They play these broken-down instruments and they make them sound good,” said Manilow, who’s delighted to help teachers and schools in New York City because they “deserve this small token of my gratitude. Ferguson, Class: 1972 Induction: 1978 Sport(s): Mens Lacrosse, Football - Lynn Ferguson. I don’t know how these kids do it, but they love. And even though they still have music classes, the instruments that they do have are in such terrible shape. “They are running out of instruments in schools all over the country. Teachers are currently being selected via online vote as part of “The Manilow Music Project,” an initiative created by Manilow over 30 years ago that supports music education in schools by offering merit-based scholarships and getting instruments into classrooms across the U.S. Manilow, who lives in Palm Springs with his husband of nine years (and partner of 45 years) Garry Kief, will return to his hometown of New York City late next month for a five-concert run at Radio City Music Hall from May 31 to June 4.ĭuring that time he’ll award $5,000 cash prizes to five local music teachers, one from each borough, along with $10,000 in “Manilow Bucks” - credit that can be used toward the purchase of instruments for their classrooms. The evening also includes appearances by the cast of the award-winning Off-Broadway production of “Harmony.” Written by Manilow and his longtime collaborator Bruce Sussman, the show enjoyed a sold-out run at New York’s National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene last spring and is Broadway-bound this fall, 25 years after opening at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, Calif.

Barry Manilow performs at State Farm Arena, Thursday, Jan. This is the true-life story of Barry, a remarkable Saint Bernard who gained worldwide fame for rescuing more than 40 people trapped under avalanches.

Barry by Lynn Hall