Barry Manilow

In the Beginning

Barry Alan Pincus was born on June 17, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in a Jewish home, working hard to earn his high school degree in 1961. While he aimed to head off to college and got into City College of New York, he was almost immediately sidetracked into the New York College of Music. There he found his true passion and talent, beginning working at the bottom of the totem pole at CBS to pay his bills, and spent some time with partner Susan Deixler, though sources differ on how long his marriage with her lasted. He studied at Julliard and soon began to earn his way as a producer, pianist, and arranger of music.

Career Accomplishments

By the time bell-bottoms came into style, Manilow had found his way into writing jingles, making music for Off-Broadway productions, and making some jingles that we still remember (Like a good neighbor…). In the ’70s, Manilow reached out even farther, meeting up with Bette Midler, who helped him become more than just an accompanist to other stars. In 1973, Manilow debuted his first album of many, following it up with his second not even a year later. His second album in 1974 contained his famous “Mandy,” highlighting his brilliance and starting off his shining career. Since then, he’s released dozens of albums, all of which was received eagerly by fans worldwide.

Most Known For

Barry Manilow is most known for his amazing singing and piano work, reaching across generations and language barriers. If you talk to a teenager today, they might not know who Barry Manilow is, but the chances that they’ve heard of someone talking about the Copa Cabana, or Mandy, are incredibly high. Manilow hasn’t just been a singer, however. He’s shown his big heart during multiple crises, providing support to Hurricane Hugo survivors in 1989 and again with Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He has stuck to his guns politically and personally, providing charity events across the nation and refusing to tie himself to a political event. He didn’t want to be known like that, to the point where he canceled his appearance in a charity show because he found out it was not non-partisan, as he was promised it would be. Manilow has aimed to keep his music and appearances pure and about entertainment, not politics or money.

Where Is He Now?

June 17, 2015, marked the end of Barry Manilow’s career. After a four-month farewell tour, Manilow ended his entertainment career in the Barclay Center in Brooklyn. Never one to deny a party, he celebrated his 72^nd birthday on the same day, going out with a bang and a reminder that Barry Manilow didn’t leave with a tail between his legs, but because he decided it was time to relax and enjoy retirement.