At 81 years old, Barry Manilow has had an incredible career. As a little boy in New York City who loved to play the piano, Barry knew he wanted to work with music. He’s written some of the most famous commercial jingles in history, including familiar tunes for State Farm, McDonald’s, and Band-Aid. But when he started writing his own music and performing, that’s when life changed. His hit song, Mandy, won record of the year in 1976, and Barry Manilow had all the girls wondering who broke his heart. Nearly 50 years later, Barry Manilow hit the road for his Last Concerts Tour, to say goodbye to his fans in their hometown venues one last time.
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Barry Manilow Isn’t Ready To Quit Just Yet
The octogenarian star knows his limitations, but as long as he can sing, Barry Manilow wants to give his fans the same love they’ve given him.
“I’m still healthy. I’m strong, and I’ve still got my voice and my energy,” Barry told Billboard. “The night I can’t hit the F natural on ‘Even Now,’ that’s the night I throw in the towel. But I can still do it.”
But this tour has a bit of finality, and Barry Manilow knows it. While he’s embarked on farewell tours in the past, this really is the last time his fans may see him sing I Can’t Smile Without You live.
“I’ve never felt that before. Usually I know that [on] the next tour, I’ll probably come back here. But this time I know I’m not coming back to these cities. I’ve been doing this for so many years, and I’ve done these cities over and over and over, but this is it,” Barry said.
That feeling makes him melancholy, knowing that after all these years, this chapter will close.
“It’s a bittersweet experience for me because I know that I’m not coming back here and [the fans] know I’m not coming back here,” he said. “And when I finish and I say ‘goodbye’ it is goodbye.”
If you have the chance to catch Barry Manilow, live one last time, take advantage, and put some yellow feathers in your hair. Any Fanilow will tell you, there’s nothing quite like that Copacabana finale.
This story’s featured image is by Scott Legato/Getty Images.
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