Barry Manilow

Unlike a few of the other people in this section, Barry Manilow is seriously one of the men I have the utmost respect and probably a little bit of obsessive adoration for - and if Barry should happen to be reading this, I want to have your baby!

Born Barry Alan Pincus on June 17th, 1946, Manilow's musical roots are with the accordian. Growing up in Brooklyn in the slums, he vowed to get out of the dumps with his music. He's managed to do that and much more writing the songs that make the young girls cry.

Barry began in small night clubs with Bette Midler and worked through rough times and prosperous times during the 70s. Now well into his third decade of fame, Manilow continues to play the chart toppers and irresistible love songs that made him famous, but has also gotten perhaps too affluent in the art of cover songs.

31 albums later, Ciarra got to see Barry in concert over the summer of 1999. Not only charming, but terribly entertaining - Barry was worth the long drive and expensive ticket. I recommend his show to everyone. And for all of the people out there who make jokes about Manilow, hssssss. (That's just about as severe as I can get on here, I think there are probably rules about cussing and what not.)