Barry Manilow is an American singer, songwriter, composer, arranger, and producer known for romantic pop ballads, theatrical stage shows, and a long-running career in adult contemporary music. With songs such as Mandy, I Write the Songs, Can’t Smile Without You, and Copacabana (At the Copa), Barry Manilow became one of the defining popular music performers of the 1970s. His career connects the worlds of commercial songwriting, Broadway-style performance, Las Vegas entertainment, and mainstream American pop.

Early Life and Education

Barry Manilow was born Barry Alan Pincus on June 17, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York, United States. He was the son of Edna Manilow and Harold Pincus. His father left the family when he was very young, and Barry later adopted his mother’s maiden name, Manilow, which became the name under which he achieved worldwide recognition.

Growing up in Brooklyn, Barry Manilow became interested in music early and learned to play accordion and piano. His exposure to jazz, popular standards, and Broadway musicals shaped the melodic and theatrical qualities that later defined his songs. After graduating from Eastern District High School in 1961, he briefly studied advertising at City College of New York, then continued music studies at the New York College of Music and took classes at the Juilliard School.

Early Career and Work with Bette Midler

Before becoming a solo performer, Barry Manilow worked behind the scenes as a composer, arranger, and jingle writer. He wrote music for commercials, arranged songs for theatrical productions, and gained practical experience in television while working at CBS. This background helped him develop the polished structure and memorable hooks that became central to his later pop success.

While working as a piano accompanist in New York nightclubs, Barry Manilow met Bette Midler. He became her musical director, accompanied her on tour, and co-produced her early albums. This collaboration was a key turning point in his career, placing him close to the expanding cabaret and pop performance scene of the early 1970s.

Breakthrough and 1970s Success

Barry Manilow released his first album, Barry Manilow, in 1973. His major commercial breakthrough came in 1974 with Mandy, a ballad that introduced him to a broad American audience and became one of his signature songs.

During the second half of the 1970s, Barry Manilow achieved a remarkable series of hits. I Write the Songs, written by Bruce Johnston, became one of his most famous recordings, while Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again, Looks Like We Made It, Weekend in New England, Can’t Smile Without You, and Copacabana (At the Copa) strengthened his position as a dominant figure in adult contemporary pop.

His success placed him in the same broad pop era as artists such as Elton John, Neil Diamond, and Barbra Streisand, though Barry Manilow developed a distinctive identity built around orchestral arrangements, romantic storytelling, and theatrical performance.

Stage Shows, Las Vegas, and Performance Style

Barry Manilow became known for concerts that combined pop singing with dramatic staging, orchestration, and direct emotional connection with audiences. His performances often reflected Broadway influence, cabaret traditions, and the polished showmanship associated with Las Vegas entertainment.

Over time, Barry Manilow became strongly associated with Las Vegas residencies and large-scale stage productions. His shows attracted longtime fans as well as new audiences, reinforcing his reputation as a performer whose music was inseparable from live theatrical presentation.

Awards and Later Career

Barry Manilow received major recognition across music and television, including Grammy and Emmy-related achievements, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His work as a songwriter and arranger has remained central to his reputation, even when performing songs written by others.

In the 2010s and 2020s, Barry Manilow continued releasing albums and performing live. Projects such as 15 Minutes: Fame…Can You Take It?, Night Songs, My Dream Duets, This Is My Town: Songs of New York, and Night Songs II reflected his continued interest in classic songwriting, nostalgia, and American popular music traditions.

In 2026, Barry Manilow announced the studio album What A Time, with singles including Once Before I Go and Another Life – 2026. The project continued a recording career that began more than five decades earlier.

Personal Life

Barry Manilow was married to Susan Deixler from 1964 to 1966. In 1978, he began a long-term relationship with his manager Garry Kief. After same-sex marriage became legal in California, the couple married in 2014.

For much of his career, Barry Manilow kept his private life away from public discussion. Later, his relationship with Garry Kief became one of the most widely known aspects of his personal story, alongside his lifelong dedication to music and stage performance.

Album List

1973 – Barry Manilow – Studio Album
1974 – Barry Manilow II – Studio Album
1975 – Tryin’ to Get the Feeling – Studio Album
1976 – This One’s for You – Studio Album
1978 – Even Now – Studio Album
1979 – One Voice – Studio Album
1980 – Barry – Studio Album
1981 – If I Should Love Again – Studio Album
1982 – Here Comes the Night – Studio Album
1984 – 2:00 AM Paradise Cafe – Studio Album
1985 – Manilow – Studio Album
1987 – Swing Street – Studio Album
1989 – Barry Manilow – Studio Album
1990 – Because It’s Christmas – Christmas Album
1991 – Showstoppers – Studio Album
1994 – Singin’ with the Big Bands – Studio Album
1998 – Manilow Sings Sinatra – Studio Album
2001 – Here at the Mayflower – Studio Album
2002 – A Christmas Gift of Love – Christmas Album
2004 – Scores: Songs from Copacabana and Harmony – Studio Album
2006 – The Greatest Songs of the Fifties – Studio Album
2006 – The Greatest Songs of the Sixties – Studio Album
2007 – The Greatest Songs of the Seventies – Studio Album
2007 – In the Swing of Christmas – Christmas Album
2008 – The Greatest Songs of the Eighties – Studio Album
2010 – The Greatest Love Songs of All Time – Studio Album
2011 – 15 Minutes: Fame…Can You Take It? – Studio Album
2014 – Night Songs – Studio Album
2014 – My Dream Duets – Studio Album
2017 – This Is My Town: Songs of New York – Studio Album
2020 – Night Songs II – Studio Album
2026 – What A Time – Announced Studio Album

Major Singles

1973 – Sweetwater Jones
1973 – Could It Be Magic
1974 – Mandy
1975 – It’s a Miracle
1975 – Could It Be Magic
1975 – I Write the Songs
1976 – Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again
1976 – This One’s for You
1976 – Weekend in New England
1977 – Looks Like We Made It
1977 – Daybreak
1978 – Can’t Smile Without You
1978 – Even Now
1978 – Copacabana (At the Copa)
1978 – Ready to Take a Chance Again
1979 – Somewhere in the Night
1979 – Ships
1979 – When I Wanted You
1980 – I Don’t Want to Walk Without You
1980 – Bermuda Triangle
1981 – The Old Songs
1982 – Somewhere Down the Road
1982 – Memory
1983 – Read ’Em and Weep
1984 – When October Goes
1985 – In Search of Love
1987 – Brooklyn Blues
1989 – Keep Each Other Warm
1990 – Because It’s Christmas (For All the Children)
1991 – The Best of Me
2001 – Turn the Radio Up
2011 – Bring on Tomorrow
2014 – I Believe in You and Me
2017 – This Is My Town
2026 – Once Before I Go
2026 – Another Life – 2026

Source: Biyografiler.com