Tag Archives: Barry Manilow

Five Cover Stories In One Year

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It took me three years to get an interview with Barry Manilow but this year it happened. Better yet, it wound up being a cover story – my first – for The Aquarian Weekly. As 2017 rolled on, four more of my interviews ran in The Aquarian Weekly as cover stories. Having five cover stories in one year is fantastic and I consider myself immensely fortunate for being given these opportunities. With the year winding down, let’s revisit all five of them.

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Catching Up with Dionne Warwick

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Photo by David Vance.

I recently had the opportunity to catch up with the five-time Grammy award-winning pop icon Dionne Warwick. In addition to having a career that has spanned more than 50 years filled with hit singles and timeless albums, Dionne is the 2017 recipient of the Marian Anderson Award. This prestigious honor is bestowed upon critically acclaimed artists who have impacted society in a positive way, either through their work or their support for an important cause. Dionne has achieved both in myriad ways. I’m thrilled she’s receiving this well-deserved honor, and I look forward to being at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia on November 14 when she receives the Marian Anderson Award.

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Melissa Manchester: The Fellas

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Melissa Manchester is one of the greatest female vocalists of all time. Her velvety, soulful voice is unmistakable, and I always look forward to new music from this immensely talented songstress. More than 25 years after Melissa Manchester released Tribute, her 1989 album that honored the great female singers who influenced her, she turns the tables with The Fellas, a radiant encomium to the men, including Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Tony Bennett, and Dean Martin, and the iconic songs they made famous. The Fellas is available everywhere on September 8.

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It’s A Miracle!

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It took me three years to interview Barry Manilow but I finally did it, and it wound up being a cover story – my first ever! During my 20-minute discussion with Barry, he told me that he’d be happy to meet me at his May 25 show in Nassau. However, a week before the concert it was still up in the air whether or not he’d have time to meet me and my friend that evening. Having not received a confirmation from his team prior to arriving at the box office, I didn’t have high hopes. When I gave the box office my ID and the person behind the window opened an envelope with my name on it, I saw two tickets and two backstage passes fall out on to the counter. I couldn’t believe it! I was going to meet Barry Manilow and have him autograph my cover-story interview with him. Better yet, I was with my friend Craig, who gave me a free front-row meet and greet package with Barry in LA in 2015. So, it was my turn to return the favor.

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This Is My Town: Songs Of New York by Barry Manilow

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On April 21 Barry Manilow releases his new studio album, This Is My Town: Songs Of New York. Last week I interviewed Barry, and I was part of the live studio audience at his QVC performance. Since then, I’ve been listening to his new album and it’s terrific! It’s a blend of different styles – everything from musicals to jazz – and it features original material, as well as Barry’s brilliant interpretations of iconic songs about the Big Apple.

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A Conversation With Barry Manilow

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Barry Manilow is my all-time favorite musician. He’s a Grammy, Tony and Emmy award-winning icon who has 50 Top 40 hits, including 12 #1 singles and more than 85 million albums sold worldwide. With credentials like this, it’s no wonder Barry Manilow is the #1 Adult Contemporary Artist of all time, according to Billboard and R&R magazines, and that Rolling Stone referred to him as “the showman of our generation.” Simply put, he’s fantastic, and I’ve wanted to interview him for the past three years. Yesterday, that dream came true. Barry and I discussed his new album, This is My Town: Songs of New York, which is available April 21, his nearly-40-year relationship with his husband Garry Kief and much more. I hope you enjoy reading this interview. And don’t forget to pick up Barry’s new album – it’s spectacular!

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A Conversation With Legendary Publicist Carol Ross

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Carol Ross is one of the most successful entertainment publicists of all time. She’s worked with KISS, Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, Billy Joel, Barry Manilow, Bette Midler, Hall & Oates, and many other music icons. She was kind enough to take the time to speak with me about her remarkable career, and the discussion we had was enlightening, entertaining and educational. I hope you enjoy it.

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Dionne Warwick’s Tropical Love

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Dionne Warwick is a five-time Grammy award-winning pop music icon. She’s also my favorite female vocalist of all time. The reason why is because she has one of the most beautiful, versatile and emotionally-charged voices in the history of music. She also has an expansive and diverse catalog of music that is compelling, satisfying and extraordinary.

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The Golden Boys at the Golden Nugget

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Last night Stephanie and I saw The Golden Boys – Bobby Rydell, Frankie Avalon and Fabian – at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City. I interviewed Bobby this past summer about his impressive career and new memoir, and he was nice enough to have us as his guests at this great concert. Here’s a recap of this fun evening, along with photos taken by Stephanie backstage after the show. Enjoy!

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A Conversation With Dennis DeYoung, Former STYX Vocalist

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I had the pleasure of interviewing one of my favorite singers and one of the greatest voices in the history of music: Dennis DeYoung, lead vocalist of STYX hits “Come Sail Away,” “Babe,” “Mr. Roboto,” “The Best of Times,” “Don’t Let It End,” “Show Me The Way,” and “Lady.”

Our discussion lasted for more than an hour and we covered a myriad of topics, including Barry Manilow, Journey, what DeYoung misses most about being in STYX, the state of the music industry, politicians using music without the permission of the artists, and much more. DeYoung was funny, charming, smart, and easily one of the most enjoyable interviews I’ve ever conducted.

Make sure to visit DeYoung’s website for the latest tour dates. He has two performances in the Philadelphia/New Jersey/New York area coming up in October. I’m attending his show on October 8 at The Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Pa. For those of you closer to New York, DeYoung has an October 21 performance scheduled at the St. George Theatre in Staten Island, with special guest Steve Augeri, former lead vocalist of Journey.

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