The Many Caricatures of Manilow

Lightening things up a bit and in keeping with some of my previous posts this month, I thought I would post some caricatures of Barry that have been published over the years.

Most of these were downloaded from Scooter's blog (which I miss dearly), and I have noted below who was responsible for the caricatures.












It's just another way to see Mr. Manilow creatively. Which one is your favorite?

Glad I'm not the object of an artist's rendering,
Texas Fan

(Credits: 1st row-Toronto Daily Mail, Radio Times; 2nd row-Kolson, Hirshfield, NY Times; 3rd row-Rolling Stone, Penthouse; 4th row-DMag July 2002, Wall Street Journal, Nancy Stahl; 5th row-Australian Publication 1995, Birmingham Alabama Newspaper)

Manilow Photo Sharing-A Controversy

It's no secret. Barry is the object of our photo affection. He's one of the few celebrity entertainers that allows photographs during his concerts. At any given time cameras are snapping away trying to capture a shot of the Showman of our Generation. Granted, it's not easy. The man moves faster than a gazelle at times. If you ask any fan, you'll find that a huge portion of their shots are blurred or out of focus. That's because most camera shutters can't keep up with his constant motion.

With the plethora of photographs being taken during every show, it stands to reason they will wind up online on various Manilow sites and blogs. Some fans consider their personal photos to be just that, their personal photos. Other fans freely share any and all photographs without claim of ownership.

Personally, I share my photos freely. It's never been an issue for me. Not only do I share them, but I find it gratifying when they show up online on blogs, personal websites and pages. After all, if someone downloads the photos, then they consider them to be worth keeping. If any photograph were that priceless, I certainly wouldn't put it online making it vulnerable for photo sharing.

But, just as there are many different opinions about the music, there are many different opinions about photo sharing. What do you think? Should they only be used with permission? Should they be freely shared? Should they not be copied or downloaded?

Looking forward to your opinions,
Texas Fan

P.S. Feel free to download and use the above photo. No strings or credit attached!

Manilow-On the Road Again

Once again, the Manilow entourage will pack the trucks and head east for two concerts scheduled for Rochester, NY and Pittsburgh, PA. Another benefit (among many) of living on the east coast. Those of us living in the deep south yearn to be close to the hub of the Manilow action, or at least have the Manilow action come to us.

So here are my top ten reasons why Barry should venture down below the Mason Dixon line:

1. The food-You can't beat that down home cookin' and Barry could benefit greatly from some chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes, grits and biscuits.
   
2. The people-Southern hospitality is second to none.
3. The accent-Not that we have one of course, although some would argue.
4. The sweet tea-Every restaurant in the south serves sweet tea with unlimited refills (none of that green tea or bottled tea)
5. The music-Some of the greatest musicians in the world hail from the south and would provide an opportunity for some killer jamm sessions.
6. Yardsales and flea markets-These are great places to find some bargains and tons of fun (much more fun than shopping in Beverly Hills).
7. College football-You can't beat college football in the south. It's an experience everyone needs to add to their "bucket list" (even if you're not a football fan).
8. Front porches with swings and rocking chairs-There's nothing more relaxing that sitting on a front porch with some sweet tea on a Sunday afternoon.
9. The smells-At any given time you can smell the jasmine in bloom, the cedar trees, fresh cut bermuda grass, and gulf breezes.
10. Barbeque-Every southern state has it's own specialty, sauce and technique; it's a treat that you can only find in the south. Mmmmm good!

As Paula Deen would say,
"Come on down here, y'all!"
Texas Fan

The Many Styles of Manilow

Continuing my theme, here are some stylish looks best described in pictures. Mr. Manilow certainly knows how to "dress for success"...or at the very least clean up quite nicely.



What's your favorite Manilow style?
Texas Fan

How could I forget the Tux?

The Many Music Genres of Manilow

Over the years, Barry has taken us on a magical ride of musical expression. He's sampled genres from pop, to jazz, to rock (yes rock), to big band music, to Broadway show tunes, to Christmas classics, to themed projects, to "live" recordings, and even the highly underrated decade albums. There are only a few recording giants with catalogs to match the likes of Manilow. Today, I'd like to pick the ones that truly stand out as masterpieces of talent and creativity.

Ultimate Manilow
This album is "the best of the best". Every power ballad Barry has ever recorded is in this collection. From Mandy to Weekend in New England Barry shows his talent to reveal his emotions and ensure that the listener is moved by every lyric and enraptured with every note.

2:00AM Paradise Cafe
Jazz. Barry is most comfortable in this genre. And it shows. It's his first love and the way he brought the jazz greats together to record this once-in-a-lifetime project was absolute genius. Watching the "Making of 2:00AM Paradise Cafe" makes it clear that he is at his best composing and arranging the music he loves.

Here Comes the Night
What a rockin' album! The rock vibe is apparent from the very first song I Wanna Do It With You until the last song Stay. The guitars, synthesizers and drums amp up the music and make all of us eager with anticipation to hear more.

In the Swing of Christmas
What could be better than combining jazz and Christmas? This Grammy nominated album takes the sounds of Christmas and the vibe of jazz and manges to magically entertwine the two and create a final work of musical art.


2 Nights Live
When I'm looking for all the dynamics of a Manilow concert, this is the album I listen to. On this album there are such gems as You're There, excerpts from Harmony and Here at the Mayflower, and some absolutely moving renditions of his infamous power ballads.


Here at the Mayflower
This album tells a story, with the music and the lyrics. It's about relationships, and emotions, and reveals the heart of the the composer/musician in every song, culminating with the bonus track, Shadowman.

The Greatest Songs of the Eighties
This is my favorite decades compilation. There are some incredibly fun songs (Islands in the Stream, Never Gonna Give You Up) and some surprise arrangements (I Just Called to Say I Love You, I've Had the Time of My Life). The sax solos by Dave Koz are standouts and bring the jazz element into this great decade collection.

There is something for everyone in the Manilow catalog of music. And we wait with anticipation for the next work of genius!


Loving the smorgasboard of music,
Texas Fan

The Many Faces of Manilow's Philanthropy

The Desert Sun has deemed Barry Best Valley Celebrity and it was largely because of his community involvement and philanthropy:

...in the mid-1990s he stepped up his philanthropic activities to support College of the Desert's music program. Then he supported the McCallum Theatre, the Palm Springs Art Museum, Desert Regional Medical Center, the AIDS Assistance Program and the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center at Eisenhower Medical Center.

But this year, he really stepped up his philanthropy. This year, he elevated to Frank-Sinatra-heir-apparent status among performers using their celebrity for the philanthropic good of the valley. Manilow became the first celebrity to be honored with a Steve Chase Humanitarian Award for Community Service at the Desert AIDS Project's 25th anniversary gala in February. Before that, he started this help-out trend by distributing $500,000 worth of musical instruments for valley schools.

Along this vein, and in honor of his gifts, here are some pics to remind us all of how often and how much he gives.

From left to right: A benefit concert for Cystic Fibrosis, The City of Hope Award, AmFar charity event

From left to right: Manilow Music Project, Breast Cancer benefit concert, Steve Chase Humanitarian award

Now that's the reason we are all PROUD of Mr. Manilow,
Texas Fan

The Many Faces of Manilow

I've taken quite a few pictures over the last few years. And as I was looking through them over the weekend, I noticed the many faces of Manilow. Some might say his faces betray his moods. Others might say he's the "Shadowman" and you can't possibly know his true feelings. But however you might view him, his many faces definitely reveal his humanness and his ability to display his emotions. For me, that's the true joy in watching him perform.



Making a face myself [huge smile],
Texas Fan

Addendum: Just for YBA and Tammy! :>)

Manilow-"A Polished, Powerhouse Performance"

"At last, a polished, powerhouse performance worthy of the title "Premium Entertainment".
Peter Warner, The Hollywood Reporter, February 22, 1979

Back in 1979, HBO came to Barry and asked him if they could record his concert in Los Angeles at the Greek Theater for a Pay-per-View broadcast. Barry said YES, but he wanted the licensing for the recording. And aren't we all ecstatic that he did!

According to a Hotline Message, Starz is releasing a DVD of this recording to the fans. You can't buy it in stores, on Amazon, or anywhere else. And to sweeten the deal, they are including a copy of the 1978 Tour program. Here's an excerpt from the message:

It’s an AMAZING DVD….and an AMAZING experience. But….to make it even better….we’re including a copy of the 1978 Tour Program….filled with great pictures…and classic jumpsuits. Together…the Live At The Greek DVD and the 1978 Tour Program are a special 30th Anniversary Limited Edition….and they are yours for $24.99.

The release date is May 5th. I know I'm not missing out on this marvelous piece of Manilow history. It's amazing that after all these years, shows, and recordings the quotes from the reporter still ring true.

Everything clicks like a dream..

From the moment the blue-eyed rock-ballader from Brooklyn steps out on stage..excitement erupts and never loses momentum through upbeat pop tunes and lushy arranged romantic ballads.

…culminating in a splashy, Grammy-winning “At the Copa” production which brings the entire live audience to its feet.

Manilow reaffirms himself as a master of sophisticated romantic and Broadyw-derived pop music, and of audience rapport.

You can preorder your copy at Starz right now!

Booking it over to Starz to order my piece of Manilow history,
Texas Fan

Following in Manilow's Footsteps

One of the things that Manilow fans do is give. We give of ourselves. We give of our time. And we give to so many charities that the local fan clubs and the Manilow Fund support. Barry himself has said that when he feels down, he gives.

During these difficult times, there are some fans who are doing just that: following in Manilow's footsteps. They are Team Harmony. These dedicated individuals give of their time and money to support AFAN (Aid for Aids of Nevada). Each year they raise money and walk to help fight Aids. This year, their small, yet focused team is currently ranked Number 1 in relation to the funds they have already raised.

Here's how you can be a part of this GREAT fundraising event.

• Join the Team-If you live in the Las Vegas area or will be there on April 19, you can sign up to walk with them.
• Give-Every donation counts. Give up your Starbucks this week or your burger and fries. You'll be amazed at how good you'll feel.
• Support Them-Post on the network, your blog, Facebook, MySpace and pass the word along to your friends. Remember all it takes is One Voice!

They've got a great incentive for you if you give $25. You get a Team Harmony or a Manilow Fund T-Shirt. If you chip in another $10, you get BOTH. That's a great deal and a you're supporting a great cause in the process.

Here are the links if you want to: donate, support, and encourage the team.

Team Harmony AFAN page
Manilow Network Post with details
Direct Donation Link

Hats Off to Team Harmony: Judith Domingo-Vicerra, Joe Allard, Meredith Allard, Susan Allard, Dawn Downes, Karen Elimelech, Gary Fenstermaker, Rosanne Fenstermaker, Carol Sinclair. So far, they've raised $14, 947 for AFAN.

Proud to be a Manilow fan AND a fan of Team Harmony!
Texas Fan