Barry Manilow is one of the most renowned musicians in the world. The 72-year-old crooner may be past his prime, but he is still an important part of the musical community. Despite the fact that Manilow has spent a lot of his life in the public eye, there are still some things that many people do not know about him. With that in mind, here we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Barry Manilow. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: He Played Piano for Bette Midler. One of Manilow’s very first gigs was to play piano for Bette Midler. At the time, he had no interest in eventually becoming a performer, although things would shortly change.
Number Fourteen: He Used to Write Jingles. Some of these jingles are still used today! Manilow wrote the jingle for State Farm. You know, the one that goes “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there!” He said that he got paid $500 to write it.
Number Thirteen: He Insulted the Smithsonian. Manilow wore a unique, frilly top one time while performing “Copacabana.” He was later contacted by the Smithsonian because they wanted to feature the shirt in their collection. He later said, “I always knew it would wind up in an institution,” and the Smithsonian was so insulted that they actually sent back the shirt.
Number Twelve: He Did Not Like the Idea of Touring at First. After the success of “Mandy,” Manilow became terrified of the idea of touring. He was worried about interacting with other people, and he said that he was awkward and unprepared for the experience.
Number Eleven: an NBC Journalist Knows All of His Lyrics. Savannah Guthrie, a journalist for NBC, was called on air because she knew so many Barry Manilow lyrics. She even sang along with Manilow over the phone.
Number Ten: He Relates to Rock and Roll. Though many people think of Manilow as a soft and emotional singer, he actually identifies with rock and roll more than most people realize. He said, “I never thought I made wimpy ballads.”
Number Nine: He Wrote the Melody for “Copacabana” in 15 Minutes. Though he didn’t write the entire song in 15 minutes like some people thing, Manilow came up with the super catchy melody in just 15 minutes.