Barry Manilow Had 'Nothing To Sing About' In 1977 People Cover Story
In DepthBy August 1977, 34-year-old Barry Manilow had five gold albums (they’ve all gone platinum by now), a Tony, an adorable beagle named Bagel, and “a ridiculous Beverly Hills palazzo.” One thing he didn’t have? Love. Manilow shot the world a killer smile on the cover, but the profile is dripping with melancholy to the point that it’s tough to read. Just check out the lede!
He writes the songs the whole world sings, but Barry Manilow still feels sort of miserable.
And the piece doesn’t offer much hope for the future, either. It’s just pitiful anecdote after pitiful anecdote. They even managed to make the story of his Tony win a tearjerker!
Sadly he recounts that when he won a special Tony in June for his two-week stand on Broadway, “the only congratulatory telegram I got, from friends, family or anyone, was from Bette Midler.”
I won a Tony and Bette Midler sent me a congratulatory telegram = 🙂