Music is powerful.

Gangs

Back in June of 2006, Australia had a problem with youth gangs congregating in residential areas late at night. Officials thought outside the box and delivered a unique solution. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, from 9 P.M. to midnight, they blasted music into the night. New Zealand did the same in February of 2022. Only they used music to disperse people camping outside the country’s parliament building protesting the mandated COVID-19 vaccine.

Understand, not just any music worked. They only played music by Barry Alan Pincus. So who is that? He isn’t an Aussie or a Kiwi. He was born in the good ol’ U.S.A.—Brooklyn, New York, to be specific—and the world knows him as Barry Manilow.

Singing Career

Although his career spans seven decades, most people know Barry Manilow as a singer and songwriter from the 1970s and 80s. Of the 51 singles that reached the Adult Contemporary Chart’s Top 40, 36 of his songs cracked the top 20, 28 made it to the top ten, and thirteen hit number one. Thirteen is a lucky number for him. That’s how many of his albums went platinum. Six reached multi-platinum status.

He’s won numerous music awards, including a couple of Emmys, a special Tony, a Grammy, three American Music Awards, and a RIAA, commemorating worldwide record sales of 75 million. (He’s sold more than 85 million records as a solo artist.) He’s also been awarded a Star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and received the Society of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award.

To put it simply, Barry Manilow is one of the world’s best-selling music artists.

Did You Know…

• Prior to becoming a famous pop singer, Manilow made a name for himself as a pianist, producer, and arranger.
• Manilow worked for Ed Sullivan’s production company conducting and arranging music. He arranged The Late Show’s new theme.
• Before becoming a solo act, Manilow was in a group called “Featherbed.” Tony Orlando, recording artist and Columbia/CBS Music vice-president, signed them to Columbia’s new label Bell Records.
• After seeing Manilow perform, Bette Midler chose him to be first her pianist, then album producer, and, finally, her tour musical director.
• Manilow’s breakout hit, Mandy, was originally titled Brandy. They changed the name at the recording session in 1974 so the song wouldn’t be confused with the group Looking Glass’ 1972 hit Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl).
• Manilow has also written and performed songs for both musicals and movies.
• Manilow starred in the 1985 television movie, Copacabana.
• Though Manilow is a talented songwriter, Beach Boy, Bruck Johnston, wrote Manilow’s hit I Write the Songs.
• Manilow composed Perfect Isn’t Easy, the song Bette Midler sang in Disney’s movie, Oliver & Company.

Jingles

What you may not know, is prior to launching his solo singing career, Barry Manilow wrote and performed commercial jingles. In fact, his catchy tunes made him the go-to guy in the industry. In 2009, at the 50th Anniversary of the CLIO Awards—recognizing innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design, and communication—he was presented an honorary CLIO for his 1960s jingle work. At that time, Manilow said, “I learned the most about music working in the jingle industry. It was the best music college I could ever imagine.” That’s saying something, considering he studied at both the New York College of Music and Juilliard.

Did You Know…

• A tune for Dodge was the first paying jingle Manilow wrote.
• Manilow wrote State Farm’s “Like a good neighbor” jingle—used for more than 40 years—for a one-time payment of $500.
• The jingle Manilow wrote (music only) and sang for Band-Aid is probably his most famous. Remember: “I am stuck on Band-Aid brand, ’cause Band-Aid’s stuck on me!”
• Manilow also wrote Stridex’s, “Give Your Face Something to Smile About.”
• While Manilow wrote or performed dozens of commercials, some of the most popular he sang include Feelin’ Free (Pepsi-Cola), The Most Original Soft Drink Ever (Dr. Pepper), Grab a Bucket of Chicken (KFC), and You Deserve a Break Today (McDonald’s).
• Manilow includes a sampling of many of these commercials in his concerts, calling them “A V.S.M.” or “A Very Strange Medley.”
• American Airlines didn’t buy Manilow’s jingle because his melody went down at the end and American Airlines can’t go down.

The Barry Manilow Song

In 1979, Dale Gonyea wrote, “I Need Your Help, Barry Manilow.” The song’s comedic story line of a man’s suffering and misfortune satirized Manilow’s musical style by using familiar Manilow songs’ riffs and references. Ray Stevens recorded the song and took it to 49 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and 34 on the Cash Box Top 100. (Listen to it here.)

I guess imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, even when it’s poking melodic fun.