Barry Alan Pincus was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 17, 1943. He attended New York's Julliard School and graduated from Brooklyn's Eastern District High School.He married his high school sweetheart, Susan, but the marriage lasted about a year.His marriage experience with Susan was so emotionally shattering for Barry that he has never married since.Barry was the Musical Director of "The Drunkard" and wrote the original music for the play. It is still currently running today.He was also the musical director for the Emmy-Award Winning CBS-TV Show "Callback". He wrote many jingles such as the one for State Farm Insurance,which is still being used today.Barry was lucky enough to work with Bette Midler as her accompanist at New York's Continental Baths in 1972.He conducted Bette at Carnegie Hall, Philharmonic Hall, and co-produced the album "The Divine Miss M".Barry received his first standing ovation for his performance of "Could It Be Magic" during his segment in Bette's show at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver. That took place in 1973. At Paul's Mall in Boston, Barry had his first soloist performance on March 4, 1974. The audience reaction was so bad that Barry almost quit his career."Mandy" became his first number one single.Barry went broke a couple of times during his career but touring constantly recovered this struggling performer. Barry won his first Emmy for his "Barry Manilow Special".On June 14,1978, he quit smoking with the help of "Smoke Enders."Barry won a Grammy for "Best Pop Vocal Performance" for his hit "Copacabana". The cable channel HBO released "Barry Manilow In Concert".Barry received much acclaim as a producer of Dionne Warwick's comeback album in 1979.Barry was the first major pop star to release an EP record of "Oh Julie".On Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve, Barry performed "It's Just Another New Year's Eve.In 1983, Barry made it to the Guiness Book Of World Records for the fastest sell-out and largest ticket gross on Broadway for his shows at the Uris Theater.Barry sang the National Anthem at Super Bowl XV111 (18).He performed at the American Music Awards in 1984.Barry was an honoree at The Singers Songwriters Salute held by Rosemary Clooney.In 1986, he performed "America The Beautiful" and "One Voice" at the Fourth of July Liberty Celebration.Barry's autobiography Sweet Life: Adventurees On The Way To Paradise was released in 1987.He wrote and performed a song called "Let Freedom Ring" for the Constitutional Celebration in 1987. He then became a regular on the Arsenio Hall Show.Barry's video, "Barry Manilow Live On Broadway" hit number one on the video charts. He produced Barry Manilow Presents Copacabana which opened in Atlantic City. In 1990, he was at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade singing "Because It's Christmas". Barry received the Hitmaker Award by the Songwriter's Hall Of Fame in 1991.He was also an honoree on the Greek Theater's Wall Of Fame for selling over 100,000 tickets.He then received the Hero Award from the Cheeseborough Ponds and Big Brothers/Big Sisters in 1992.At President- elect Bill Clinton's Inaugural Gala in 1993, Barry performed "Let Freedom Ring".Barry wrote the music score for two animated movies: Thumbelina and The Pebble And The Penguin.Barry performed before the Prince and Princess Of Wales many times before they divorced.At the Olivier Awards in England, Barry was a presenter. He used original arrangements and real Big Bands to record "Singin' With The Big Bands. Barry has many gold platinum, double, triple and quadruple platinum records and has 25 top 40 hits. Rolling Stone Magazine named Barry "The Showman Of Our Generation".
