked Brian Murphy is the one who smokes not me said Barry. Everyone including his fans know that Brian has
Atril fibrillation, bad hips and arthritis in those bad hips. The fact is I'm fine I just saw my doctor for a yearly checkup. He said I gained five pounds. Now I weight one hundred and seventy pounds.  Brian doesn't like to eat that's the main reason why Brian looks so skinny. I like to call myself a
foodie. I've invited chef's Guy Fieri and Michael Simon to tape their programs at my gastro pub.
So besides having a doctorate in music from Julliard school of Music in New York. I also have my culinary arts degree from the Culinary Institute Of America in Hyde Park New York. You can now call me  Chef Barry Manilow. I recently became a restaurateur when I opened my 1043 British American Gastro Pub in Williamsburg Brooklyn. In May of 2018 I'm opening my second gastro pub this time it's in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City. I want to add some more gastro pubs in Australia Melbourne, Canada Montreal, US Seattle, Portland, Denver, New Orleans, Chicago, Boston, Baltimore, Atlantic City, Scotland Glasgow and UK London, Manchester. The photographs on Radar Online are of me and Garry. There of Brian Murphy and his husband manager Gregory Knofler. The Inqusitr article and Radar Online photographs are pieces of garbage. Neither Garry nor
I live in Palm Springs anymore. I moved back to New York City in two thousand three. Garry moved to Portland Oregon two thousand four. Both Garry and I got sick and tired of the finger pointing whenever we went out with friends. Both of us are straight and married. Garry to Denise and me to Carly. Soon after Garry and I moved from Palm Springs Then Marc Hulett and Andrew Stein moved from Palm Springs. Marc too got tired of the finger pointing by the people in Palm Springs. He was also sick of Suzie and Scott constantly bringing the gay issue up all the time. Marc and Andrew moved in two thousand four a year after I moved from Palm Springs. After Marc moved to New York City  he became my new manager. Then in two thousand fifteen Marc became the head of Stiletto Entertainment East Stiletto Entertainment's east coast offices. That meant that my personal assistant David Taylor got bumped up to my manager. Now  I have a new personal assistant name Eric Schaefer. The only people I did know in Palm Springs was Alan Hamel, wife Suzie and Scott Nevins. I don't associate with them anymore. I do talk once in a while to Brian Murphy and Gregory Knofler. On a much happier note. My Christmas tree is up and fully decorated. Both Carly and I have made our holiday cookies. Carly making the desert a raspberry torte for Christmas dinner. I'm making prime rib with garlic horseradish sauce, creamy Rosemary mashed potatoes, roasted carrots and green beans with chive butter and thyme popovers for Christmas dinner.  I invited Bruce, Rob, Marc and Andy over for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Christmas Eve we're going out to my gastro pub for dinner. Christmas Day we're staying at my house and having Christmas dinner there said Barry. Bruce, Rob, Marc and Andy can stay in the third floor spare bedrooms on Sunday night Christmas Eve.  For Christmas we got Bruce and Rob a pair of tickets to Billy Joel's Wednesday March 28, 2018 concert at Madison Square Garden, Marc and Andy an Amazon Echo, Carly's parents Ring Home Security system.and Jill and Ben the Ninja Coffee Bar. It can make on cup of coffee, a carafe of coffee and specialty brews. Then we sent Carly's nephews four day park passes to Disneyland in Anaheim California. The nephews are meeting at Disneyland in Anaheim California to spend four days there. Carly told her nephews we'd pay for the four day park tickets. That allows them to go to all the parks and water parks at Disneyland. After Christmas Carly and I are headed  up to Montreal Canada.  I have my two New Years Eve shows to do at Centre Bell on Saturday December 30th and Sunday December 31st at Centre Bell. Carly's coming for the BMIFC 2017 NYE Party Weekend and the concerts. Soon after I get back from Montreal I'm leaving for the UK. There's the anti bulling benefit, Williamsburg autobiography book signing and 3 concerts at the O2. I had to add one extra concert at the O2 to accommodate all my fans who wanted to come. For the anti bulling benefit I am performing with Cyndi Lauper. We're doing her song True Colors and my song One Voice.  I got asked by the Grammy committee to perform at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards I asked them If I could have singer Cyndi Lauper on stage with me. I explained that I had produced Cyndi Lauper's latest album The Joni Mitchell Album. So would it be ok if we did a duet on Joni Mitchell's song Big Yellow Taxi which is on Cyndi Lauper's Joni Mitchell album. The committee said yes we could do our duet. I've been practicing Big Yellow Taxi on the acoustical guitar. Cyndi been learning the song on the dulcimer. That was how we did the song on her album. I heard that Alan, Suzie and Scott were going to tonight's Brian Murphy concert at the Forum Barry told Carly. Ron Dante was the one who called and told me that. He said he and his wife Penny were going to tonight's Brian Murphy Forum concert. Carly saw some up close photos of Brian Murphy from his Gift Of Love benefit concerts. The photos were taken by one of Carly's friends Jacqueline. Carly pointed out the second ear ring in Brian's right ear. Then someone was passing around a video clip of Brian Murphy is Paris France. Paris France is Brian's favorite city. Carly showed her hubby Barry a photo of himself that was being passed around on the internet. It was a photo of Barry with a diamond stud in his right ear. They're still trying to peg me as being gay when I'm not said Barry. That ear ring was photo shopped onto my ear. When I talked to Ron after Brian's concert I suggested he move and get away from the southern California fire hazard. Every year from San Diego to Santa Barbara there's a threat of wild fires said Barry. Someone being careless with a match can start a fire. The entre time I lived in LA and Palm Springs there was always that threat of wild fires. That one more reason I'm glad I moved back east. Barry got up from his chair to go downstairs to take the dogs out. At least we're having a mild spell until the next bout of bad weather thought Barry. The only thing he wished was that their puppy Tucker wasn't all white. Barry knew once the snow fell it was going to be hard to see him since he's small and all white. Tucker was an all white seven month old rescued Bull Terrier. All their dogs were rescues. Maggie the Labrador Retriever was a rescue from a Palm Springs shelter. Maxalso a Labrador Retriever was supposed to be a seeing eye dog. However he had a health issue so he could become a seeing eye dog. Barry's friend Lorna Luft heard about him from Guide Dogs Of The Desert. Barry adopted him after his Labrador Retriever Pepper passed away.  Carly's dog Thunder was to become a seeing eye dog through Guiding Eyes For The Blind. However just like Max he too had a health issue. Tucker the Bull Terrier was a rescue puppy from Charlie's Rescue Animal Shelter.

Revamp on 2018 Calendar Schedule

Hi Gang
It's me Barry with some revisions on next years calendar schedule. Also some very exciting news for next year. Starting in January I'm off to the UK. Anti-bulling concert. Book signing for Williamsburg autobiography. Three concerts at the O2 arena. I added one extra concert do to popular demand. I'm going to be on the Grammy Awards. Me and Cyndi Lauper and I are doing a duet on the song Big Yellow Taxi from her up coming Joni Mitchell album. February I'm off. March and April At The Mayflower first regional run Majestic Theatre San Antonio TX. May I'm off. June Australia and New Zealand Williamsburg Tour. BMIFC Melbourne Convention. July/August I'm off. September and October At The Mayflower second regional run at The Forest Theatre Philadelphia PA. November What you all have been asking me for the sequel to my first jazz album 2:00AM Paradise Café. So Thursday November 15, 2018 2:00AM Paradise Café II is being released. 2:00AM Paradise Café was my first ever record album. I was totally surprised when It went straight to number one on Billboards Hot 200 Album Chart. Also when it was certified quadruple platinum when it came out, That's was the start of my recording career and I haven't looked back. Nor have I regretted one single minute since then. Thank you everyone for being a part of this incredible journey in my career as recording artist. December Get ready everyone I'm gong back out on tour again. This time with my Paradise Café II Tour to promote my 2:00AM Paradise Café II album. I'll be doing the theaters in Canada, US and UK starting in December 2018. As you all know I made the Inqusitr and Radar Online. The Inqusitr is totally false. Radar Online is actually photos of Brian Murphy and Gregory Knofler. You're looking at Brian and Gregory's backsides. Radar Online is claiming that's me and Garry which it's not. For a special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day treat BTV is sharing two concert videos you're all going to love. Christmas Eve Thursday July 6th my Williamsburg concert from Red Rocks Amphitheater.  Christmas Day Sunday December 10th  7th annual Because It's Christmas benefit concert. Then on Wednesday February 14, 2018 I'm putting out for my favorite Valentines you fans a five DVD disc and booklet box set. That is all five of my Red Rocks Amphitheater concerts and a booklet filled with photos from the five nights at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Plus photo from the BMIFC Saturday dinner picnic. So they'll be candid photos from Saturday's barbeque. That was when I got chewed out for eating a hot dog. Barry you're Jewish so you can't eat pork. I said it's a Vienna all beef hot dog. Vienna come from Chicago and boy are they good. I like mine traditional Chicago style hot dog.  Chicago style is a poppy seed hot dog bun, Vienna all beef hot dog. yellow mustard, onions, relish, dill pickle spear, tomato wedges and a dash of celery salt. I actually ate two of them they were so good. Then for Christmas 2018 I'm working on a seven DVD disc box set with a booklet containing on stage photos from all seven benefit concerts. I've been doing the Because It's Christmas benefits since 2010. It's my way of giving back to animals in need and kids who could use a new musical instrument. To those of you who've bee crabbing about the 2018 Barry Manilow calendar. When is it coming out? I paid for mine and I haven't received mine yet. The calendars were shipped out starting last Friday. So those of you who ordered one be on the lookout for yours. Twelve  very candid photos of me. Yes you will see my legs in bicycle  and running shorts. As well as jeans and other casual wear. Zero concert shots in next years calendar. I've even included the doggies Maggie, Max and Thunder into one of the photos. Thunder is a cream colored male Labrador Retriever that belongs to Carly. We also added another furry member to our family. His name is Tucker and he's a seven month old all white Bull Terrier. I put up a photo of Maggie Max, Thunder and Tucker on my Google Plus page. I'm still getting email from Facebook begging me to come back. No way Jose am
I going back there after they wouldn't let me in. Sorry but I don't give just anyone my mobile phone number. Who knows who they'll give it out to. I hope your all enjoying the holiday issue of the Barry Gram. Vikki and I have been working on stuff to put in the 2018 BMIFC membership kits. We did do a refrigerator magnet with all our contact information. Email addresses, phone numbers, snails mail addresses and website addresses. So you'll be in the know for next year. Plus a few other goodies you're going to love. To my Jewish fans Happy Hanukkah. To my  black fans Happy Kwanzaa and to everyone else Merry Christmas.
Love,
Barry

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Viva Las Vegas?

 Jacqueline one of Carly's friends called her up to do some major venting. Jacqueline was in Palm Springs with Kathy, Deanna and Mary for Brian Murphy's Christmas benefit concerts. Brian's five
shows were taking place at the McCallum Theatre. His shows were Wednesday December 12th, Thursday December 13th, Sunday December 17th, Monday December 18th and Tuesday December 19th. Brian was not doing shows on Friday December 15thand Saturday December 16th. Those two days he would be Las Vegas with his manager Gregory Knofler. That was for talks with the Westgate Casino Resort. The reason Jacqueline called Carly was to tell her that  at Sunday nights show Brian told the audience he had not signed with the Westgate Casino Resort in Las Vegas. A big "on no." came from the audience. Brian went on to explain that he wanted to do only six months in Las Vegas. Either January, March, May, July, September and November. Or February, April, June, August, October and December. Then it would be month 1 three weeks, month 2 two weeks, month 3 three weeks, month 4 two weeks, month five three weeks and month 6 two weeks. Each week Brian was there he would do Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Late last year Brian had signed long term contracts with The Forum Los Angeles, Allstate Arena Rosemont and Nassau Coliseum Uniondale. He had also just signed two more contracts for Foxwood Casino Mashantucket and Caesars Casino Windsor. Brain did not want to break those five long term contracts that he had signed. However chairman and CEO of the Wesatgate  David A. Siegel wanted Brian to be there for not six months but for twelve..
He also wanted Brian to do four nights instead of three. The only thing he agreed to was three weeks one month and two weeks the next. Brian told David A. Siegel no because he was not going to give up the five contracts he signed with The Forum, Allstate Arena. Nassau Coliseum, Caesars Canada and Foxwood. Brain wanted time for himself. Also time off for his band and backup singers so they could do other things. Of course Brian's fans were very upset that he said no to a Westgate residency Jacqueline said I know Barry signed a contract with the Tropicana in Atlantic City. So what's up with that? What's up with that is the Tropicana wants to try what Caesars Palace has done in Las Vegas said Carly. Caesars Palace has four rotating headliners. Celine Dion, Elton John Rod Stewart and Shania Twain. Celine, Elton, Rod and Shania  each do three months throughout each year. Now the Tropicana has three revolving headliners so far are Reba Mc Entire, Barry and Smokey Robinson, Barry chose February, June and October for his three months at the Tropicana.  Three weeks each month with four days each week. That allows Barry time to do other things. Write new songs, record original material albums. get his latest musical up and running and also do concerts outside of Atlantic City. So far  his schedule is January UK, March/April, San Antonio TX first regional run for new musical,  June Australia/New Zealand, September/October second regional run for new musical Philadelphia PA. Barry just sent the album he ands Eddie Arkin produced for Cyndi Lauper to the mastering studios. The album is called Cyndi Lauper  The Music Of Joni Mitchell. Barry and Cyndi did two duets on the album Big Yellow Taxi and River. Cyndi's alum comes out Tuesday March 21, 2018. Then on Wednesday November 15, 2018 Barry's long a waited second jazz album 2:00AM Paradise Café II is being released.  So Wednesday November 15th the day the album is being released. Barry is doing an album signing at Rough Trade Records in Brooklyn from 1pm to 4pm. That evening Barry will be at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts at Rose Theatre. Barry is doing an album debut for 2:00AM Paradise Café II.  Barry got Uncle Festive back together one more time to be on the album. The guys also agreed to perform with Barry Wednesday November 15 the night he debuts his new album. Uncle Festive consisted of Bud Harner  drums, Marc Levine bass, John Pondel guitar and Ron Pedley keyboards. Barry had his Concord Record label mate and friend Kenny G. on the album. As well as the jazz vocal quartet The Manhattan Transfer on this album. Now on November 15, 2018 Uncle Festive, Kenny G. and The Manhattan Transfer will be on stage at the Rose Theatre with Barry. This year it's Centre Bell in Montreal Canada for NYW. That's Saturday December 30th and Sunday December 31st. The BMIFC is having their annual NYE party weekend Friday December 29th, thru Sunday December 31st up in Montreal. This past Sunday Barry's seventh annual Because It's Christmas benefit was sold out. The tickets for the benefit sold out in less than fifteen minutes. That's why Kathy couldn't get tickets for her, you, Shelly and Kim. Besides Shelly and Kim can't sit anywhere else but front row dead center. Shelly always has to have eye contact with Barry when she see him.  She loves to tell everyone that Barry gives her eye contact. Really Shelly I try not to look at you if your in the front row said Barry to himself.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Barry Gram and ETC.

The holiday issue 2017 of the Barry Gram should be on it's way to your mailboxes. This issue of the
Barry Gram will contain a behind the scenes look at the making of Both Sides Now "The Best of Joni
 Mitchell" Cyndi Lauper album. That's the album that I am working on with one of my good friends Cyndi Lauper. Cyndi and I have recorded two duets for the album Big Yellow Taxi and River. A little background information on how Cyndi Lauper and I became good friends. The latest on my Tropicana residency in Atlantic City NJ. An introduction to Charlie's Rescue another one of the charities I support. This one was started by my wife Dr. Carly Manilow DVM. New holiday and Williamsburg merchandise. Plus so much more. Carly and I just added a new member to our furry family. He was brought into Charlie's Rescue by his owner. There were eight puppies total in the litter. The owner of the momma dog said nobody wanted the little puppy. The owner also said he
was the smallest of the eight puppies. So that means he's the runt of the litter. Dr. Houston checked
him out just to make sure he was ok. Dr. Houston thought there was something different about him. Just to make sure Dr. Houston ran some blood work and a few other tests. Dr. Houston determined the puppy had dwarfism. Meaning that the puppy was a dwarf bull terrier. Instead of a normal sized bull terrier. So he won't get much bigger than he already is. His color is all white and his ears stick straight up. His owner had give him the temporary name of Yoda after the Jedi master in the Star Wars movies. She said we could change his named if we didn't like it. I'm not a really big fan of
science fiction. Brian Murphy is the one who likes Star Trek, Star Wars and ETC. Back in the seventies Brian was the Mike Douglas Show. He brought with him his tribble and Spock Vulcan
ears. I heard he has a huge collection of Star Trek and Star Wars memorabilia. Now I collect vinyl records. Big Band, Broadway show tune albums, classical, jazz, rock and roll and vocalists. Some of my vinyl is autographed by the artist, Broadway cast and groups who recorded them.  The most humbling or thrilling thing take your pick is that Stephen Sondheim came to opening night of Here
At The Mayflower last year. He came backstage to meet the cast and songwriters. Told us he loved our musical. He even asked for an autographed cast album when it came out.  On opening night of
Here At The Mayflower there was a who's who of famous Broadway songwriters on the audience.

More News

Barry was headed into Manhattan to checkup on the work being done to his second eatery Barry was opening his second 1943 British American Gastro Pub in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan.  The opening date was going to be Friday May 19, 2018. Barry's friend Rob Schuter had walked past an empty store that was for sale. Rob wrote down the phone number and gave it to Barry. He knew Barry was looking to open another 1943 British American Gastro Pub in new York City somewhere. Barry went with Bruce and Rob to checkout the  empty sore for sale. The store fit the bill perfectly.
Barry loved the location and the size of the main floor. So he decided to buy the building for his second gastro pub in New York City. In January Barry was staying an extra week to look at property in London for another gastro pub. He was hoping he'd find the perfect empty building for his third 1943 British American Gastro Pub this time in London. The other cities he had in mind  for his gastro pub was Portland Oregon, Seattle Washington, Denver Colorado, Boston Massachusetts, Montreal Canada, Glasgow Scotland and Melbourne Australia. Those would be the cities besides his flagship Williamsburg location and Manhattan location. He and Cyndi Lauper were almost finished with the Joni Mitchell album they had been working on together. Barry had also seen online a few articles about Brian Murphy wanting to go back to Las Vegas. Now if he thinks he can stay in Las Vegas and not go anywhere else he's sadly mistaken thought Barry. Now the fans who can't afford Las Vegas will be begging him to come do shows outside Las Vegas. Just like they did in two thousand five.
Oh well his choice not mine said Barry.  Carly was still hearing rumors that Barry was heading to
Las Vegas for a residency. Barry was doing a residency all right. However it was not in Las Vegas.
It was in Atlantic City at the Tropicana Casino Resort. Barry had signed with the Tropicana for five years. Two thousand eighteen to two thousand twenty-three. I'm going to be one of their revolving headliners. Besides me they've signed Reba McEntire and Smokey Robinson. We're each doing three months a year. I chose February, June and October. Reba took January, May and September and Smokey took April August and December. There's just March, July and November left. Each of
the three months I'm there I'm doing three weeks with four shows each of those weeks. So that's
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I'm doing the standard ninety minute show. Now the said I could stay longer and do encores. In the past I've played Boardwalk Hall once, Caesars three time Harrah's once and the Tropicana four times. Bruce reminded me that in our musical Copacabana Rico's night club in Havana was called the Tropicana. I'll be doing doing Copacabana and Who Needs To Dream. during  my concerts. Nelly Germaine is creating  colorful jackets with black lapels for Russ, David, Mark, Mike, Ron, Kevin, Rick, Joey, Billy and Kion. The guys will wear black pants, black shirts with their colorful jackets. Now the girls Alana, Dana and Shelly will wear halter dress with full skirts. Doing only three months a year will allow me to do other things. I'll be able to go elsewhere to preform for anyone who can't afford Atlantic City. And do other things Like getting At The Mayflower my new musical off the ground. One thing I won't do that Brian Murphy is doing is charge an arm and leg for tickets. His Westgate tickets will start at fifteen hundred dollars. I talked to my former managers Garry, Marc and my current manager David about how should charge for tickets. We came up with ticket price starting at $500, $450 $375 and $335 for main floor. $250, $200 and $150 for balcony.  Vikki and I are also in the planning stages for a BMIFC It's Just Another New Years Eve weekend next year. It will take place Friday December 28th to Monday December 31st. I'm doing concerts on Saturday December 29th, Sunday December 30th and Monday December 31st. Fans coming to this NYE weekend will get tickets to all three of my shows. Friday night will be the disco party after dinner. Saturday after the concert fans will get to see my 7th annual Because It's Christmas benefit concert that was taped this past Friday night. Also there will be an ice cream sundae bar. Sunday morning at 10:30am we will have our Q&A Brunch With me Barry. Monday night after the show is our New Years Eve party to toast in 2019. Yes I'll be at  Saturday nights video and ice cream sundae bar after the concert. Sundays Q&A brunch and Monday nights NYE party. When we have all our ducky's in a row I'll give you the 411 on our 2018 New Years Eve  weekend said Barry. Right now Barry was doing some decorating for Christmas. This past Saturday he and Carly went to a Christmas tree farm to cut down a fresh tree for the living room. Barry had already put the wreath up on the front door. He had placed the menorah on the dinning room table. He had also popped popcorn to string up with cranberries to put on their tree. Now he was in the kitchen making potato latkes. The latkes recipe belong to his grandmother Esther. His grandmother always added onions to her latkes. She even added cheese to some. The ones with cheese were eaten with fish. In the stove downstairs Barry had piece of corned beef cooking low and slow. The corn beef, latkes with cabbage was for dinner tonight. The leftover corn beef would make some great corn beef sandwiches. Corn beef on Jewish rye with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and whole grain mustard. On the side a couple of pickle spears and some potato chips. Just thinking about that made Barry's mouth water. That was something else Barry needed to make coleslaw. So he marked cabbage down the grocery list he and Carly had started. Barry looked at the kitchen clock. it was now 12:30pm time for lunch. So Barry made himself a grilled cheddar cheese sandwich on marbled rye. He added a bowl of  homemade tomato soup for lunch. Barry had given Carly the last of the cream of broccoli Gruyere soup for her lunch.  Barry remember three more things he needed. That was onions, French bread and more Gruyere cheese. Barry wanted to make some French onion soup. so he wrote those down on the list too. After lunch he checked the mailbox, let the dogs out for a quick business run. Then he left to go grocery shopping. On Christmas Eve he always invited Bruce, Rob, Marc, Andy, Jack, Amy, David, Becky and Vikki for dinner. This year he was having antipasto platter, spinach salad and assorted pizzas. Then for desert Carly was making anisette, biscotti and butter cookies. Barry was doing the cannoli's and the pizzelles. The anise and almond pizzelles  were for everyone to take home with them.

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Ask Barry?

Hi Gang,
It's me Barry again. It's time for another round of Ask Barry? questions.
Ally Munson asks Barry Have you ever gone to a concert where you got invited on stage to perform with the artist you went to see?

Barry Yes I did get invited on stage. In May of this year Carly and I went to Philadelphia for a little weekend get away. What I didn't know was Carly had gotten tickets to see Tears For Fears at the Hoagie National Festival on Friday May 27th. We were sitting in section two row B. One of Tears For Fears people told the guys I was a huge fan of theirs and that I was in the audience. I got invited on stage at the end to sing their song Shout with them. When I got up there I told Roland and Curtis I could play the song on the piano. So I got to both play piano and sing on Shout with the guys. What a thrill that was.

Deborah Wilson asks Barry who are some of your favorite contemporary groups and singers?
Barry as for groups I like Aerosmith, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Fleetwod Mac, Foo Fighters, Genesis, Nickleback and U2. Female singers. Cyndi Lauper, Melissa Manchester, Anne Lenox, Carol King, Joni Mitchell, Roberta Flack, Bette Midler Bonnie Ratt and Stevie Nicks. Male singers Billy Joel, Richard Marx, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Bruce Hornsby, Darius Rucker James Taylor and Bruno Mars. I also liked Hootie and the Blowfish Darius Rucker's old group before he went country. Bruce Hornsby and the Range. Before Bruce went the solo jazz route. Then of course I love classical, jazz and standard singers. Like Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney and ETC.

Lorie Mann What's on your bucket list?
Barry What haven't I done that I want to do. I want to write original material with my favorite female singers/songwriter. Then take the songs we wrote and record a duets album. Do a concert in Central Park like Simon and Garfunkle. Garth Brooks, Diana Ross and other artists/groups have done. Take the Orient Express train from London England to Venice Italy.  Travel England and Scotland by train. My wife Carly loves to travel by train. So while were dating we took Amtrak up to Boston for vacation. That's how I got hooked on train travel. Carly also loves to fly on airplanes. Open up a few more 1943 British American Gastro Pubs her in the US and UK. I want to open them in Manhattan New York, Boston Massachusetts, Portland Oregon, Seattle Washington, Glasgow Scotland and London England. The flagship 1943 British American Gastro Pub in Williamsburg is doing very well. We got great reviews from Michelin, New York Times and Zagat. Michelin gave us five stars. So did the New York Times and Zagat.

To all my Southern California fans with all those wild fires please take care and keep safe.
Thinking of all of you.
Hugs,
Barry

Friday, December 8, 2017

Oh Really!

Barry and Garry got home at eleven pm. Soon after both Carly and Denise walked in the door. How was the show said Barry?  It was ok said Carly as she and Denise walked into the living room. OMG! is Brian Murphy skinny said Denise. You mean tooth pick legs said Barry. If a strong wind kicked up it would blow him away. Oh yeah said Garry Brian Murphy hates to eat yes tooth pick legs  Carly said. Jacqueline asked me and Denise what we were doing tomorrow night. I told her that me, Ally, Rita and Zoey were going to Barry's Because It's Christmas benefit at the Barclay Center. The benefit concert sold out within thirty minutes after the tickets went on sale. Kathy said no wonder I couldn't get tickets for me, Jacqueline, Kim, Shelly and Gillian.   On our way home Rita thought that was interesting that the others couldn't get tickets to tomorrow nights benefit concert. Shelly was telling members in the Facebook group she owns that she and her two friends were going to the benefit. Actually they don't have tickets.  Kathy said non of them had tickets for the benefit tomorrow night.
Good because they're always trying to get back stage when they come to my concerts said Barry. Marc, David and Now Eric have the task of making sure they don't get back stage. Knowing Shelly, Kim and Gillian they will be somewhere around the stage door to see Barry go inside. Who are these three women asked Denise? They're fans of Barry's said Carly. Shelly the group leader claims she, Kim and Gillian are BFF's with Barry, Bruce Sussman, Garry Kief and Marc Hulett. However they are not BFF's with any of them. I do know they are friends with Suzie, Rob Bruce's partner and Scott Nevins. Rob knows to keep his lips zipped on any thing that pertains to Barry. Rob says those women are so nosey that if they could  they would literally crawl inside my pants said Barry. Wouldn't they just loved to know what brand, fabric and style of men's underwear I wear. The only thing I will say is they're 100% cotton. Also I don't wear bikinis or thong style underwear. Barry's friend Denny who still lived in Palm Springs emailed him the Bruce Fessier article on Brian Murphy that appeared in the Friday December 8th Desert Sun life section under entertainment. It mentioned Brian's A Gift Of Love benefit shows at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Springs. There was also a little Q&A with Brian. Of course they asked Brian about a second Las Vegas residency. Since there was some hinting about it. He said Gregory Knofler (Brian's husband and manager) was getting ready to dot the I's and cross the T's. on the contract. Hopefully he would be back in Las Vegas at the Westgate (formerly the Las Vegas Hilton) Brian would be there Thursday thru Saturday. If he thinks he can just do the Las Vegas shows only. He's only fooling himself. Look what happened the last time. He played LV only in 2005. His fans who couldn't go complained. So starting in 2006 Brian had to do shows outside LV whenever he wasn't in LV. The other thing is that Brian's tickets are very expensive. Barry did see some photos of Brian Murphy's Chicago and Long Island concerts. Barry thought Brian's velvet jackets were tacky. Also his attempt at a tuxedo did quite look right on him. Brian does not know how to wear a tuxedo. Tonight was Barry's seventh annual Because It's Christmas benefit. Last year Barry was at Madison Square Garden for his annual benefit. Barry was aiming to do his two thousand eighteen eighth annual Because It's Christmas benefit at Carnegie Hall. He wanted to have the New York Philharmonic Orchestra on stage to perform with him. Barry's Because It's Christmas benefit went from 8pm to 11:30pm. A two hour concert with a half hour intermission and a one hour encore. Barry's concerts always ended up with encores. Barry Manilow's fans just couldn't get enough of him. so he would do encores for them. Barry went backstage after the regular ending. He quickly came back out and said "Lets start this benefit allover again." With that he took off his white jacket with black lapels and black vest. Barry went right into one of his hot numbers I'm Your Man. He ended the one hour encore with You're Looking Hot Tonight.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Getting Ready For Friday's Benefit Concert.

Barry was getting ready for his Because It's Christmas VII Benefit at the Barclay Center on Friday December 8th, He had sent the Grant Street Campus chorus the lyrics to Because It's Christmas, One Voice and It's A Miracle. Marc had sent Barry publicity photos of Brian Murphy's concert jackets for his A Brian Christmas and A Gift Of Love IV concerts. The color red seems to wash out Brian's face thought Barry. All of Brian's jackets except his white one were made of velvet with sparkles on them. Barry decided to go with an edgy tuxedo for Sunday nights benefit concert. The pants had zero stripe down the outer side of each leg. The vest had an embossed design on it. Black pants, black embossed, white tuxedo shirt, black vest, black tuxedo coat and black euro tie. The tuxedo coat was where in edginess came in. The hem was longer on one side a regular on the other side.  The tuxedo coat was just like the one he wore in nineteen ninety-nine. When he played Carnegie Hall on Monday March 8, 1999 for The Gay Men's Crisis Benefit. Barry had decided to open Friday's concert the same way he did that benefit. Barry came out flipped the tail of his tuxedo jacket sat down and played Chopin's Prelude In C Minor. Then he went into the romantic version of his song Could It Be Magic based on that Chopin prelude. Then later on he was going to do Could It Be Magic a second time. This would be Take That's up tempo version complete with BAMS. Barry was also putting together a NYC Rhythm, Brooklyn Blues, Williamsburg medley. Barry and Cyndi Lauper were going to duet on her song Time After Time and Baby It's Cold Outside. Barry had even picked out some Christmas song that would be played as the fans came in. Barry decided on a Thursday night to get together with Bruce, David, Eric, Jack, Garry, Marc and Rob for a little guy time. Fried chicken and bowling at the Brooklyn Bowl. Garry and Denise were coming into New York for the weekend starting Wednesday. They were going to stay at Barry and Carly's house till Monday. Carly had gotten suckered into going to Brian Murphy's Nassau Coliseum concert on Thursday night. Kathy had a ticket for Denise to go too. Gillian was supposed to go with them but she got the flu. Gillian was friends with Shelly and Kim. Jacqueline had invited Gillian, Shelly and Kim to go with her and Kathy, Carly Ally, Rita and Zoey.  Carly told Kathy she did not want to sit next to Shelly. Shelly, Kim and Gilliam claimed they were also friends with Suzie Barry's one time friend.. They too believed that Barry was gay and married to his former manager Garry. Barry basically paid those three women no attention. They told their friends that they were friends with Barry, Bruce, Garry and Marc. These women were not friends at all with Barry, Bruce, Garry and Marc. Barry had called Garry to tell him about Thursdays boys night out. He also told him that Denise would be going with Ally, Carly, Rita, Zoey, Jacqueline, Kathy, Shelly and Kim to see Brian Murphy's Thursday December 7th Nassau Coliseum concert. Gillian a friend of Shelly and Kim's was supposed to go. However she got sick. Garry said I'm sure Carly Ally, Rita and Zoey really wanted to go. Garry knew better that Carly and her BFF's didn't want to go. Barry wanted to get the Barclay Center for Thursday night. However Disney Tim Burton's The  Nightmare Before Christmas was there both Wednesday and Thursday nights. Chris Rock Saturday December 9th. Saturday night was comedian Chris Rock and Sunday was women's and men's basketball starting at one. So Barry had to take Friday night as it was open. Thursday's boys night out was great. Instead of eating fried chicken at the Brooklyn Bowl. The guys went to  Barry's eatery 1943 British American Gastro Pub. The guys loved the atmosphere which was a mix of British and American. Barry mentioned that his gastro pub served British ale and a few local micro brews from Brooklyn. No US beers like Budweiser, Coors, Old Milwaukee, Miller and ETC. Barry liked British ale but hated US beers. We even deep fry candy bars and have them on our desert menu. We deep fry Milky Way, Milky Way Caramel, Milky Way Dark, Snickers original with peanuts, Snickers with almonds and Snickers with hazelnuts. I had to get the address for the Mars candy company which makes the Snickers bar. Because a few costumers wanted to write the Mars candy company. So they could ask then to make their Snickers bar with cashews and Snickers bar with macadamia nuts. Deep fried candy bars was started in the UK. Heck they deep fry anything said Garry. Denise and I had deep fried cheese cake. That was a slice of cheese cake dipped in either milk or dark chocolate. After the chocolate hardens it's dipped in funnel cake batter. Then it's drizzled with chocolate ganache and whipped cream. Interesting said Bruce. I was at this bar down in Atlanta with Eric my personal assistant. We chose to eat our dinner at the bar. They put out free bar snacks. They take mixed nuts put them in a bowl. Then mixed the nuts with butter, tabasco sauce, garlic powder and onion powder. Spread them out on a baking sheet and bake them for forty-five minutes. They're so addictive.  So I snatched the recipe and put it on 1943's free snacks menu. We serve spicy mixed nuts and garlic cheddar popcorn as free snacks. Ground Round restaurants use to served peanuts in their shells or popcorn. It was to tied you over until your meal came. I'm addicted to mixed nuts said Barry. Carly on the other hand is addicted to assorted chesses and crackers. Triscuit crackers and cheese is Carly's go to snack. She likes their original, garden herb, thin crisps sour cream and chive and parmesan garlic. The only sweet she likes is ice cream. Carly did have a piece of wedding cake on our wedding day. That was the best cake ever said Jack. That's because our cake was made by Charm City Cakes Ace Of Cakes Duff Goldman. It was a four tiered two layered white cake with raspberry filling in between the layers of cake. The frosting was white whipped light butter cream.  The roses on the cake were made with pureed raspberries mixed in to the white frosting. Carly knows I like raspberry torte. So that was what our cake was a raspberry torte four tiered wedding cake.  Carly actually wanted to elope however she had never been married. I told her I wanted her to have her dream wedding. Every bride has their dream wedding so should you. Which she did have her dream wedding. After we got back from our Montreal and Quebec honeymoon. Carly went back to  Kleinfeld's Bridal store. Carly wanted to show Audrey, Randy, Dorothy and Nicole photos from our wedding. None of them got to see Carly's finished Hayley Paige custom wedding dress. Carly told them my tuxedo was by Joseph Abboud. In fact I have seven pairs of the black loafers I wore on my wedding day. The reason I have that many is because the other pairs I wear when I'm in concert. They're a very stylish shoe that goes perfect with my dresser concert attire.

Monday, December 4, 2017

The Coming Week

Tuesday December 5th Brian Murphy was back in Chicago to ply Allstate Arena. Then Thursday December 7th it was Nassau Coliseum on Long Island. That was for his A Very Brian Christmas.
Now Barry was in rehearsals for his Because It's Christmas VII Benefit at the Barclay Center on Sunday December 10th. This was the seventh year for this benefit. The charities that would benefit this year would be Charlie's Rescue, Manilow Music Project and The One Voice Foundation. Barry loved the fall and winter months. That's why he was glad he came back to the east coast where they had all four seasons spring, summer, autumn and winter. Barry had relearned how to ice skate so he could skate at the Rockefeller Center and Central Park skating rinks. He also missed a good cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows on top. This would be his sixth Christmas with Carly. Now earlier this autumn Barry their roof checked to see if it would make though the winter. The contractor told him that there were a few place where their roof might leak. So he had the contractor put a new roof on. This was the guy who had done all of the remodeling work to the house. Kitchen, master bathroom, kitchen downstairs and the bathroom downstairs. Barry chose a slate grey metal roof that definitely  would go with their red brick town house. Every year Barry had the furnace and air conditioning checked to make sure they ran properly. Before he moved into the house in  October two thousand two the former owner had the house rewired. That was to get rid of any wiring that was not up to code. The house on Hicks street was a house that Barry was never going to leave. Barry was three blocks from the subway stop. Close to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade which went along side the New York harbor. Barry loved to go running around the Promenade in the warmer months. Close enough he could walk to the Barclay Center. Close to his favorite bagel/coffee shop and pizza parlor. Lots of other great shops and restaurants he could walk to. He did have to use his SUV when he went to certain places. Or if he wanted to outside the city for a drive or a road trip by car. This was way better than Palm Springs. Every time he wanted to go somewhere. He had to go into his garage get into his SUV and drive to where he wanted to go. Nothing was within walking distance not even a dog park. Here in Brooklyn Heights a lot of stuff was within walking distance for him. Barry had even bicycled from his house in Brooklyn Heights to Bruce and Rob's condominium in Tribeca. Barry go a call from Bruce before he went on his four city Hurricane Nate benefit concerts. Bruce called Barry to let him know what happened to his iMac desktop computer. That it exploded in their condominium and they had to have new wiring put in. The electrician that Bruce got told him iMac's were just worthless pieces of junk. Bruce said the electrician told him to get a HJP Omen 800-035VX computer. Said his son swore by them. They were mainly used by gaming developers and people who liked to play games on their computers. But that their were musicians in the music business who had discovered them too. Bruce told Barry  that his iMac just literally explode. Bruce's tech guy also told him iMac's were basically a piece of junk.Then the same thing that happened to Bruce also happened to Barry after he got home. His iMac exploded and part of the  house had to have new wiring put in. Barry had just about had it with Apple products. Five years ago Barry's iPhone 5 died after just one month. Barry took it back to where he bought it. He was told by the phone guy at Verizon that he had a lemon. The Verizon phone guy told Barry to go with a Samsung brand instead. Barry got himself a Samsung Galaxy S3 in November of 2012. He traded that in for a Galaxy Note 5 in August 2015. So Garry's friend Dean had gone to South Korea on a vacation. While he was there he bought himself a Samsung 2017 Veyron flip phone. Samsung had brought back the flip phones from the nineties with their Veyron flip phone. Barry got to see Garry's Samsung Veyron flip phone. Garry explained it had all the features of the other types of Samsung phones. The only difference was it was a flip phone. He told Barry Dean had to go back to South Korea and he would get Barry one. Barry had finally given up on Apple products. Barry knew Carly never had any Apple products. Apple computers were very different than a typical PC like Dell and HP. Carly had always used HP products. That was the brand the Bronx Zoo exclusively used. Last year her old HP Pavilion computer died. So she chose to get an
HP ENVY 750-V9B24 desktop computer. Then just this past October her laptop died. She replaced it with a HP Spectre X360 laptop.  Barry went to a message board where this fan Shelly told everyone he used iMac's and iPhone's only. Barry replied and said I don't use iMac's or iPhone's anymore. I switched to HP computers and Samsung cell phones. I have a HP Omen 870-255xt desktop and an HP Omen 17 inch Laptop. I just got a new 2017 Samsung Veyron flip phone. This Samsung phone
is not available here in the US. Garry Kief's friend Dean Henry is a pilot for Delta. While he was on layover in South Korea last month he bought a Samsung Veyron for himself and Garry. Dean told Garry the next time he went to South Korea he'd buy me one. So by the end of this week I should have my Samsung Veyron flip phone. I can't wait to get it.

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Because It's Christmas Benefit.

Don't forget next Sunday December 10th my Because It's Christmas Benefit Barclay Center 8PM. The Because It's Christmas Benefit benefits Charlie's Rescue animal shelter, The Manilow Music Project and The One Voice Foundation (Giving a voice to animals who don't have one)  It's at the Barclay Center. I'm having my dear friend Cyndi Lauper as one of my special guests. Remember Baby It's Cold Outside. Hint! Hint! The other is The Grant Street Campus Chorus. Who will duet with me on Because it's Christmas. The Grant Street Campus Chorus consists of students from The High School for Enterprise, Business and Technology, Progressive High School for Professional Careers and The High School for Legal Studies. These schools were started in nineteen ninety seven after my alma mater Eastern District High School closed it's doors n nineteen ninety six.
See you fans there.
Barry

My Dear Friend Mundell Lowe


It is with a heavy heart that I let you know my dear friend James Mundell Lowe passed away Saturday December 2, 2017. Mundell as he was better known played with a lot of great artists.
Back in 1984 I asked Mundell Lowe to play on my first album. It was a jazz album called 2:00AM Paradise Café. I had also asked drummer Shelly Manne, basest George Duvivier, saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and keyboard/pianist Billy Mays to play on the album. I then invited  jazz vocalists Mel Torme (The Velvet Fog) and Sarah Vaughan to sing duets on the album with me. Sarah and did a duet on Blue and Mel and did a duet on Big City Blues. Shelly, George, Mundell, Gerry and Billy had never played together and they were very excited to do so. "The entire albumwas rehearsed for three days, then recorded live (in one take) without overdubs at Westlake Studio "C" in Los Angeles California in 1984. All of us who took part in the recording of this album were surprised when it did so well. This is your first foray into being a recording artist. Your first record album goes quadruple platinum and lands at number one on Billboards Hot 200 Album Chart. Then stays at number one for three straight months. Goes on further to win  Grammy's for Album Of The Year (200AM Paradise Café)  Barry Manilow artist/producer, Michael Brawnstein engineer Deni King and Greg Laney co-engineers. Record Of The year (2:00AM Paradise Café)  Song Of The Year (When October Goes) Barry Manilow music Johnny Mercer lyrics. Best Jazz Vocal Album (2:00AM Paradise Café) Barry Manilow. Four Grammy Awards for my first ever record album. I sang my song When October Goes and I did Big City Blues with Mel Torme on the nineteen eighty five Grammy Awards. Wow!! What a thrill. Thanks to all of you my dear ones for making  2:00AM Paradise Café such a huge success.
Barry

Friday, December 1, 2017

I Heard A Rumor About You.

I am bringing this to everyone's attention because of the content of the quote that I am quoting. One of my fans I don't know posted this under a photo of me that another one of my fans Debra Swartz had posted on Pinterest. "One friend told the Daily Mail Online that Kief is something of a Svengali to Manilow and he has pushed people out of the multi-millionaire life and replaced then with his own relatives over the years. This quote from the Daily Mail is entirely false. Garry Kief my former manager has never pushed anyone out of my life. Then replaced them with his own relatives. I met Garry Kief back in nineteen seventy eight. That's when I found out the guy who was taking care of my finances was putting my money into bad investment. Garry was the one who noticed this first. He helped with my financial problem. So I fired Miles Laurie my manager and hired Garry to take over as my manager. Garry put together a group of people to help me financially and legally. That is how I became friends with Garry Kief. Garry was married to his first wife who I also became friends with. The director of my fan club Kate Naughton had been screwed over by my manager Miles Laurie. So that's why Kate Naughton  stepped down as director of my fan club. Both Robert and Alice Garry's parents were retired so they took over running my fan club. That's how I became friends with Robert and Alice Kief. Garry's older brother Rob Kief starting working for his brothers new management company Stiletto Entertainment. Garry and his first wife asked me to be godfather to their daughter Kirsten I said yes to being Kirsten's godfather. Robert and Alice Kief when Alice became the new director of the Barry Manilow Fan Club. In nineteen eighty my fan club went international so people all over the world could join. Alice decided to continue using the name Kate Naughton when she became director of my fan club. Robert came up with the name Mad Man Mickey Morgan when he took over the merchandise company. That was how I became friends with Garry's parents. Garry's older brother Rob also works for Garry's management company Stiletto Entertainment. That's how I became friends with Robert, Alice, Rob, his wife, sons, Garry, his wife and daughter. If people were pushed out of my life it's because I pushed them out. Case in point my once friend Suzie whom you all know is not in my life right now. In two thousand two I decided to move back to New York City. Too much back and forth on Delta Airlines between Los Angeles LAX and New York City JFK because of my Broadway songwriting career. Suzie did not like the fact that I moved back to New York City. Also since day one back in nineteen seventy-eight when I met Suzie. She always figured that I was gay even though I wasn't. At the end of January two thousand and fifteen. Suzie did two articles for The National Enquire tabloid. The articles were to promote her latest health book. The
first article two pages came out on Friday January 25th.The  second article a week later came out on Friday January 30th. On Friday February 6th I made the inside of The National Enquirer. It was a two page spread on me and my former manager Garry Kief getting married in our Palm Springs backyard in April 2015 Brian Murphy was living in my former house in the Mesa at that time. So that's when
Brian  and his partner Gregory Knofler got married. Suzie told The National Enquirer all the juicy details. Why? Because according to her she was my best woman which is the same as the best man. She was also on Andy Cohen's Bravo talk show. Where she told this person who called in to ask if the Copacabana singer got married. That she was there and that it was so freeing for me. I am not the Copacabana singer. I am one of the songwriters of the song Copacabana. Brian Murphy recorded  the song Copacabana that me, Bruce and Jack wrote. Bruce , Jack and I originally wrote Copacabana for our musical of the same name which opened on Broadway in 1978. Brian Murphy then recorded a disco version of our song Copacabana n 1978 for his Even Now album that I produced with Ron Dante. Back in 2014 I did get married. That was on Sunday July 13, 2014 to my fiancé Dr. Carly Nichole Simon DVM. I'm mentioning her full name because of singer Carly Simon. Garry and I often wondered who went to The National Enquirer with that information. When we both found out it was Suzie who gave them that piece of information. Garry immediately told me he was through being friends with Suzie. He said If I still wanted to continue being friends with Suzie that he would be ok with that. I don't like anyone who spreads lies about me. Since Suzie chose to spread the lie about me being gay when I'm not. I decided she wasn't worth my still being friends with her. One I moved back to New York City in two thousand two I broke off my friendship with her. At that same time I also quit being friends with one of Suzie's other friends Scott Nevins. As you all know Scott Nevins has the major hot's for me. Scott's been trying for year to get me into a romantic relationship with him. No thank you. I remember on my wedding day my cousin Dennis said to me Aunt Edna would have been proud to have a nice Jewish girl like Carly for a daughter-in-law. After I got married to Carly that's when she told me she had met my mom. Carly, Ally, Rita and Zoey went to see my mom's cabaret act at Don't Tell Mama's  in New York. Carly mentioned she and her friends got to meet my mom after that show. Carly told me my mom asked her and her fiends if they were married. Ally said she Rita and Zoey were married and I was not. My mom said I wish my son Barry would find a nice girl like you. Maybe I should fix you two up said my mom. Ally then told my mom that Carly was a nice orthodox Jewish girl. My mom said now I'll definitely have to fix you two up. If she only knew her wish came true. That I met Carly the nice orthodox Jewish girl and I married her. Now back to regular Barry M stuff.