Everybody knows who Barry Manilow is. He's been a virtual hit machine since the 1970s. "I Write the Songs." "Copacabana." "Could It Be Magic." "Weekend in New England." "You Deserve a Break Today at McDonald's." (Yes, it's a well-known fact that Barry wrote and sang jingles for commercials in the early part of his career.)
The album drops on Valentine's Day, of course. The first single is "My Funny Valentine." Barry's 50-date residency at the Westgate International Theatre in Las Vegas resumes on February 13. Lots going on for a 76-year-old guy, but he doesn't seem to be slowing down.
Here's my chat with him, including his take on today's hit songs, the lost art of the commercial jingle, and the part where I tell him how much my 8-year-old son and his crew at summer camp loved Barry's classic "Copacabana."