Barry Manilow
The velvet-voiced showman whose anthems of love and loneliness became the soundtrack for a generation's romantic hopes and heartbreaks.
Born 1943 (age 83)·American singer·Birthday: June 17·The Silent Generation
Biography
Barry Manilow emerged from the advertising jingle world of 1970s New York to become an unlikely but undeniable pop titan. His rise wasn't about rock star cool; it was built on a foundation of sweeping piano melodies, a clarion voice that could sell every emotional twist, and a knack for turning intimate confessions into stadium-sized singalongs. From the plaintive 'Mandy' to the disco storytelling of 'Copacabana,' Manilow's hits dominated airwaves, creating a brand of sophisticated pop that appealed to a vast, often overlooked adult audience. For decades, his relentless touring and meticulous stagecraft have fostered a uniquely devoted fanbase, proving that sentimental, well-crafted songwriting could command a cultural empire. His legacy is that of a consummate entertainer who turned personal vulnerability into universal connection, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Barry was born in 1943, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Barry Was Born
The biggest hits of 1943
#1 Movie
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Best Picture
Casablanca
Barry's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1943Born
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1948Started school
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1956Became a teenager
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1959Could drive
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1961Could vote
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Turned 21
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1973Turned 30
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 40
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 50
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 60
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 70
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 80
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 83 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Sold over 85 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists.
- His 1977 album 'Live' spent an entire year on the Billboard 200 chart.
- Won a Grammy Award in 1979 for his song 'Copacabana (At the Copa)' in the Best Pop Vocal Performance category.
- Held a landmark residency at the Paris Las Vegas hotel and casino from 2005 to 2021.
- Composed famous advertising jingles, including the classic 'I am stuck on Band-Aid' for Band-Aid brand.
Did You Know?
He was Bette Midler's musical director and pianist before launching his solo career.
He legally changed his name from Barry Alan Pincus to Barry Manilow, adopting his mother's maiden name.
He wrote the state song for his home state, 'The New Jersey State Song,' which was officially adopted in 1980.
He is an avid collector of vintage radios and has a massive collection.
He did not originally want to record 'I Write the Songs,' believing it was too closely associated with The Beach Boys' Bruce Johnston.
“I make music for the people who are listening to the words.”
