Night Songs

Night Songs Barry Manilow's latest album. Fifteen classic standards and one new song Night Songs which was written by Barry Manilow music Adrienne Anderson lyrics. With Barry accompanying on bass and piano.

Details! Details! Details!

Marc called Barry to tell him he was voted Details magazine's first ever style icon. Details is a magazine for men just like GQ. GQ does their man or men of the year in their November issue.

Details decided to do a style icon issue for their June issue. They chose as their first ever style icon Broadway songwriter and jazz artist Barry Manilow. Barry was doing two articles and a one page photo shoot for the magazine. The first article was in the home studio with the man who writes the songs.  Barry telling everyone what kind of pianos, computer equipment and etc. he used in his Peppertree Studios. The second article was Unforgettable Harmony an article on his and Bruce Sussman's musical and movie musical Harmony. How they discovered the Comedian Harmonists and created their musical Harmony and all that went with getting it to Broadway. Plus a page with photos of Barry in different outfits. Heck the entire magazine was geared towards stuff on Barry or things he liked. such as two of his favorite cities New York City where he was born in the borough of Brooklyn and Paris France. One of his favorite cuisines Tex-Mex.  Barry also liked Chinese, Italian and French cuisines. Even the ads were stuff Barry liked or used. Land Rover SUV's, iPhones, Jo Malone men's cologne and Mac computers.

Ah! Abby Cadabby

Barry ran into Samantha Griffin. Barry said hi Samantha. hello Barry said Samantha. Barry asked Samantha if Abigail had a nickname. Samantha said well she does. However she's not real crazy about it. Oh really said Barry. Yes said Samantha. Ever heard of the PBS kids show Sesame Street asked Samantha. Sesame Street said Barry. Yeah Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover and etc. Huh said Barry.  How about Kermit the frog he was on Sesame Street too. Oh Kermit the frog I've hear of him said Barry. I was even photographed with him and Jim Henson years ago. Well there is a Sesame Street muppet called Abby Cadaby. That's Abigail's nickname. She got that name from some friends she went to school with. Abigail actually hates it. Really I think it's kind of cute said Barry. Well I've got to get going he said. Ok I'll tell Abby I saw you said Samantha. Barry continued walking till he cam to Tiffany jewelers. There was his manager Marc Hulett standing there. We're going in said Barry I have something to pick up and I want to show it to you. So they went inside Tiffany's jewelry store. May I help you said the clerk. Yes you can I'm Barry Manilow and I'm here to pick up some jewelry. You bought jewelry here said Marc. Yes said Barry it's two pieces that will go together eventually. The clerk came out with the black velvet box and opened it up. Is this exactly what you ordered the clerk said. Yes said Barry. What do think Marc said Barry. What do I
think of what asked Marc. The rings said Barry. There very beautiful said Marc. Ok so who are these for? asked Marc.  There for Abby Cadabby said Barry. Abby Cadabby who is that? asked Marc. You know Abby Stern the girl  I've been going with for a while now. I ran  into Abby's friend Samantha Griffin who told me that Abby Cadabby was Abby's nickname when I asked her what it was. Ok so what dose this have to do with these rings asked Marc. Well I'm going to ask Abby to marry me.
You're going to what asked Marc. I'm going to ask Abby Stern to marry me. That's what I thought you said. Abby doesn't know this but I met her parent and two brothers last week for lunch. I was a good boy and asked for Abby's hand in marriage. I showed everyone a photo of the rings I took on my iPhone. Samantha gave me Abby's ring size. I told Samantha I wanted to get Abby a vintage ring
for Christmas. Little does she know I was buying an engagement ring and matching wedding band for Abby. Well I guess that takes you off the market said Marc. You know you'll no longer be a bachelor. Yeah I know that. I'll now be a husband after we're married said Barry. Mrs. Barry Manilow it kind of has a nice ring to it said Barry. So when are you giving her the ring asked Marc. Christmas day said Barry. I'm going up to Saratoga Springs to her parents home for Christmas. Abby doesn't know I'm coming. This will be a complete  surprise to Abby.

Abigail Elizabeth Stern

Abigail Elizabeth Stern was born March 27, 1957 in Saratoga Springs New York to Edward James Stern and Margaret Anne Stern. Edward Stern is a baker who owns Le Crepe bakery in Saratoga Springs. Margaret Stern is a veterinarian assistant for doctors Ray Charles and Daniel Dwyer veterinarians. Abigail has two older bothers  Cody James Stern program director at WQXR radio 105.9 FM New York. Mark Andrew Stern chef and owner of  Brooklyn Burger Bar  American burger joint.. Abby graduated from Saratoga Springs HS in 1975. Abby then went on to Parsons A New School for Design in New York City. Where she got both her bachelors (BFA) and masters in fine arts (MFA) She majored in photography and minored film. Abby knew how to use both still cameras and video cameras. Abby got her love of photography from her grandfather Joseph Goldwin her moms dad. James was a photographer for the New Yorker magazine. Her dads father Edward Stern  Sr. was a journalism teacher at Saratoga Springs High School. Abby started out at the New York Times as a travel photographer. Then she decided to go out on her own as photographer. Her first book was a coffee table book of photos of  fall in New England. She titled the book A Weekend In New England. Then she did books on New York City, Montreal, the south, the Big Easy (New Orleans), Seattle, France, Quebec and The Back Roads Of America. Abby had an idea for her next book. But first she had to ok it with Barry Manilow. Abby was thinking wouldn't it be cool if she did a book called A Year With Manilow. The book would be a year with Barry Manilow in photos. But then again he might not be interested in her idea. Abby lived in a studio apartment in Soho with her beagle Charlie. Abby did have a few boyfriends over the years but none you could write home to mother about. Maybe that's why she never got married. She never found a guy she wanted to take home to meet her parents. Beside a couple of the guys were very pushy. One even wanted to marry her right after their first date. He was a real looser. Abby  remembered the one time while she was still at the New York Times. When she was asked to photograph famous New York City mothers. One of the many mothers she photographed was Barry Manilow's mom Edna. This was when Edna was doing her cabaret act a clubs in New York City. She photographed Edna at Panache before and during one of her shows. She remembered Edna saying to her "Let me introduce you to my son Barry. He's a really nice and single." However her  great grandfather Elliot Stern passed away then. She and her brothers and parents had to go to his funeral. So she never got to meet Edna's son Barry back then. Abby though I ought to tell Barry about that. He just might get a kick out of hearing that story about his mom.

I'm Ready For My Close Up!

Harmony was being produced by Robert Zemeckis  and direct by Tony Speciale for Paramount Pictures. Robert Zemeckis saw Harmony when it played the Ahmanson Theatre in 2014. Robert wanted to turn it into a motion picture then. But he figured Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman would want to get it on Broadway first. So he waited until Harmony was fully established on Broadway before he went calling. Barry was surprised to hear from Robert Zemeckis. Barry remembered the day Robert called. Ring Hello is Barry Manilow there? Yes this is Barry Manilow. Who is this please? asked Barry. It's movie  producer Robert Zemeckis. Oh   said Barry. Barry I was calling because I would like to talk to you about your musical Harmony. Really said Barry. Yes said Robert. I saw Harmony back in 2013 when it played the Ahmanson Theatre. I knew then I wanted to turn it into a movie musical. However I knew you would want to take it to Broadway first. So I've been waiting till Harmony had been on Broadway for while before I contacted you. Now what I'd like to do is keep the Broadway cast intact for the movie. I'd even like to keep your director Tony Speciale on as the movies director. I would do double duty as both a producer and director so I can give Tony help if he needs it. Now I'll give you and Bruce Sussman some time to think about it then I'll call you back for your answer. Bye for now said Robert Zemeckis Bye back said Barry. As soon as Barry hung up with Robert Zemeckis he called Bruce. Ring! Hello said Bruce. Bruce you'll never guess who called. Barry is that you said Bruce? Yes said Barry it's me. Ok who called? asked Bruce. Movie producer Robert Zemeckis said Barry. Ok what did he want? asked Bruce. Bruce he wants to produce Harmony. He wants to what? asked Bruce. Robert Zemeckis wants make Harmony into a move musical Like  all those Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals were turned into movie musicals. You're kidding said Bruce. No I'm not kidding said Barry. Robert Zemeckis said we would be filming in Germany, New York and a London studio which would be used for all the other places. He also mentioned something about doing the concert scenes  at Carnegie Hall, Philhamonie  in Germany and Royal Albert Hall in London. Robert said he's call back in a few days for our answer said Barry. Bruce told Barry yes about Robert Zemeckis turning Harmony into a motion picture musical. Days later Barry called Bruce to tell him he told Robert Zemeckis yes to turning Harmony into a movie musical. Barry then called Shayne Kennon, Chris Dwan, Tony Yasbeck, Douglas Williams, Will Blum,  Will Taylor, Lee An Larkin and Hannah Corneau. He told them he and Bruce wanted to take them out for dinner. Barry also called Tony Speciale to tell him about the dinner. Barry and Bruce took them all out for dinner to tell them the great news. Everyone you've heard of movie producer Robert Zemeckis. Well he called me recently to tell me he wants to turn Harmony into a motion picture musical. Like all the Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals were turned into movie musicals. Robert said he wants to keep the entire cast for the movie. Plus Tony he wants you to direct the picture. Robert said he'll do double duty as the producer and executive director to give you some help if you need it. When I said the entire cast that includes the secondary cast members. We' ll start filming late August in Berlin Germany. Then we will also film in New York City and a London studio. If you've ever thought about being a movie star here's your chance to do so said Barry.

Barry Manilow

Barry and Bruce got their first big break with a musical titled Jump Shout Boogie. They couldn't believe it when Jump Shout Boogie got rave reviews. The musical was about the swing era and two young kids who just loved to dance. They were even more shocked when Jump Shout Boogie got nominated for a bunch of Tony's. Then on Sunday June 17th the day of the Tony awards. Barry and Bruce couldn't believe their ears when Liza Minnelli announced Jump Shout Boogie won best Broadway musical. All Barry could say was he was freaking out. Bruce was no better with  his oh thanks speech. After that Barry and Bruce had a string of hits and misses. Then  Bruce introduced Barry to friend another songwriter named Jack Feldman. Then together in 1994 they wrote a musical based on the 1940's. They called their musical Copacabana after the famous nightclub in New York City. The musical dealt with aspiring Broadway songwriter  Anthony Stern (Tony Starr) and aspiring Broadway actress Luella Higgins (Lola Lamar). Plus Sam Silver the owner of the Copa. Rico Castilli the owner of the Tropicana nightclub in Havana Cuba. Actually Tony Starr was a guy named Stephen Goldberg who was a Broadway songwriter. Stephen was the one who came up with idea for Copacabana. He also imagined his wife Samantha as Lola Lamar, his father-in-law as Sam Silver and his mother-in-law as Gladys Roberts the cigarette girl. The very next year in 1994 their musical went to London's West End. It finally ended up on Broadway in the fall of 2001. Copa was nominated for a bunch of Tony's.in 2002 best book, costume, choreography, director, musical,  musical score, producer, set design. When Copacabana swept the Tony awards by winning all the ones they were nominated for Barry and Bruce again couldn't believe their eyes. At least this time they were prepared with acceptance speeches. In 1984 Barry wrote some jazz songs. He did so with his songwriting partners Adrienne Anderson, Enoch Anderson, Jack Feldman, Marty Panzer and Bruce Sussman. At first they thought about turning it into a musical about a jazz club called the Paradise Café. But tit didn't appeal to them.  So Barry decided to record it as a jazz album which he did. He titled it 2:00 AM Paradise Café and the album shot straight to number one on Billboard's Hot 200 album and jazz charts. For the album he gathered some jazz greats like Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughan and Gerry Mulligan. He also did a VHS tape of the making of the album. Barry decided to do a small tour to promote the album. So he put together a band. He added Mark Scholl on drums, Vanessa Brown percussion,  Larry Antonio on bass, John Pondel on guitar, Joey Malotti on keyboards, Billy Kidd on keyboards,  Dana Robbins on saxophone, Brian Claxton on horns and Doug Fender on trombone. Everyone but Mark, Brian and Doug sang backup. For this tour Barry and company would hit the jazz clubs. He was kicking off the tour  at the Manchester Craftsman Guild in Pittsburgh. This show was sold out within twenty minutes of the tickets going on sale. Because of that he added a second show at the guild which sold out in the same twenty minutes.

Barry Alan Pincus Manilow

Barry Manilow was born Barry Alan Pincus on June 17, 1943 at Beth Moses Hospital. Barry is the son of Harold Pincus and Edna Manilow Pincus. Edna proclaimed her son the most beautiful baby you had ever seen. Edna mother Esther hated her son-in-law Harold so she called him a monster. Hence Harold the Monster. So two years after Barry was born Edna divorced Harold the Monster. Barry and his mom moved in with his grandparents Joseph and Esther Manilow. When Barry was little he use to dance around the room in his dippers. By the time Barry turned seven his family rented an accordion for him to play. Because that's what all Italian and Jewish kids learned to play. Barry wasn't half bad at the accordion. When Barry turned thirteen three things happened. One he got braces. Two he got a step-dad named William Murphy. Third he got a spinet piano. Barry had a choice to make live with his grandparents or his parents. Barry chose the latter and ended up sleeping in a closet. Barry also had two cool friends. Fred Katz and Larry Rosenfield who he hung out with. Barry went to Eastern District HS. Barry also met this raven haired beauty named Susan Deixler. Soon after high school Barry and Susan got married. They were married one year and four months when they divorced. As Barry said the music was coming out of his ears. Plus Barry had just become friends with a guy named Bro Harold who worked at the Thirteenth street theatre. Bro had Barry put a score to a melodrama called The Drunkard and off Broadway production. Barry knew Susan wanted a nine to five husband which Barry was not. So Barry moved back to Brooklyn from Manhattan. He settled in to a studio in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. However soon after he moved in so did his parents. Barry figured his mother just couldn't let go of her twenty-four year old baby boy. So he just went with the flow so to speak. Barry decided to get a sofa sleeper which allowed him a place to sleep at night. Also loads of room during the day. Barry figured by living in Brooklyn he could save some buck towards an apartment in Manhattan. Barry had quit his day job at CBS-TV in New York. He took on the job of vocal coaching. As Barry said "If the check cleared I was there." He vocal coached for Lorna Luft Judy Garland's daughter as well as many others. Plus he played piano in lounges ad piano bars throughout Manhattan. One time Barry went into a restaurant where he meet Bruce Howard Sussman a waiter. Barry and Bruce hit it off right from the start. They both realized they wanted to write musicals for Broadway. So by golly that's what they were going to do. Be Broadway songwriters like Bernstein and Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter and many others. They started by going to theatre workshops at night while still keeping their day jobs. Around the same time Barry and Bruce met Ron Dante a jingle singer who introduced them to a guy who was looking for jungle writers. Barry and Bruce got commercials for Chevy, Dodge, Polaroid cameras, Comet, Pepsi, KFC, Mickey D's, State Farm insurance, Dr. Pepper as well others. Barry wasn't half bad as a singer so he actually sang on a few of them. At least it paid the rent, bills and groceries.