Latest news with #Manilow
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Barry Manilow honors Somerville, Providence music teachers on ‘Last Concerts' tour
'Music classes are so much more than teaching a kid how to play the clarinet… music can change a kid's life. It changed mine,' the 81‑year‑old pop legend told crowds on his 'Last Concerts' tour , which included stops in Boston and Providence last month. 'Barry often talks about how music saved his life as a poor kid growing up in Brooklyn,' said Matt Parrish, president of the Manilow Fund, which runs the project, said in a statement to the Globe. Amid funding cuts to music programs teachers 'often have to spend out of their own pockets.... He wants to do every little bit that he can to put instruments into the hands of kids.' Jake Gabriszeski, assistant band director and percussion specialist for Somerville Public Schools, received the prize at 'The Last Boston Concert.' Advertisement In an interview with the Globe, Gabriszeski said he was 'never expecting to win.' Even before the votes were tallied, Gabriszeski said he received an outpouring of support. 'I got messages from students I had 5, 6 years ago saying 'I totally voted for you,' expressing how much my class meant to them. It made the work I've put in... feel so significant.' But then the votes piled up in his favor--and suddenly he was shaking hands with Manilow before being ushered into prime seats at TD Garden on May 28. When his headshot lit up the jumbotron, the audience cheered. Advertisement Gabriszeski described it, rather modestly, as 'a very cool experience.' And afterward, 'I had numerous people either congratulate me or give their own story,' he said. 'Saying, you know, 'I had a music teacher who was the reason I came to school... I never got a chance to thank him, so I'm going to thank you.'' 'I mean, it had nothing to do with my own teaching—it was just about the power of music and of keeping it in schools," Gabriszeski said. In Providence, Classical High School music teacher and band director Emerson Brown recounted a similar experience at Manilow's May 27 stop in Rhode Island. 'When the votes ended and I found out I won, I was overwhelmed with love,' he wrote in an email to the Globe. Though 'honestly very nervous' about meeting Manilow, Brown called the evening 'a very memorable night!' He, too, was amazed by the fans' reaction—it was 'only a small exaggeration' to be stopped 'every 5 steps on my way out of the venue, to the parking lot, and into my car,' as people clamored for photos and shared stories. 'They were all strangers to me, but they felt connected to me through Barry,' he said. Being the good teachers that they are, Gabriszeski and Brown each plan to spend it on instruments for their students. 'Musical instruments are expensive, and the price keeps music out of the hands of many of our students,' Brown wrote. 'For some kids, [music class] is the reason that they show up to school, ' Gabriszeski said. 'And a lot of these kids can't afford private lessons, so we're their sole access to music.' Advertisement Emerson Brown, band director at Classical High School, recieved a Manilow Music Project Teacher Award during Barry Manilow's concert stop in Providence. Emerson Brown Rita Chandler can be reached at
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘70s Pop Icon, 81, Reveals He's Responsible for Your Favorite Jingles: ‘You Deserve a Break Today'
'70s Pop Icon, 81, Reveals He's Responsible for Your Favorite Jingles: 'You Deserve a Break Today' originally appeared on Parade. Barry Manilow, 81, is full of surprises. The 1970s and 1980s singing legend recently revealed that he's not only the writer of some of the pop world's most iconic songs like Mandy and Copacabana—he's also the author of some of the most memorable commercial jingles of the a video shared from a recent Barry Manilow concert, the talented crooner revealed he's responsible for the catchy 'I'm stuck on a Band-Aid' jingle that so many Gen Xers associate with the brand. Fans quickly got to work, commenting on the video and sharing more Barry Manilow-written jingles. One commented, 'You deserve a break today,' in reference to the classic McDonald's theme song written by Manilow. Another fan wrote, 'State Farm Insurance, Stridex,' whose jingles were also written by the Brooklyn-born of the soundtrack of the 1970s was actually written by Manilow, who began his career writing commercial jingles. His other work includes Pepsi's 'Feelin' Free' jingle and State Farm's 'Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there' theme song. Manilow also sang the jingle for Dr. Pepper, which was written by I Love L.A. songwriter Randy Newman. We love it! 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 '70s Pop Icon, 81, Reveals He's Responsible for Your Favorite Jingles: 'You Deserve a Break Today' first appeared on Parade on Jun 5, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Barry Manilow on His Farewell Concerts (‘It Is Goodbye') & Why Today's Lyrics Sound Like a ‘Run-On Sentence'
'My mother always wanted me to be a doctor,' Barry Manilow quipped on stage Tuesday (June 3) night at Detroit's Little Caesars Arena. 'She would be so proud!' Manilow indeed became a doctor during his Detroit tour stop, when six cap-and-gowned faculty members from Chicago's VanderCook College of Music (the only U.S. school that specializes in teaching music educators) presented him with an honorary Doctor of Music Education honoris causa. The honorary degree, according to VanderCook President Kimberly Farris, recognized 'your enduring dedication to music education,' which, she added, 'resonates deeply with our mission.' The degree specifically saluted the Manilow Music Project, which he says has spent $10 million during the past 15 years providing musical instruments to schools and honoring music educators. On Tuesday, Manilow presented a $10,000 grant to a teacher from Detroit's Cass Technical High School. More from Billboard Barry Manilow's 25 Top 40 Hits, Ranked From Worst to Best: Critic's Picks Watch SEVENTEEN Bring the 'Thunder' to 'Kelly Clarkson Show' Performance 'This Is What You Asked For': Watch Linkin Park Star in Ice-Shattering Stanley Cup Final Promo Donning his own cap and gown and accepting the degree, Manilow explained that 'the VanderCook College stands for everything I believe in. Their commitment to music teachers and my passion for getting playable instruments for young people go hand in hand. That's why it really speaks to me.' He gave special thanks to his drummer, Yolandus 'YL' Douglas, for spearheading the honor. 'This is such a meaningful honor,' Manilow continued. 'I've gotten awards before — Emmys, Grammys, People's Choice Awards. Most of them were always honoring me as a singer, songwriter and performer, and they were always great. I'm always so grateful for them. But this is the first time that anybody has acknowledged me as being a musician, so thank you all…I'll never forget this.' Manilow then tossed his mortarboard into the crowd as his band played 'Pomp and Circumstance.' The show was part of the 81-year-old Manilow's continuing The Last Concerts series he's playing in 'these cities that have been so supportive' during his 52-year recording career. Prior to the Detroit stop he told Billboard that the endeavor has put him in a reflective space. 'It's like, 'What? Am I the only one left?'' he says. 'It's Billy Joel, and Elton (John) is not well and Rod (Stewart) and Neil (Diamond). Diana Ross is still in great shape I think. There must be only a handful of people in my world that are still there. I'm still healthy. I'm strong and I've still got my voice and my energy. The night I can't hit the F natural on 'Even Now,' that's the night I throw in the towel. But I can still do it.' Though he 'never got to know' Joel, Manilow adds that he wishes that Piano Man well in his struggle with the brain disorder Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) that has taken him off the road. 'Oh, it's so horrible, so horrible,' Manilow says. 'It just broke my heart when I heard about Billy Joel. I'm such a fan of his work. I really hope he's able to get back to it.' Manilow's work, meanwhile, isn't just onstage these days. By the end of the summer Manilow hopes to release a new album, his first since Night Songs II in 2020. 'This'll probably be my last album,' he notes, adding that, 'I've been working on it for a long time…for so long that the style of music has changed. [laughs] I had to go back and redo (the songs) so they sounded a little more contemporary. I had to take all the strings out, all the background vocals out 'cause they don't do that anymore. They don't use strings and background vocals and all that. Even I heard that it sounded dated, so we had to go back and redo it.' The result, he says, is 'a Barry pop album. I think people who like what I do will like this album; I don't know about everybody else who likes today's music, but it's a solid album.' Manilow adds that he's not trying to compete with the current crop of chart toppers and Grammy winners. 'The songwriting has changed,' he notes. 'Young people don't write the way I was trained to write. There's no verse which goes into the chorus which goes back to the verse which goes to ending, and you change keys. They don't do that. They start the song and then they just…it feels like a run-on sentence to me. I can't find the hook. I can't find the chorus. It just keeps on going, and then it ends. That's not what this album is, and that's not the way I know how to write, and I think my contemporary songwriters and people I work with would say the same.' This year, in fact, marks 50 years since Manilow scored his first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit, 'Mandy,' while January will mark 50 years since his second No. 1, 'I Write the Songs,' which was penned by Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys. Both were recommended to him by Arista Records then-chief Clive Davis, and Manilow laughs as he recalls their professional relationship. 'Every time Clive gave me an idea I would turn it down — every single time I would turn it down.' His objection to that one, in particular, was pointed: 'I can't sing a song where it says, 'I write the songs'; people will think I'm this egomaniac. I won't do it! Same thing with any of the other ones. I turned them all down. But Davis was relentless; 'You've got to try it. You've got to try it!' So I would put my arranger hat on and crawl into these songs and figure out how I can do these songs so I can be proud of it.' 'I Write the Songs,' of course, remains cemented into Manilow's setlists, including his 'lifetime' residency at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, which resumes on June 12. There's no end date in sight, he insists, but having already done a One Last Time! tour back in 2015 Manilow insists that he's not kidding about each stop being the final performance in each city. 'It's a bittersweet experience for me because I know that I'm not coming back here and (the fans) know I'm not coming back here. And when I finish and I say 'goodbye' it is goodbye,' he says. 'I've never felt that before. Usually I know that (on) the next tour, I'll probably come back here. But this time I know I'm not coming back to these cities. I've been doing this for so many years, and I've done these cities over and over and over, but this is it.' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
He Wrote The Songs: Beloved Crooner's Magical 'Last Detroit Concert'
He Wrote The Songs: Beloved Crooner's Magical 'Last Detroit Concert' originally appeared on Parade. It was a special evening in the Motor City on Tuesday, June 3 as graced the stage at Little Caesars Arena for his "Last Detroit Concert." For his devoted "Fanilows," this was their opportunity to share one more night with the music icon whose career has provided the soundtrack to their lives for five incredible decades. As part of his current "The Last Concerts" tour, the 81-year-old entertainer, still exuding his signature charm and boundless energy, delivered a performance that was everything fans had hoped for. Backed by his 13-member band – a powerhouse of ten instrumentalists and three dynamic backup singers – Manilow rolled out a string of his most beloved, chart-topping hits. The arena was soon filled with the familiar notes of classics like the upbeat "It's a Miracle," the ballad "Mandy," the ever-popular story of "Copacabana (At the Copa)," as well as the favorite "Can't Smile Without You." The night offered more than just a trip down memory lane with his classic songs. In a segment of the show, after a rendition of 'Could It Be Magic,' Manilow was honored with a special on-stage presentation. Six faculty members from Chicago's VanderCook College of Music, dressed in traditional academic caps and gowns, stepped forward. (VanderCook is the only college in the entire US that dedicates itself solely to training music educators.) 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 The academics were there to bestow an honor upon the superstar: an honorary Doctor of Music Education Honoris Causa. The president of VanderCook College of Music, explained the college's decision, citing Manilow's 'enduring dedication to music education.' She added warmly that this passionate commitment 'resonates deeply with our mission.' With a career boasting Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Awards, and an astounding 85 million records sold worldwide, Manilow had made it known that this Detroit show was indeed a final tour stop for the city. While he continues his ongoing hit residency in Las Vegas, this performance on June 3rd was the last scheduled chance for his Detroit fanbase to experience his electrifying arena show in their hometown as part of this tour. He Wrote The Songs: Beloved Crooner's Magical 'Last Detroit Concert' first appeared on Parade on Jun 4, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Songwriting has changed, says Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow thinks "songwriting has changed". The 81-year-old star released his eponymous debut album back in 1973, but he admits that songwriting has changed dramatically during the course of his career. Speaking to Billboard, he explained: "The songwriting has changed. "Young people don't write the way I was trained to write. There's no verse which goes into the chorus which goes back to the verse which goes to ending, and you change keys. They don't do that. "They start the song and then they just … it feels like a run-on sentence to me. I can't find the hook. I can't find the chorus. It just keeps on going, and then it ends." Manilow observed that a lot of his contemporaries have already retired from the music business. However, he has no intention of stepping back for the time being. The 'Could It Be Magic' hitmaker said: "It's like, 'What? Am I the only one left?' "It's Billy Joel, and Elton (John) is not well and Rod (Stewart) and Neil (Diamond). Diana Ross is still in great shape, I think. There must be only a handful of people in my world that are still there. "I'm still healthy. I'm strong and I've still got my voice and my energy. The night I can't hit the F natural on 'Even Now,' that's the night I throw in the towel. But I can still do it." Manilow has recently been working on a new album, which he hopes to release later this year. However, he admits that the creative process has been far from straightforward. The music icon explained: "This'll probably be my last album. "I've been working on it for a long time … for so long that the style of music has changed. "I had to go back and redo (the songs) so they sounded a little more contemporary. I had to take all the strings out, all the background vocals out 'cause they don't do that anymore. They don't use strings and background vocals and all that. "Even I heard that it sounded dated, so we had to go back and redo it."
