From Bobby to Barry

Things have been way too serious lately, so I thought I'd lighten up with some thoughts on my two favorite male singers when I was a teenager.

Bobby Sherman hit the scene a bit prior to Barry in the late 60's. His first hit record, "Little Woman" came in 1969, which led to concert tours and a hit television series "Here Come the Brides". Bobby was mobbed by adoring fans. His face began appearing on every teen magazine cover. Lunch boxes bore his picture, and love beads and "Bobby Sherman Chokers" became the rage. I personally had his picture plastered over every inch of my bedroom wall and rushed to the store for the latest issue of TigerBeat to had more pics to my growing collection. His music was considered to be "bubblegum" music and his fan base was most definitely teenage girls. His television appearances fueled his music career but in the middle 70's his popularity began to fade. His music was romantic and it spoke to my teenage heart.

Then along came marriage (at 18) and Barry, in that order. I was driving to work one day and heard Mandy on the radio. The love affair with his music began that day. Since I was married and heavily into surviving, I never developed the "crush" that I had with Bobby (the crush came later!) But the love of the music was there from the start. I remember purchasing the first album and listening to it at night while lying in bed before we went to sleep. We spent many hours in those first few years of marriage listening to Barry's music at night. When I hear the songs from his early albums they bring back some great memories. They are intrinsically linked to my teen years and although I was acting the role of an adult, I still felt very much like a teenager. Those songs carried me into adulthood and when I needed them the most those songs were always there.

Comparing Bobby Sherman to Barry Manilow might be like comparing coke to champagne. I adore both of them but they are in totally different classes altogether. Bobby isn't even in the business any longer and was never a true musician. He had a nice voice and was pleasing on the eyes. Barry on the other hand (while pleasing to the eyes) is a musician and an artist in the truest sense of the word and has carried me through many years of joy and sorrow.

And yet when I think of those teen years, I have to smile. From Bobby to Barry...as Barry says, "what a ride!"

Thanks guys!
Texas Fan