Ep. 256 Today's Peep Welcomes Barry Manilow for a Conversation on Life, Music, Memorable Jingles and His Legacy

Barry Manilow, the legendary performer who has sold a staggering 85 million albums worldwide, brings his unmistakable warmth and candor to this intimate conversation about his extraordinary musical journey. Despite approaching his 82nd birthday, Manilow expresses genuine surprise at his enduring popularity, noting that audiences are "getting crazier and crazier" at his performances. "You know, at this point I thought, doesn't this end? But it doesn't seem to," he reflects with a mixture of humility and wonder that has characterized his decades-long career.The conversation shatters common misconceptions about Manilow's live shows. Far from the sedate piano ballad performances many might expect, he describes dynamic, high-energy concerts where he and his singers "run around the stage," delivering fresh, contemporary arrangements of his classic hits. "I think there are some people that don't know what I do. They think I'm going to sit at the piano and play ballads, and it's not that at all," Manilow explains.Music enthusiasts will appreciate Manilow's candid revelations about his iconic songs and jingles. He shares that "I Write the Songs" wasn't actually his composition but Bruce Johnston's, and that "Mandy" was originally called "Brandy" and performed as an uptempo number before he transformed it into the beloved ballad. Equally fascinating is his discussion of the famous commercial jingles he created, some of which remain instantly recognizable ("I Am Stuck on Band-Aid") while others have faded from public memory.With a new album on the horizon—potentially his last—and upcoming performances in Northern California, this conversation captures Manilow at a poignant moment in his storied career. Don't miss his shows at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, in Oakland, or at San Jose's SAP Center this July, where you can experience firsthand the electrifying performance mastery that has captivated audiences for generations.