Barry Manilow teams up with Windy City Live

I am a Fanalow: a fan of Barry Manilow. I think he should be in inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he was the Justin Beiber of his time, his music has touched everyone around the world via film, TV, radio, and he holds records for record sales that have not been broken.

At every concert of Barry Mainlow’s that I have attended, I have been moved to tears and been blessed to witness a man living his excellence. Mr Manilow is one of those people. He was given a gift and he not only shares it with his audiences, the last row persons in any theater can actually feel the electricity of his soulful performances. To go see Barry Manilow in concert is to realize why he’s been around for so long. Streisand, Sinatra, Elvis, Garland, Minelli, Jones, Madonna, Gaga...  These people are extraordinary entertainers and you better go see them while they are still around because they are rare.

I was fortunate to talk to Barry Manilow backstage at his recent concert at the Chicago Theater, thanks to my dearest friend, Keith. (Keith is friends with Barry and his management team and singers.) I learned that, aside from his own music, Barry Manilow is also helping the many schools along his recent tour to continue their music programs. As many parents already know, due to budget cuts and the economy, school music programs have been the first to suffer. And this is ridiculous because music programs in schools help boost academic grades, cuts down vagrancy and offers children positive activity and creativity rather than joining gangs or missing out on finding their own music in their heart. Barry Manilow grew up in what was known, at the time, the roughest school in the U.S.. Music saved him and now he's saving other kids.

Through The Manilow Music Project kids get donated used instruments which can save millions of dollars to schools and parents. I hope you donate your old musical instrument that would otherwise gather dust to our needy schools in Chicago.

You can send your used instrument to Chicago Public Schools Warehouse, 4720 S. St. Louis Ave, Chicago, 60632.

 If you would love to see an up-close and personal interview with Barry Manilow on Windy City Live: Click Here. Val and Ryan and Windy City Live were the ones who partnered up with the Manilow Project and my hats off to them for the great show they did with Barry. I watched every segment, twice! You could see the love and its great television.

Watch for this girl on the tour:

Oh!: Backstage I also met Muffy Hendricks, formerly of Lady Flash:, original back-up singers for Barry’s who made their own 1976 album. I owned it! Like most of Barry’s concert musicians, backup singers and production music-makers, Muffy has been with Barry a long time. My review of the whole concert is a rave but I chose to focus on The Manilow Music Project here; but I was so captivated by her stage presence at Barry’s concert. I fell in love with her voice blending and she’s so cute and moves like a goddess onstage. Well, when I got to talk to Muffy, I blurted out, “I want to be you!” She laughed and we made chit-chat and then I researched who she was. (I’m old enough to know Lady Flash--so suck it.) AND:It turns out that she was the one who sung on the duet, Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing on his 1985 album, Manilow. OMG-she has to be how old? Ummm, I’ll have what she’s having.

Upcoming Barry Manilow Performances 

Hey Cities: Please Donate to The Maniow Music Project along the way!

Lousiville, KY  July 12

Nashville, TN July 28

Antlanta, GA July 29

Cuyahoga Falls, OH Aug 2

Indianapolis, IN Aug 3

Milwaukee, WI Aug 4

Verona, NY Aug 18

Rama, ON Aug 20/21

Reading, PA Sept 6

Atlantic City, NJ Sep 8

Worchester, MA Sept 14

Baltimore, MD Sept 15

Pittsburgh, PA Sept 16

Jon-David is a Chicago author. Buy his books, Mafia Hairdresser, and The Glow Stick Gods, or he’ll cut you! at Joseph Michael’s Salon & Spa in Chicago. And please don’t forget to follow Mafia Hairdresser’s Blog here at The Local Tourist!