Barry Manilow’s Emotional Return to Radio City Music Hall

NEW YORK, NY — Legendary musician Barry Manilow opened his five-show residency at Radio City Music Hall on Wednesday, a moment that holds deep significance for the Brooklyn-born artist. ‘Well, having lived and been raised in New York, Radio City was the epitome of glamor and importance when it came to movies and shows,’ Manilow, 81, told The Post. ‘I remember my family taking me to the Radio City Christmas show, and I was sitting way up in a balcony seat.’

During this week’s performances, Manilow is set to connect with fans—those in the balcony and the orchestra—while reflecting on his musical journey. ‘It’s just amazing for a New York guy to be able to play Radio City over and over,’ he added. ‘You know, that stage, there’s nothing like it.’

Manilow, who will break a record for the most lifetime performances at Radio City in April 2024 with 42 shows, recalls how his love for music flourished in his youth. ‘Williamsburg was a real dump when I grew up there,’ Manilow said, reminiscing about his childhood. ‘Now, Williamsburg is fancy schmancy, but when I grew up there, it was not fancy schmancy.’

Despite financial struggles, his family supported his musical aspirations. ‘They had no money,’ Manilow remembered. ‘They couldn’t afford to get me a piano, so they got me an accordion.’ He later received a spinet piano from his stepfather for his 13th birthday. ‘As soon as I hit the keys on that spinet piano, I knew where I was going to go,’ he said. ‘I knew that it was definitely going to be music from that moment.’

Emerging from his humble beginnings, Manilow became a sought-after accompanist in the New York music scene. ‘I was the go-to accompanist in Manhattan,’ he said, playing for icons like Bette Midler at the Continental Baths. ‘You needed somebody to play for you, you called Barry, because I can play anything.’ Manilow honed his craft as a jingle writer, creating memorable tunes for products like State Farm and Band-Aid.

Eventually, he would reach solo stardom with his self-titled debut album in 1973. His first No. 1 hit, ‘Mandy,’ followed in 1974. ‘I thought it was a ridiculous idea,’ Manilow reflected on becoming a solo performer. ‘I started to write songs. I couldn’t afford a singer, so I sang my own demo, and I got an offer to make an album on my own as a singer.’

His second hit, ‘I Write the Songs,’ became an anthem for music lovers, despite his initial reluctance to record it. ‘I turned down ‘I Write the Songs’ over and over,’ Manilow recalled. ‘I said, ‘They’re going to think I’m singing about myself.’ But I knew that the song was strong.’

Throughout his career, Manilow has mixed nostalgia with new material, closing his shows with ‘I Write the Songs.’ ‘I’m singing and thinking about one thing, and they’re thinking about it another way,’ he said. As he embarks on his final arena tour this summer, he reflects on the emotional journey of his career.

‘It gets to the point where there’s too many hotels and too many airplanes,’ Manilow explained. ‘We’re saying goodbye to the places that I’ve played over and over. These audiences … they’ve always been wonderful to me.’

After coming out publicly in 2017, Manilow shared that the experience was surprisingly low-key. ‘You know, it was a non-event,’ he admitted. ‘I was kind of insulted. I thought it was gonna be a big deal.’ With his husband and manager Garry Kief, Manilow has found a fulfilling relationship that has lasted nearly five decades.

As he continues his storied career, Manilow cherishes his roots and his connection to New York. ‘As we drive from the airport into the city, I always tell my friends in the car, ‘I have a story for every corner in Manhattan,’’ he said. ‘I know exactly what was happening on that corner.’