The Palladium-Item (Richmond, IN)-Fired To Inspired
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*Source: http://www.barrynet.com/
http://www.barrynet.com/articlesandreviews.html
Link to Catching Up With....At The Copa:Q&A With Barry Manilow
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/03/03/DI2006030301500.html
Articles/Reviews
March 9, 2006
The Palladium-Item (Richmond, IN)
"Fired to inspired: The Richmond stop that fueled Barry Manilow's music
and passion" by Steve Martin
On May 2, 1928, Fred Wiggins of Starr-Gennett threw out the second take
of Hoagy Carmichael's timeless classic "Star Dust" with the infamous
notation: "Reject. Already on Gennett. Poor seller." Jazz enthusiasts
forever lament the loss, and Wiggins for decades was remembered as the
man who threw away a classic.
In 1966, another equally landmark pronouncement made another
inexperienced musician performing at the Richmond Holiday Inn feel
badly. The piano player was fired two days into his first professional
engagement. Richmond has many things to be proud of, but it also has
the distinction of being the place where Barry Alan Pincus was fired.
Barry Alan Pincus' stage name is Barry Manilow.
Today, the internationally successful musician is soaking in success.
His new album, "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties," debuted in February
at No. 1 on Billboard's Top 200 chart and remains sixth on the chart
ahead of Eminem. He's packing in the crowds in Las Vegas and his PBS
special is airing repeatedly, including tonight. Manilow's
autobiography, "Sweet Life: Adventures On The Way To Paradise,"
acknowledges that the lesson he learned in Richmond secured his place
in the popular musical pantheon.
Manilow was born Barry Alan Pincus in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1946. He was,
as he put it, "the kid (other children) always beat up." He took piano
lessons when he was seven, and then again at 13. In a short time, he
was an accomplished pianist. After graduating from high school, he
considered a musical career, and attended the New York College of
Music, but his money ran out.
Manilow supported himself with a job in the CBS mailroom and attended
evening classes at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music. He was
hired by aspiring singer Jeanne Lucas to do piano arrangements while he
worked at CBS. This was in 1965. "We were working small clubs around
town... very unprofessional. Although I loved playing piano, I was
uncomfortable when the spotlight landed on me..." Manilow wrote in his
autobiography. "We included songs that had been dropped from shows
before they reached Broadway, or songs that never it made to the hit
parade. I arranged fast songs slowly, and slow songs up-tempo."
A booking agent called Manilow with an out-of-town offer. According to
his autobiography, he and Lucas "breathlessly waited in the outer
office... We were very excited and squeezed each other's hands." The
agent said he had a professional opening in a lounge. "Lounge? Well,
that sounds good," Manilow said. "Our act is a perfect lounge act. At
which hotel? The Waldorf?" Not exactly. It's the Holiday Inn... in
Richmond, Indiana."
The booking agent wanted an answer in a week. Manilow sought advice
from everyone. His friends said, "Take the job." But he couldn't. "I
was so desperate, I actually wrote a letter to the 'Playboy Adviser' in
'Playboy' magazine... They sent me a personal reply within a week and
advised me to take the music job in Richmond." "Playboy" published the
advice months later. It said, "Go Midwest, young man, and sow your wild
notes."
Manilow was at a crossroads. "I loved working at CBS. But music was my
obsession. I didn't want to give up the security that CBS offered, but
music was coming out my ears." CBS executive Dick Rector told him,
"Everybody thinks you're gifted. I think you should take the job. If it
doesn't work out, you'll always have a job at CBS." That was "the last
kick... I needed... I felt somewhat secure knowing I could always come
back... Either I was real brave or real stupid, but I called Jeanne and
said, "Baby, start packing. We're going to Richmond, Indiana." It was
Manilow's first professional gig...
According to Manilow, "Jeannie and I didn't sleep well that evening...
When we opened the next night, we began with a duet of 'Georgy Girl.'
Then Jeanne sang her whole act, and we closed with our duet of
'Something Stupid.' There were about 20 people in the place when we
started. We emptied the room in 15 minutes... The manager fired us two
days later." And, it set his course for superstardom.