Barry Manilow, the legendary showman, has spent over 50 years on stage, captivating audiences worldwide with his heartfelt ballads and flamboyant performances. At 82, he shows no signs of slowing down, despite a recent health scare. In December, Manilow announced he would undergo surgery for lung cancer, postponing his planned live shows. Fortunately, the cancer was caught early and removed without the need for chemotherapy or radiation. However, he developed pneumonia and spent a week in intensive care. Now recovered, Manilow is ready to return to the stage. 'I'm back,' he says. 'I feel fine. I'm not sure my voice feels fine yet, but I don't want to cancel this tour. I'm so looking forward to it. So, I'm going to do it whether I can sing or not.'
Manilow's new album, 'What a Time,' is set for release on June 5, followed by a UK tour starting June 9. This comes after a series of 'farewell' tours, including 2004's 'One Night Live! One Last Time!' and 2015's final tour, yet he keeps returning. 'I'm a creator. I like creating,' he explains. 'The problem is, what do you do with it when you're done creating? You have to promote it.' Despite his reluctance to be a showman, Manilow admits he feels most alive on stage. 'I change into a bigger version of me when the spotlight hits me. It's the same guy, only it's louder.'
Manilow's career has been marked by both adoration and ridicule. In the 1970s and 1980s, critics dismissed his music as schmaltzy and unchallenging. 'If you wanted to get a big laugh, you would mention my name. It was 15 years of relentless, horrible reviews,' he recalls. Yet, he sold millions of records and drew massive crowds, especially in Britain. His upbringing in Brooklyn with his mother, Edna, and grandparents was humble. Edna, who died of lung cancer, struggled with alcoholism and attempted suicide multiple times. Manilow supported her financially and emotionally. 'Guilt. Jewish guilt,' he says of his sense of responsibility.
Manilow married his high school sweetheart, Susan, in 1964, but they separated within two years. He attributes the split to his growing passion for music. 'I never wanted to leave that place, but Susan was waiting with dinner for me. That's why we split: because I was going to be a very bad husband to her.' He later discovered his sexuality slowly. He met his husband, Garry Kief, in 1978, and they have been together ever since. Manilow came out publicly in 2017, though he says everyone already knew. 'It was such a non-event,' he says. 'I wasn't hiding from it.'
Despite his personal struggles, Manilow's music remains optimistic. He rejects the idea that his songs reflect his own torment. 'I'll give you a romance, but torment: no. I was writing songs I was hoping that people would like. That's it. I'm not writing about myself.' His favorite song is 'I Write the Songs,' which he didn't write but transformed into a masterpiece. For Manilow, the show must always go on. 'I'm going to do this tour if it kills me,' he says with a laugh.
