Submitted by Karen Palmer (Arlington, VA), on May 7, 2009......from USA Today (May 7, 2009) "Lifeline"..........."Minogue Puts US Tour in Motion"...........Pop Superstar Kylie Minogue is finally making her way to the USA for her first North American tour. Minogue's six-city tour kicks off September 30, 2009, in Oakland, then stops in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Toronto before concluding October 11th, in New York......Tickets go on sale May 15th, through TicketMaster.......Last year's "Kyliex 2003" tour traveled to twenty-one countries, including New Zealand, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and others in Europe, South America, and Asia.
Submitted by Linda K., on May 4, 2009............PALM SPRINGS LIFE MAGAZINE, May, 2009, issue, has an article with photos (as well as the COVER photograph) of the Kaufman House in Palm Springs, formerly owned by Barry Manilow. It is a great article, and the photos are wonderful!!! I highly recommend it!!! AN ADDED TREAT!!!!.......On page 113 is a gorgeous photo of Barry and friends at the Steve Chase Award in Palm Springs last month. Barry received an award for his contribution to the fight against AIDS/HIV.
Submitted by Linda K, on May 4, 2009...........(As seen on a poster today at a Denver bookstore--The Tattered Cover)............"Tito Puente, Jr., Playing with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Friday, May 22, 2009." (Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend---it's my granddaughter's first birthday.)
Submitted by Linda K., on May 4, 2009.............by Dawn Decwikiel (Staff writer for Greensboro, NC, News-Record), May 1, 2009...........TIE THAT BINDS? FOR THIS FAMILY, IT'S MUSIC............Live on Saturday night at the Greensboro Coliseum: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Leading a Carolina Pops concert next door at War Memorial Auditorium: Grammy Award-winning California conductor and musical arranger Victor Vanacore. The other connection? Blood. Springsteen's maternal grandmother and Vanacore's maternal grandfather were siblings.........."Quite a coincidence" Vanacore says about him and his cousin playing in the same complex on the same night......It wasn't planned that way. The Greensboro Symphony Orchestra booked Vanacore to lead a Hot! Hot! Hot! Pops concert of Latin music and dance more than a year ago. Rocker Springsteen's "Working on a Dream" tour was announced in late January. Vanacore and Springsteen trace their connection to 19th-century Italy. Vanacore and his grandfather, Amedeo Sorrentino, and Springsteen's grandmother, Adelina Sorrentino, were among siblings who came to the United States about 1895 from a small town in Sorrento. Vanacore, 60, was born the year before Springsteen. Although he visited the Springsteens as a child, the cousins did not see each other much growing up, since the Springsteens lived in New Jersey and his family lived in Connecticut, Vanacore said. "But it's funny how we would grow up in totally different places and still pick up music," sais Vanacore, who praises his cousn's talent. "I think it's like basketball. It's either in the genes or it's not." Vanacore's brother, David, also carries that gene. He composes music for "Survivor," "The Apprentice," and several other television reality shows. Victor often works with him, and has also arranged music for "American Idol." And Vanacore's son, Victor III, will play drums in Saturday's Pops concert. "He is the one who looks like Bruce, more than I do," Victor Vanacore says.........But from their early years, the cousins' musical styles diverged.........Springsteen was inspired to take up the guitar as a youngster after seeing Elvis Presley on "The Ed Sullivan Show." He found his niche in rock and roll, playing guitar and singing in bands who played the Jersey shore clubs. His first album, "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.," was released in 1973, and he went on to become a rock icon...............In contrast, Vanacore studied piano as a child, then mastered clarinet and saxophone. By his teens, he was playing piano in nightclubs for opera and Broadway singers. Infused with a love of jazz, Vanacore earned a degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston. He became conductor and arranger for acts such as the Jackson Five, Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles, and BARRY MANILOW. Now, he leads Pops concerts with orchestras worldwide. Vanacore recalls he and Springsteen performing in the same city just once before, about 25 years ago when he toured with Manilow..........His fellow musicians were surprised then that Vanacore could take them backstage at Springsteen's concert. "Nobody knew I was related to him," Vanacore recalled, laughing........He last saw his cousin three or four years ago, when he nd his brother attended a Springsteen concert in Los Angeles......Vanacore says he doesn't know whether he will see Springsteen in Greensboro........."Being that close," Vanacore said, "you never know."
Submitted by Linda K., on May 4, 2009..........Barry's Friends Remembered...........Philip Dennis, Barry Manilow's dresser for many years, died in April, 2009, of cancer.
Danny Gans, longtime Las Vegas entertainer/impressionist, died the end of last week. Among the outpouring of condolences by the Las Vegas community, was from Barry Manilow, who said: "The lights of Las Vegas will forever be dimmer without Danny Gans. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends."........(Las Vegas Sun)
Nina Foch, longtime friend and acting coach of Barry Manilow, passed away earlier this year.
Our thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to their families and friends for their loss.
Submitted by Karen P. (VA), on April 14, 2009.......from The Washington Post, "Fans Check In on the 'Dreamgirl' Next Door," by DeNeen L. Brown, April 6, 2009..............Jennifer Hudson is always telling her fans not to worry about her......And yet there stand Hudson fans (and sisters) Nadine Jackson, Jackie Middleton, and Frederica Robinson, waiting outside Constitution Hall at 18th and C Streets NW. Concerned........."If she breaks down onstage tonight, I don't think there will be a dry eye in the place," says Middleton, a retired government worker from Clinton......"Every time I see her, I cry," says Jackson, a housekeeper from Northeast Washington. "I love me some Jennifer Hudson."........"I'm happy she came back," says Robinson, a chef from Upper Marlboro. "I'm glad she's not isolated any more. Just being isolated would do something to her. Might have taken her longer to come back. Coming back put her in touch with her fans.".......Hundreds of fans lined up outside the hall last night, waiting to see the Grammy winner and Oscar winner. Waiting to find out just how she is doing after the fatal shootings in October of her mother, brother, and nephew. God bless her heart, they say. Who could survive that?......But she is back. Singing her heart out. Fighting back tears at recent performances, not wanting to smear her stage makeup. Laughing on Ellen DeGeneres's show. Getting ready to get married. Designing her own wedding dress. Worried just as much about her fans as they are about her, saying in recent interviews that she does not like to see her fans cry........"I'm hoping when she starts singing her songs, she doesn't burst out in tears," says another fan, Delores Little, who says she doesn't come out to concerts for just anybody. "Inside, she still has to be raw. Death is a hurting thing."......"We brought tissue just for that," says her sister, Donna Peterson.........Hudson opened the show last night to a standing ovation. Even before the black curtains opened, she was singing. When they parted, there was Hudson, in black tights and black dress with jacket, on a mock staircase. People ran toward the stage.......As she sang, "It seems like I'm dying...like you can see straight through me...So tired of being confined," men at the edge of the stage reached toward her.......She told the crowd: "Sometimes this feel like my home town. I used to come here before anybody knew I was Jennifer Hudson." ....She stood at the mike for a moment. "But I ain't going to talk. I'm just going to sing right now."....Hudson has endeared herself to fans with that fragile, down-to-earth, girl-next-door story. She was the underdog on "American Idol," the seventh-place contestant told by Simon Cowell that she would never make it big. Every time she finishes one of those big ballads, she has that shy look of shock that appears so genuine, her fans only adore her more......Last year she emerged from the crowd of voted-off "Idol" hopefuls. It seemed all Hudson's dreams had finally come true. She won Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Effi in "Dreamgirls." She appeared as the optimistic-in-love character Louise in the hit movie "Sex in the City." She filmed "The Secret Life of Bees," alongside Alicia Keys and Queen Latifah. She told a television reporter that she could not have been happier.......Then tragedy struck. On Oct. 24th, her mother, brother, and nephew were slain. The estranged husband of Hudson's sister was charged with the crimes. He has pleaded not guilty......For moonths, Hudson was in seclusion. Thousands of fans sent notes and and cards to her, thinking they might have lost a star who had not yet reached her potential......But in February she appeared at the Super Bowl, and then won a Grammy for Best R&B Album, singing in that powerful voice and fighting back tears, fanning her face to keep from crying......Now, Hudson, 27, has hit the road for a concert tour. She shares the ticket with blue-eyed soul singer Robin Thicke, who wrote "Giving Myself" for her......On the concert stage, Hudson does not talk about the slayings of her family. But you can feel in the soul-ripping power ballads that this is one who has lived a few more chapters in life. One who has a bit more knowledge about what a song means......Hudson sings with the deep-down power of someone who has been here a long time. One of her fans calls her "our generation's Whitney.".....Hudson closed the show last night with her hit "Spotlight." To the crowd: "I want to thank you for all your love and your support. You inspire me every day.".....Somebody handed her a giant bouquet of purple and pink flowers. "Thank you!" she responded. "I can't see with all these flowers! Thank you!"..........................*****(Karen writes that she "saw Barry in-concwrt for the first time at D.A.R. Constitution Hall, May, 1975)*****
Submitted by Karen P (VA), on November 28, 2008......My account of "Melissa Manchester's Concert at the Barns of Wolf Trap", Vienna, V, November 8, 2008...........Went to see Melissa Manchester for my second time, as I was there Jan. 13, 2008. Once again, she put on a fabulous show. Did songs from her recent CD, which I mentioned in the 01-13-08 write-up. She did a song called "The Power of Ribbons," and donated the royalties from that song for Breast Cancer Research. Also, did a song titled "A Man Like You, A Woman Needs" (from the musical or movie, "The Yearling," which Barbra Streisand sang). Other songs Melissa did were "Angels Dancing," "Bend," "Don't Cry Out Loud," and a song by Ella Fitzgerald---boy, can Ms. Manchester "scat!" As an encore, she sang the moving song, "A Mother's Prayer," and the show ended. Next came my second "meet and greet" with Melissa Manchester. I got two programs signed, one for me and Linda K. (Director of Manilow Forever and a Day--BMFC). (Thank you, Karen----from Linda K.) Ended up talking with her back-up people, and showed the back-up singer, Susan, and Melissa the picture of Barry manilow and I at MCI Center (now Verizon Center ), October, 2004. So, Barry, if you are reading this, Melissa says "Hi!" to you. Barry and Melissa go way back, as they are long-time friends. In fact, in the song, "Could It Be Magic," Barry sings "Sweet Melissa, angel of my lifetime," he is referring to Melissa Manchester. Just a little history. Note: Melissa Manchester was also one of Better Midler's Harlette's (Back-up singers in the 70's).
Submitted by Karen P. (VA), on November 28, 2008.......My account of "A Tribute To Judy Garland" sung by Linda Eder and Marvin Hamlisch directing the NSO at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC., September 25, 2008............Songs that Linda Eder sang were some of her own and works by Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, George Gerwishwin, Jerome Kern, Frank Wildhorn, and others. As Linda sang these songs by the abovr composers, she had the NSO performing with Marvin H. conducting. It was a moving evening. After the concert, there was a Q & A, and once again, I had Front row seats and was able to meet Linda Eder after the Q & A.
Submitted by Linda K., on October 13, 2008: A GRAY MESSAGE.........As you may have read or heard, Keely Vasquez (Barry's back-up singer and dancer) brother, Gary Vasquez, was killed in Afghanistan recently, when his Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb. His funeral was this past Saturday, October 11, 2008, in Illinois. Flags were lowered to half-staff last week, and more than 1,000 people attended his services. **** An account has been set up in Gary's name through United Warrior Survivor Foundation (UWSF). The UWSF is the only organization exclusively dedicated to serving the needs of the surviving spouses of Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps Special Operations killed in the line of duty since September 11, 2001. "In Memorium" donations can be mailed to:
U.W.S.F. P.O. Box 181097 Coronado, CA. 92178
Please include "In Memory of Sgt. 1st Class Gary J. Vasquez" in the "memo" field of any checks sent.
Donations can also be sent online via the website: http://www.frogfriends.com/index.html Click on "Contributions" on the top right of the webpage. Please include "In Memory of Sgt. 1st Class Gary J. Vasquez" in the "Comments" section. All donations will receive a tax deductible receipt.
Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to the Vasquez family at this time.
Linda K.
Submitted by Linda K., on September 20, 2008: A NICE SURPRISE!!!! :0) On saxophonist Dave Koz website, www.davekoz.com in addition to listening to some very nice music, one of the headings at the top of his homepage is "Photo Gallery." Click onto it and scroll down----there are a couple of photos of Barry and Dave, one at a Barry concert, and the other posed with Dave. There is also a collage of photos on the Homepage, that includes a photo of Barry and Dave "high-fiving" at a Barry concert. It's on the right side of the collage about halfway down the picture. If you run your "mouse" along the pictures, the "subject" of the pictures pops up. Enjoy!!!! :0)
Submitted by Linda K., on August 30, 2008: Last weekend, jazz saxophonist, and Barry's friend, Dave Koz, gave a concert at one of the wineries in the Palm Springs area. Please go to www.mydesert.com --- search "Bruce Fessier" and enjoy this article.
Submitted by Karen Palmer (Arlington, VA), on August 7, 2008: "My Account of Leonard Bernstein's 'Candide,' at Wolf Trap--Vienna, VA--July 6, 2008".................Drove out to Wolf Trap for the Performing Arts, and arrived around 5:30 pm, and upgraded my 2nd row seat to FRONT ROW PIT seats. Got to my seat around 7:45 pm, as the concert didn't start till 8:15 pm............ The reason I went to see this was because of Barry Manilow, who, I'm sure, saw this musical back in the middle 80's......As I bought the soundtrack album of "Candide" for the song, "Make a Garden Grow." Barry sang this song by Richard Wilbur on the special, "Israel at 30." (Log onto www.dailymotion.com and click on video, "Israel at 30.").................Back to the concert. It was very moving, as we had the Washington Chorus, NSO (National Symphony Orchestra), and several professional singers do a little acting, too...........As the ad in the paper said,"This musical takes you on a journey of twists and turns." ("Ode to Optimism"). The final song from "Candide" was "Make a Garden Grow," sung by these professional singers, plus the Washington Chorus, and the NSO. WOW! did it move me and others. Plus, it sent chills down your spine. Then, it was over after we all gave them Standing O's. Then, I made my way out of the place and came home.
Submitted by Linda K., on July 23,2008: Estelle Getty, actress of many talents, passed away yesterday. Among her many credits, she played the mother on the hit TV series, "Golden Girls," and played Barry Manilow's mother in the made-for-TV-movie, "Copacabana." She will be missed. Our Manilow Forever and a Day BMFC family extend our deepest sympathy to Ms. Getty's family and friends.
Submitted by Karen Palmer (Arlington, VA) on June 14, 2008: "My Account of Seeing Dave Koz (and Special guest, Nikki Yanofsky; with conductor, Marvin Hamlisch) at The Kennedy Center Concert Hall in Washington, DC.....May 15, 2008".........Around 6:30 pm, I went in to find my seat, and was fortunate to be in the second row center....Lights dimmed, and Marvin Hamlisch, with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), took yhe stage and performed for us. After they finished, Nikki (14 years old), the "Miley Cyrus of Jazz" came on and started to "scat" on "Old McDonald Had a Farm." It was cute. She did a few other songs as well. Then, she told us she would be going into the studio to work on her first CD, and she would be using Phil Ramone as one of her producers........Now, it is Dave Koz's time to shine. He arrives from the back f the cocert hall, and serenades, with sax, every few women on the aisle seats. He gets up on stage. He proceeds into some of the movie themes, songs from "Here at the Movies." During the James Bond movie theme, Dave donned a white jacket (of course, he was in black shirt and pants!). He started the song, but stopped....he needed his Martini glass! At that point, a lady in the audience yelled, "You need a woman" to complete the setting. Marvin approached Dave and told him he could invite hr up on stage. However, it never happened. About halfwat through, Dave told us about our surprise guest, which he didn't know about, was Henry Mancici's daughter, Monica Mancini. She sang "Moon River," (I think) with Dave Koz on sax. After she did a few songs, she left the stage......Dave did new song that was inspired by a trip to Havana, Cuba. It had the Cuban (Latin) flavor; and, he did an awesome job on it with the sax.....When the concert ended, he did one last song, joined by Monica Mancini and Nikki Yanofsky.
Note: To read about the Q & A w/Dave Koz and guests, go to Linda Kloeppner's Page on My Manilow Network. It is on her blog page.
Submitted by Karen Palmer (Arlington, VA), on May 30, 2008 (from The Brisbane Times--May 28, 2008): An interview with Judy Garland's daughter, Lorna Luft, discussing her autobiography (1998), "Me and My Shadows," and her upcoming performance, "Songs My Mother Taught Me." She talks about the producers, her husband, Colin Freeman and long-time friend, Barry Manilow. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/whatson/lorna-luft-songs-my-mother-taught-me/2008/05/29/1211654199503.html#
Submitted by Lana Graham (Denver, CO), on May 15, 2008 (from MyDesert.com--The Desert Sun).........Barry Manilow once lived in this home. It was sold by Cristie's auction last week for $15 million. Barry Manilow once lived in this home. It was given a "historic landmark" designation earlier this year. Enjoy the photos! Click onto http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=J1&Date=20080513
Submitted by Linda K. (Denver, CO), on May 15, 2008 (from a "Google Alert" on May 14, 2008)..........this is an email written to Fox News reporter Greta van Susteren, by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich's wife, after attending a Barry Manilow show in Las Vegas. Click onto http://barryfun.blogspot.com/2008/05/blog-post-from-greta-van-susteren (from 05/12/08)
Submitted by Linda K. (Denver, CO), on May 2, 2008 (from The Age, Melbourne, Australia--April 30, 2008): (Excerpt).....Lorna Luft, who's mother was Judy Garland, and performed in a stage show, "Songs My Mother Taught Me," recently released a CD of the same name....Her musical producer was her husband, Colin Freeman. Her vocal producer was long-time friend, Barry Manilow. She has received critical acclaim for her performance.
Submitted by Linda Kloeppner (Denver, CO), on May 1, 2008: Last Wednesday, April 23, 2008, Lana Graham, Del (Fan Club members), and I attended a Shelby Lynne concert. It was held at the Bluebird Theatre--3317 E. Colfax Ave---in Denver. She performed selections from her album, "Just a Little Lovin'"--a tribute to the late Dusty Springfield, as well as other selections. Her style is pop/blues. She plays guitar, as well as singing. A four-piece band accompanied her--keyboard, guitar, bass, and drums/percussion. Her album came from a suggestion by Barry Manilow that she should do an album honoring Dusty Springfield. David McMillian, a folk music style singer, opened for Shelby. It was an excellent performance by Shelby, and we highly recommend seeing her.
Submitted by Kimberly Allison (Toms River, NJ), on April 15, 2008: (Just a comment.....I see in some of your past articles, you talk about David Rozenblatt, Barry's Percussionist, and his ballet composition that he had)..............David Rozenblatt is one of the most incredibly talented, creative, funny, brilliant men on the planet. His versatility can be seen by the variety of projects that he is part of, of which none are exactly alike, in fact, they are all as different from one another as night is from day. FIRST--Percussion with Barry Manilow. If you have ever taken a moment or two to really watch him up on his "perch," you will notice that he is truly the hardest working person, physically, up on the stage. Every percussion instrument chosen to compliment perfectly the musical story being woven and sung by Barry. The cymbals, the mallets, the bells, the chimes, the congas, etc. All done while watching and listening for the cues from Ron Walters, Jr., the music director. Then-DAGMAR- Dagmar is nothing short of ROCK OPERA. Very Bohemian, edgy, hard driving story telling that opens the mind to other facets of being. While with Dagmar, you get to see David go from percussion to be a drummer as well. On to MaDFusion--Take an out of control, insanely talented piano player, toss in a bass player from New Zealand, and a scarily brilliant percussionist--that's MaDFusion. "Fusion" taking different styles of music that you never thought should or could be together and blending them so that not only does it sound perfect, but that it should have been done that way to begin with. Everyone needs a copy of "Forget Me Not." Finally--the BALLET. When you think of Ballet, you think of classical pieces set to beautiful girls in tutus and gentlemen lifting them high in the air. You think of a lov story....and of fairy tales. The Ballet, "Three Point Turn," was BOLD AND LOUD. IT WAS NOT YOUR MOTHER'S SWAN LAKE. It was raw and open and explored the innermost workings of love, loss, recovery, and rediscovery. All the while keeping a delicate beauty in the movement of the dance, while expressing the depth of the meaning through the music. As you can see, each one of these stylizations are vastly different in theit making.
Having asked David, 'What is it like to go from being a part of a complete orchestra ensemble working in an arena setting with Barry and hearing 17,000 people tear the roof off of an arena--to the very next afternoon perform in an intimate setting with a trio to approximately 25-30 people?' "It's a definite mind trip."
To those who are able to see David with ANY of his collaborative efforts---DO IT. Your appreciation for the depth of talent that he has, will climb exponentially.
Submitted by Linda K. (Denver, CO.), on April 5, 2008:
From The Palm Springs Desert Sun, April 5, 2008---- (by Bruce Fessier) STAGECOACH ARTIST PREVIEW: SHELBY LYNNE, appearing in Palm Springs, CA, on May 2, 2008.
For article and photo, please click onto http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880404032
Submitted by Karen P. (Arlington, VA), on April 4, 2008:
From The Sydney Morning Herald, April 3, 2008-----KYLIE MINOGUE CREATES BARRY MANILOW TRIBUTE
"Kylie Minogue will pay tribute to Barry Manilow on her spectacular new tour. The Australian pop princess is planning a show-stopping performance of the 64-year-old star's classic hit "Copacabana" for her upcoming KYLIEX2008 tour, which begins in Paris on May 6........." ****To read the entire article and to see a very nice picture,
please click onto http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/kylie-creates-manilow-tribute/2008/04/03/1206851068
Submitted by Linda K. (Denver, CO), on March 29, 2008:
From Google Alerts, March 29, 2008. (Variety, March 28, 2008--by Variety staff) MUSICIAN ALAN JAY AXELROD DIES
Alan Jay Axelrod, keyboardist for Barry Manilow, and later musical director of improv comedy groups The Groundlings and TheaterSports, died February 4, in Los Angeles, due to complications from diabetes. He was 61. Axelrod was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and attended Fordham U. While still in law school, he performed on the first national tour of "Jesus Christ Superstar." He practiced law for a year before Barry Manilow tapped him to play keyboards, and he went on to perform with Manilow for the next five years of the singer's rising career...........(to read the entire article, please click onto http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117983113.html?categoryid=16&cs=1
Submitted by Linda K. (Denver, CO), on March 17, 2008:
From Google Alerts, March 13,2008. (GQ-USA) An article/photo of former Palm Springs home of Barry Manilow for sale through Christy's. Written by Jared Paul Stern. The website is: http://www.men.style.com/news/blog/2008/03/desert-rose.html
Submitted by Linda K. (Denver, CO), on March 13, 2008:
From the Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), on March 11, 2008. Name of article: "Rainbow Music Hall about to take it's last bow" by Mark Brown. Barry played here in March, 1980. It was one night, two concerts of no advertisement except on a radio station, and tickets were $5.00/person. Barry mentions this concert (but not name of the theatre) in his book, Sweet Life: Adventures On The Road To Paradise. Barry's name is on the left side of the page, as you scroll down. Click onto www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/11/the-last-waltz-for-site-of-rock-history/
Submitted By Karen P. (Arlington, VA), on March 9, 2008:
From the Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA, on March 9, 2008. Name of article: "Nancy Wilson Finds Paradise in High Desert" by Bruce Fessier. Click onto www.mydesert.com then do a search for "Nancy Wilson."
Submitted by Linda K., on February 5, 2008: (From "Barry Briefs" on the BarryNet)
LORNA LUFT: SONGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME----Judy Garland remains one of the most famous actresses of all time. Now, her daughter, Lorna Luft, is paying her own tribute to her with a stage show. The production, Songs My Mother Taught Me, was a Broadway and West End hit four years ago, but now it's heading out on the road. Luft was encouraged by her close friend, Barry Manilow, to pull together the tribute. "'You have to do this,' he'd tell me. 'It's your great mission in life to continue her legacy.' Well, for a long time that legacy was just too overwhelming, just too personal for me, her daughter," admits Luft. "But a few years ago I had reached a point in my life where I did become a little more comfortable with the comparisons and the legacy........so, I called Barry to tell him I thought I was finally ready to attempt ti. He was ecstatic." Manilow put her in touch with two writers--Ken and Mitzi Welch--who penned the show. "He's worked with them for years and trusted that they could find the right framework to celebrate my mom." Luft's musician husband, Colin R. Freeman, produced the music and Manilow worked on the vocals. Songs My Mother Taught Me is at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on Tuesday (February 5) at 7:30 pm. The Box Office number is 01492 872000. (icwales. 2/1/2008) http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/2008/02/01/lorna-luft-me-and-my-mom-91466-20421995/
Submitted by Linda K., on February 5, 2008:
A website for David Rozenblatt, Barry's percussionist. ( as seen from a message by Heidi Ceveland on the BarryNet message Board). He has a composition. http://ardani.com/vishneva_beautyinmotion.php
Submitted by Linda K., on January 30, 2008:
On January 29, 2008, Donnie Osmond announced, on Entertainment Tonight, his sister, Marie Osmond, will have her own talk show in 2009.
Submitted by Linda K., on January 30, 2008:
SHELBY LYNNE: "Just A Little Lovin'"
It takes guts to go after a songbook associated with someone as iconic as Dusty Springfield, but when have guts been a problem for Shelby Lynne? So here is her unlikely but lovely set of songs, the end of an odd journey that started with a suggestion from Barry Manilow and ended with legendary producer Phil Ramone in the hallowed Studio A of the Capitol Records recording complex. (Rocky Mountain News, 01/29/08) http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/Jan29/welcom-to-Springfield/
Submitted by Karen Palmer, on January 30, 2008:
My Account of Seeing MELISSA MANCHESTER, In Concert, at Barnes of Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA, on January 13, 2008. Drove out to the Barnes of Wolf Trap around 5:00 pm. Arrived early enough to upgrade my seat, as I had Row G, left of center. I was able to get 2nd Row center. Melissa did many of her new songs from her new CD, titled "MELISSA MANCHESTER--WHEN I LOOK DOWN THAT ROAD." She did one jazzy tune in the show. Also, she did Irving Berlin's "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm." She ended the show with "A Mother's Prayer." Very moving. After the show, there was a "Meet-and-Greet." I met her, and told her that her show was great, what a wonderful job she did on the duet w/Barry on the 70's CD ("You've Got A Friend"), when I saw her at the Riviera in Vegas, '81. Then I left for home.
Submitted by Linda K., on November 16, 2007:
BRUCE VILANCH SPEAKS ON BARRY---(BEYOND THE SCREEN)---Chicago Tribune
......You wrote for the "Donny and Marie Show." Are you rooting for Marie on "Dancing With the Stars?"
Vilanch: Of course!
Do you keep up with her and Donny?
Vilanch: I do. I wrote the show when Marie turned 18, which was 30 years ago, and Barry Manilow was the special guest. I got Barry to come onstage in a huge box, and she opened the box, and he was there with a Beagle puppy. He was at the top of his game and she idolized him. When he was on "Dancing With the Stars" a couple of weeks ago, I called him and said, 'If you want to bring Marie another Beagle puppy, she'd be very happy.' Listen, she'd 48 and she's churning it up and she has eight kids. Excuse me--now when did that happen?....
Submitted by Linda Kloeppner, on November 7, 2007:
Yesterday, November 6,2007, the Osmond Family lost their Patriarch, George Virl Osmond. The Osmonds developed their talent through the guidance of Mr. and Mrs. Osmond. Barry was a guest on "Donny and Marie"--the talk show. He gave Marie one of Bagel's puppies. Marie's son is an actor in "City Kid: The Musical," of which a portion of the proceeds goes to The Manilow Fund for Health and Hope.
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