Oh Brother

Oh brother is right said Barry. Now their discussing my faith over on Facebook and Altfan-barrymanilow. Gees I'm three quarters Jewish and one quarter Irish. My biological dad Harold Keliher's mom was Irish and his biological dad was Jewish Pincus was his last name. They were married for a few years then they got a divorce. Then his mom married an Irishman named Keliher. Harold's mom had him use Mr. Keliher's last name.  My dad's mom divorced her second husband too. My mom's parents Joseph and Esther Manilow are both Jewish. So were their parents. Because my mom is Jewish that makes me Jewish. If she wan't then I wouldn't be Jewish at all. From the time I  was a little boy I've been going to synagogue with my  grandparents and my mom. I was born and raised an orthodox Jew and I still am. We went to Congregation Beth Jacob Ohev Sholom synagogue  in Williamsburg which is an orthodox synagogue. I still go there every Saturday except when I'm on tour. Then I try to find an orthodox synagogue in the city I'm performing in. If not then I go to a conservative  synagogue. I was married back in May of 1964 to my high school sweetheart Susan Dexlier. We got a divorce a year and four months later. Susan wanted a nine to five husband which I was not. Music was already in my blood and so was the theatre. I took up the accordion when I was seven. Then when I was thirteen my mom remarried. She married a Irishman named Willie Murphy. Willie brought with him stacks of Broadway cast and Jazz albums which I devoured like a sponge. They also go me a spinet piano to play after they caught me playing the neighbors Steinway grand piano. I lived on Keap St. with them. I had a single bed in a closet to sleep on. So I don't know how they come up with me not keeping my faith. Maybe Brian Murphy doesn't keep his faith. Barry went over to his Mac and turned it on. He then went over to his Facebook page to put up the latest on his Brooklyn Blues tour. He was adding some Canadian cities in November of 2015. Vancouver Orpheum Theatre, Edmonton Winspear Center, Toronto Roy Thomson Hall and Montreal Maison Symphonique. These were regular theatre styled concert venues. Barry made Montreal the last stop right before Thanksgiving. That was because he decided to spend Thanksgiving in Montreal. A few of his friends Suzanne and her husband and Lorna and her husband were coming up to Montreal then. While on Facebook Barry went over to this one Facebook page that he kept tabs on. The owner was someone who loved to tell everyone she was BFF's with him. Well she was full of BS why? Because Barry was not BFF's with her. Barry was friends with a few of his fans. He was friends with the members of the  Brooklyn Beagles  BMFC from New York City NY. The Brooklyn Beagles was the oldest of all his sanctioned local fan clubs. The club was run by Shelly Nelson , Andrea Ross and Gina Sanchez. Shelly, Andrea and Gina started the club back in 1973 which was forty-one years ago. Plus he was friends with the Manilow Fans Forever BMFC from Pittsburgh PA. Manilow Fans Forever was second oldest fan club. Maniliow Fans Forever was run by Jane Kelly and Laura Smith. Kelly and Laura started the fan club in 1975 which was thirty-nine years ago. Other than those two local fan clubs Barry wasn't real friendly with any other fans or local fan clubs.  Both of these fan clubs still had the original fans who started the clubs as directors.

Brooklyn Blues Tour USA First Leg

The first leg of fictional Barry Manilow's Brooklyn Blues Tour. The tour begins in Seattle WA and ends in New York City NY with other cities and dates along the way.

WA Seattle  Paramont Theatre Friday March 6 and Saturday March 7
OR Portland Arlene Schmitch Concert Hall Monday March 9
UT Salt Lake City Gallivan Center Wednesday March 11
CA Los Angeles Pantages Theatre Friday March 13 , Saturday March 14, Sunday March 15 and Monday March 16
AZ Phoenix  The Camerica Theatre Friday March 20
NM Santa Fe Lensic Performing Arts Center Saturday March 21
CO Denver The Paramont Theatre Wednesday March 25 and Thursday March 26
TX Grande Paririe Verizon Theatre Sunday March 28
LA New Orleans The Civic Theatre Tuesday March 30
TN Memphis  The Orpheum Theatre Friday April 3
KY Lexington Lexington Opera House Sunday April 5
MO St. Louis Fox T Theatre  Tuesday April 7 and Wednesday April 8
IL Chicago The Chicago Theatre  Friday April 10, Saturday April 11 and Sunday April 12
MI Detroit The Fox Theatre Tuesday April 14
OH Cleveland State Theatre Thursday April 16
PA Pittsburgh Benedum Center Saturday April 18 Sunday April 19, Monday April 20
FL St. Petersburg Mahaffey Theatre Thursday April 24
FL Jacksonville Florida Theatre Sunday April 26
GA Atlanta Fox Theatre  Tuesday April 28 and  Wednesday April 29
NC Raleigh Duke Energy Center Friday May 1
VA Richmond The National Theatre Sunday May 3
MD Baltimore Joseph Meyerhoff Theatre Monday May 4 and Tuesday May 5
NJ Atlantic City Borgata Music Events Center Sunday May 10 through Saturday May 23
CO Mashantucket Foxwoods Grande Theatre Thursday May 28 , Friday May 29 and
Saturday May 30
MA Boston Wang Center Tuesday June 1 and Wednesday June 2
MI Portland State Theatre Friday June 5
VT Manchester The Paramount Theatre Sunday June 7
NY Albany The Place Theatre Tuesday June 9
PA Philadelphia Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts  Thursday June  11 and Friday June 12
NY New York City Carnegie Hall Manilow Music Project Benefit Concert Sunday June 14
NY New York City Radio City Music Hall Wednesday June 17, Thursday 18, Friday June 19 and Saturday June 20

On The Cover

On the covers. Yeah that's right Barry Manilow made the cover of not one but three magazine. First he was voted GQ man of the year for 2014. So he was on GQ's December issue. Second he was on Esquire magazine and third he was on   Entertainment Weekly magazine. Both Entertainment Weekly and Esquire were going to be January issues.  Esquire named Barry Manilow one of their thirty most stylish  men in the world. Entertainment Weekly chose to do an all Barry Manilow issue. The issue would have articles on Barry and his friends Lorna Luft,  Bruce Sussman his Broadway songwriting partner and David Foster head of Verve his record label. Barry was letting Entertainment Weekly into his Brooklyn Heights home for a look around.  Plus they were doing a Q&A with him. Batty had already been on the cover of Rolling Stone magazines  November issue. He also was going to be on the February cover of Billboard magazine. The other thing Barry just learned was his album New York State Of Mind was entering the Hot 200 album and Jazz charts at number one. This would make Barry's eighth number one album on both the Hot 200 album and Jazz charts.  Barry's eight albums were 2:00 Am Paradise Café, Swing Street, Showstoppers, Manilow Live In Chicago,  Manilow Sings Sinatra Here at The Mayflower, Night Songs and New York State Of Mind. Barry was also recording and videoing one of his Brooklyn Blues Tour concerts for a duel disc. DVD and CD combo which would be sold during a PBS pledge break next fall. At that time  the  concert would be shown on PBS as a two hour concert. Barry was even going to be on PBS to talk about this concert and the DVD The Making of the New York State Of Mind album.. So Barry sure was one busy beaver.

Media Blitz And More.

 

Manilow Media Blitz. That's right! In January Barry was doing a major media blitz for his album New York State Of Mind. Which included CD signings, radio and TV shows. Starting on Monday January 5th with the Rachel Ray show and Barry as her co-host. Tuesday January 6th was the Meredith Vera show. Thursday January 8th was The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. The Today Show wqas Friday January 9th  second  hour. Then at the end of the month Barry was doing Ellen on Tuesday January 27th and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Thursday January 29th. He was doing a major radio blitz from his home studio the week of January 5th. Barry was also doing some CD signing at Barnes And Noble stores across the US. Barry was doing signings in Atlanta January 10, Washington DC January 13, New York City January 7, Boston January 15, Pittsburgh 17, Chicago January 19, Denver January 21, Seattle January 23 and Los Angeles. January 28. Then on Saturday February 14th Barry would be back in Los Angeles to kick off his Brooklyn Blues Tour. Barry was playing at the Pantages Theatre for two nights. From there he was heading up north to Seattle and then going back east doing shows along the way. Shows in Portland, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Dallas, Denver, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Memphis, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Raleigh, Washington DC, Pittsburgh,  Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Baltimore, Boston, Portland ME and New York City. Barry didn't put Las Vegas on the list of cities  because he hated Las Vegas with a passion. Barry had offers for headliner gigs over the years. He got offers from the once Las Vegas Hilton, Mirage,  Paris Venetian and Caesars. Barry turned them all down which made those hotels mad at him. Yet Barry loved Atlantic City. Maybe it was the fact that Atlantic City was along the Atlantic ocean. Barry had played Caesars Atlantic City many times. This time he was playing The Music Box at the Borgata for three nights. All of Barry's shows were going to be at theatres. Another thing Barry hated arenas way to big. Barry liked theatres more. It had to do with his Broadway theatre background. Since he was mainly a Broadway songwriter and not a recording artist Barry love theatres better. All of a sudden the phone rang. It was Michele Green director of the BMIFC and publisher of the Barry Gram's. Barry said hello Michele what can I do for you. Barry can you email me your The Mensch Speaks editors letter said Michele. I want to get the winter 2014 issue 1 Barry Gram to the printers. That's so we can mail out the Barry Gram's before Christmas. Sure thing said Barry. I'm also adding my Christmas message with a selfie. So that the fans can see me minus makeup and state attire. Me in my comfortable clothes jeans and button front shirts. It will be a selfie of me, Maggie and Max. Plus I have my article on my rehearsing for my Brooklyn Blues Tour. Jut then Barry heard a beep in his ear. Michele I've got another call coming in. So I'll let you go. Bye said Barry Michele said bye back. Barry went to answer the other caller. Hello he said. Hello you sound rather chipper said Marty. Oh hi Marty said Barry. What's up? Well have you got your TV on said Marty. No said Barry. well you better put it on said Marty WMY channel 7 is what you want . TMZ is coming on next. OK said Barry my TV is on and it's turned to WMY channel 7. Godfrey Lowe who was sitting in for Harvey Jackson who was off. Said We've got a TMZ exclusive for you. Here's Doug  Chen with the latest. Doug my sources claim Cherie Starkey has outed famed Broadway songwriter Barry Manilow. What the hell said Barry. I thought you'd  be interested in that said Marty. I saw an article in The current Globe magazine about Ms. Starkey outing you. Gees said Barry. Just then Barry's phone beeped.. Let me get this said Barry. Ok said Marty talk to you later. Hello said Barry. Barry it's Marc. I take it you heard the news. Yes I saw the news on TMZ. Marty called and told me to tour on WMY channel 7. He said TMZ was on and I needed to see this. Marty said there's also an article in the latest issue of The Globe magazine. Where Ms. Cherie Starkey is outing me. Marc don't worry I'll take care of this. Barry said Marc this is my problem so I'll take care of it ok. OK said Marc. Barry remembered that  correspondent  Jackson Stack for The Insider was in town to cover the movie premier of The Night Crawler. So Barry called Jackson on his cell phone. Jackson answered his phone with a hello who's this. Jackson this is Barry Manilow. Hey Barry what's up. Where are you said Barry. Jackson said I'm in a Walgreens drug store. Are you anywhere near the magazines? No but I can be said Jackson. Checkout page 40 of the latest issue of The Globe. Ok said Jackson What's the deal? Well said Barry a Ms. Cherie Starkey has outed  me in the latest  issue of The Globe. What said Jackson? after he looked at the article. You squeaky clean Manilow with no secrets. Right me squeaky clean Manilow who's always been honest about his sexual orientation. OMG said Jackson who is this Cherie Starkey? Hell if I know said Barry. Do you think you could get a hold of your producers at The Insider asked Barry. Yes said Jackson. Tell them the story and that  you'll do an exclusive interview with me tomorrow from my home that they can put on tomorrow nights broadcast. Sure thing said Jackson. I'll call them as soon as I hang up with you. Then I'll call you right back to set up the meeting. Everyone who was with me for The Night Crawler screening is still here and can come to do my interview with you tomorrow. Ok said Barry I'll wait for your call. After Jackson called Barry back. Barry called Marc and told him what was going on. The next day Barry did an exclusive interview with The Insiders Jackson Stack to set the record straight.

Oh Really Yeah Right!

Barry got to thinking about what Marc had said about Brian Murphy. It was back in 2004 that Brian did One Night Live at the Mandalay Bay Resorts event center on Saturday June 5tth.  He did a  Midnight with Murphy after that. Then he did Blenheim Palace for the second time on Sunday July 4th. Then between Thursday September 30th and Saturday November 20th Brian did his One Night Live One Last Time mini tour. Soon after that Brian announced his residence at the Las Vegas Hilton. Brian had signed a contract for a five year run. 2005 to 2009. Then he signed a two year contract with the Paris Hotel on the strip 2010 and 2011. Then after the Paris Brian did show here in the US and the UK 2012 and 2003. Brian's had been off since June of 2013. He did do UK shows in May of this year. But after the UK shows he's been off the road. The first year Brian was at the Hilton he didn't play anywhere else but the Hilton. The next year and every year after that while he was in Las Vegas Brain did shows outside Las Vegas. That's because some of his fans couldn't afford to go to Las Vegas to see him. Back in 2004 Brian said he hated the late planes, sleeping in hotels and the hotel food. Now he was saying that again. Barry thought to himself "Brian Murphy your full on BS." Yeah right!  we'll see if this is the last time you ever tour  again after you've given everyone one last show. Just then Barry's phone rang. Hello said Barry hello Barry said Garry. I guess you heard about Brian Murphy retiring? said Garry. Yeah said Barry I heard. So what are you up to? asked Garry I'm getting ready to the holidays and rehearsing for my Brooklyn Blues Tour which kicks off February 14, 2015 in Los Angeles California at the Pantages Theatre. While Brian Murphy's been off the road  I took some of Brain 's band members. I took Russ McKinnon drums, David Rosenblat percussion, Mike Lent guitar, and Ron Walters JR. keyboards and musical director.  Then I've got my band guys Mark Levine bass, Joey Melotti keyboards and Ron Pedley keyboards. I also took two of his backup singers Kye Brackett and Melanie Nyema. Two of my regular backup singers  Kayley Vincent  and Debra  Byrd  will round out my backup group. I'm doing a bunch of major cities here in the US and  Canada between February and August. Then I'm taking one month off before I head down to Mexico and South America in October. In March of 2016 I'll be heading over to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the Philippines, China and Japan. Then the UK, Europe and Russia will be in 2017. That's sure is a major tour and are you up to it? asked Garry Sure said Barry unlike Brian Murphy I don't do wild shows. Remember Garry I'm a jazz artist not a pop artists like Brian is. Besides my shows are more mellow with a touch of wildness thrown in said Barry. Garry I don't do BAMS, hip swiveling and microphone straddling. I'm way to classy for that said Barry. Besides my recording career is not my main focus. That's my Broadway songwriting career.  During the US leg of my Brooklyn Blues World Tour I'm taping a two hour show from the Chicago Theatre for a PBS special. The PBS special will air during their November pledge break. The night of the Chicago show there will be both audio and video guys taping for a duel disc. A CD and DVD combo which will be sold during the airing of the Brooklyn Blues show in November. Garry said well I'll let you go. It's time to take the dogs out.
Ok Garry have a great rest of the day said Barry. Also give my ,love to your wife. Barry said goodbye to Garry and Garry did the same to Barry. Barry went back to what he was originally doing. Which was doing his laundry. He got his towels out of the dryer and folded them one by one. He then took them to his  linen closet and put them up. Time to let the dogs out. Which he  let them out the back door.

New York State Of Mind Album

 

 

 

Barry Manilow's new album New York State Of Mind was coming out on Tuesday January 5th. Barry was already for the media blitz. The day before the album was to be released Barry was  going to be Rachel Ray's  co-host. Barry was doing her "What's for dinner" segment since he was a decent cook. He was also doing The Today Show.The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Barry refused to do The View because he hated Rosie O' Donald with a passion. Barry liked Whoopie Goldberg. In fact Whoopie stared in one of Barry and Bruce's musicals on Broadway years ago. He also wrote the score for her movie On The Fly. Plus back in the late eighties he was on her half hour talk show. It was Rosie's loud mouth Barry didn't like. Not her sexual orientation. Then he was going to LA to do the west coast talk shows. Good Morning LA and  Ellen and. Along with Access Hollywood and The Insider. Plus the usual radio blitz. Then next year starting in January Barry was going on the road to promote his album. The tour was called the Brooklyn Blues Tour . Just then Marc called to tell Barry that Brian Murphy was doing his One Last Time Tour. Oh really said Barry. Yeah said Marc he' quitting his performing career.  Interesting said Barry. We'll see  how long that lasts.  Is he going to announce he's retiring after he finishes his tour however long that takes. He just can't do the US and UK without doing Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Mexico and Canada. Now tomorrow I have an appointment with Leslie Hamel  to try on my concert attire. Leslie is the step daughter of his dear friend Suzanne Somers. Susanne is married to Leslie's dad Alan Hamel. After talking to Marc Barry was going Manhattan to meet Bruce for lunch at Del Posto's. One more thing said Marc. They're  talking about your face again. Really said Barry I've been open from day one about what I've had done to my face. I had a little melanoma on my face removed from laying out in the sun and that's it. No Botox or plastic surgery ever. Brian Murphy's the one who's had Botox and three plastic surgeries 1995, 2003 and 2006. Well I've got to go. I'm meeting Bruce for lunch at Del Posto's.  I need to take Max and Maggie out before I leave said Barry. Barry took the dogs out and put them inside. He then left for the subway station near his house. He boarded  the train to go into Manhattan. He got off the train and took the cab down to Tribecca where Del Posto's is. He meet Bruce in front of the restaurant. Hi said Bruce  What's new with you? he said. Not much said Barry I'm having my fitting  for my tour attire tomorrow. Then I'm going to get some new shoes to go with my tour attire.  On Saturday I'm going out to get my Christmas tree.  I decided to get a fresh cut tree this year. I've always gotten a real tree. But this is the first time I'm getting one that has to be cut down first. I'm also going to decorate the outside of my house for Christmas. I'm doing the front window and the bushes below the window with lights. I'm also putting a wreath on my front door.  Oh I also got asked to be on the Rockefeller  Tree lighting show Wednesday December 3rd on NBC. I'm doing a duet with Melissa Manchester on My Favorite Things and I'm singing Joni Mitchell's River.  So what are you doing for Christmas asked Bruce. Well I'm having family over tor Christmas. dinner. Cousin Dennis,  his wife, cousin Olivia and her husband are coming. Dennis's son's Greg and Jordan are spending Christmas with their in-laws. Dennis is coming from Boca Raton Florida. That's where Dennis retired to. Olivia lives out on Montauk Long Island. I'm cooking prime rib with baked potatoes, roasted asparagus. I'm getting sick of having turkey. Then later on we'll have coffee and cookies for desert.

Holy Mackerel!!

Holy Mackerel was right said Barry. He heard through the grape vine that Brian Murphy's fans were begging him to tour again. Marc just then called Barry to tell him Brian was on QVC right now debuting his latest album.  So Barry quickly turned on his TV to catch Brian Murphy. Brian still recorded for Sony Music Corporation.  He was now on their RCA label. Now that Arista had folded
a few years ago.  Brian was placed on the RCA label. Clive Davis was still  executive producer of Brian's albums. Brian hadn't called Barry in a long while to ask Barry for new material. Barry and his songwriting partners wrote Brian's songs. Brian wasn't a songwriter just a singer  and performer. Marc mentioned that Brian was doing cover albums. Brain had done The Greatest Songs Of series. The 50's, 60's,70's and 80's. The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time. The Greatest Heart Break  Songs Of All Time. This latest one was called The Duets I've Always Dreamed Of. On the other hand. Interesting Barry thought. Barry on the other hand was finishing his latest album. This one was called New York State Of Mind. Barry took some of his favorite songs that dealt with New York City and gave them jazz arrangements. Barry was doing Chelsea Morning by Joni Mitchell, Avenue C by Buck Clayton, Jon Hendricks and David Lambert, Williamsburg Brooklyn by Barry Manilow (new song), New York State Of Mind by (good friend) Billy Joel. Do You Miss New York by David Freshberg, New York City Rhythm by Barry Manilow and Marty Panzer, On Broadway Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Remember Manhattan by (another good friend) Richard Marx,  Sounds Of Silence by Paul Simon, Autumn In New York by Vernon Duke, Brooklyn Blues by Barry Manilow, Jack Feldman and Bruce Sussman and Meet Me In St. Marks Square by Barry Manilow. Avenue C was the only one he didn't have to fool around with. Since it was already a jazz song that was recorded by Lambert , Hendricks and Ross. Barry had the best band out there. Heck half of his band use to play for Brian Murphy till he took some much needed time off three years ago and Barry swiped them off Brian Murphy. Barry figured Brian wouldn't miss them. Which Marc heard Brian didn't. Barry's band now  consisted of Russ McKinnon on drums, David Rosenblat on percussion, Stan Sargent on bass, Mike Lent on guitar, Ron Pedley  on keyboards, Joey Malotti on keyboards, Jay Robbins on saxophones and flute, Kenny Martinez on trumpet, Brain Curtis on
trombone and leading the entire band musical director Ron Walters JR on keyboards. Backup singers were  Kye Brackett, Muffy Hendricks and Melanie Nyemma. Members of the band also sang too. David Rosenblat, Stan Sargent, Mike Lent, Joey Malotti,  Jay Robbins and Ron Walters JR. Barry and Marc were picking a batch of  theatres for Barry to play. Barry hated with a passion arenas. Barry was starting on west coast in Seattle at the Paramount Theatre and ending the road trip in New York City for a month on Broadway. Marc was still having trouble getting a Broadway theatre for one month. Well maybe one night a Radio City Music Hall would do. After Brian's QVC Q Sessions ended Marc called once again. What's up Marc asked Barry. Well someone leaked a story that you were going to play the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn. Don't these people know I hate arenas with a passion said Barry. Oh BTW your 2015 calendar has come in. Rachel Kelly just called me to let me know the boxes with the calendars came in. Rachel  Kelly was the new director of the Barry Manilow International Fan Club. Rachel took over for Vikki Thomas who was now the director of the Manilow Music Project. Kirsten Kief who use to be the director was now president of Stiletto Entertainment. Kirsten took over for her dad Garry Kief who use to be the president. As well as Barry Manilow's manager. That now fell to Marc Hulett Barry's old personal assistant. Barry's new personal assistant was another Mark named Mark Harris. Barry decided his 2015 calendar would be all candid photos. Barry decided he would to go different places through out New York City to have his picture taken. Barry picked  Brooklyn Heights home (Barry in his at home recording studio.) Greenwich Village, Times Square, Chelsea, Williamsburg Brooklyn,  Brooklyn Heights (On the front steps of his home with his dogs Maggie and Max.) , Tribeca, Lower East Side, The Today Show Plaza (Fall concert series.) Central Park,  Little Italy and Brooklyn Heights inside Barry's home (Barry sitting in front of a Christmas tree in his living room. Barry knew his fans would love the candid shots of him through out New York City and at his home.