2008 Barry Manilow

Music has always been a part of Barry Manilow's life. By the age of seven his musical roots were firmly planted. When he decided music was what he would do for the rest of his life, he went to Julliard and the New York College of Music. Known internationally as a superstar, Barry Manilow's career spans all aspects of entertainment. He is a songwriter and recording artist, and his acting abilities have blessed television, film and stage. With over 58 million album sales worldwide, he is the number one adult contemporary artist of all time. Manilow has written hundreds of songs and performed around the world, picking up nominations for Tony Awards, Grammys, Emmys and Oscars throughout his career.

At the age of 18 Barry had written an original score for The Drunkard, which was such a success it ran for eight straight years. At the same time he was singing jingles for radio and television commercials and was half of a musical duo that had a two-year run at the Upstairs at the Downstairs club in New York. It was in 1972 that Barry met Bette Midler and began arranging and producing songs for her first Grammy-winning album and her second platinum album. In 1974, with the release of "Mandy," Barry began a string of 25 consecutive Top 40 hits that included "Even Now," "I Write The Songs" and "Weekend In New England." Within four years he had five different albums on the charts at the same time, something only Johnny Mathis and Frank Sinatra had previously accomplished.

Over the next few years Barry's music would be the centerpiece for a number of television specials, sold out concerts and tours, record-breaking ticket sales, record-breaking album sales and a handful of platinum records. Consistently, Barry has been one of the most successful touring artists in the entertainment industry. From the reopening of Paramount Theatre to his three-picture deal to compose the animated films Thumbelina, The Pebble and the Penguin, and Rapunzel, Manilow is respected for his work worldwide.

By 1996 Barry Manilow had released 29 albums. Summer of '78 featured Barry's rendition of classic love-songs that had shared the charts with hits of his own. In support of the album, he launched a world tour with a series of shows to be done at New York's Radio City Music Hall. With no advertising or promotion at all, the first three nights were sold out, and extra nights needed to be added. This was proof that word of mouth was still enough to produce overwhelming results in ticket sales for one of his shows.

With over 30 successful albums to date and the proven appeal to audiences across the globe, it is no surprise Rolling Stone calls him "a giant among entertainers" and "the showman of our generation." There is no doubt Barry Manilow is one of the greatest and most popular entertainers of the century, having mastered every facet of music and proving successful in almost every form of entertainment. He is truly a contemporary icon. Not many artists have enjoyed the amount of success he has. The opportunity to see him live in concert should not be missed.