NYC to Rename Street Corner 'BARRY MANILOW Way'

The NY Daily News Reports that Barry Manilow was "absolutely floored" to hear that New York City officials planned to name a street corner of Manhattan after him. The legendary singer called the news the "biggest honor" he has ever received. Manilow is currently headlining a month-long run of Broadway shows at New York's St. James Theatre.

In recognition of the current production, a street corner in Midtown Manhattan will be renamed 'Barry Manilow Way,' beginning Tuesday, January 22nd. The singer told the Daily News, "When I found out they were going to be naming a street after me, I was absolutely floored. I flipped out and it's probably the biggest honor I've ever had."

Commenting on his decision to return to the Broadway stage after a long absence, the 69-year-old crooner said, "At first, I was like, 'I've done this twice already,' but then I remembered how much I loved it and I got the itch to do it again just One More Time before I croak."

Of his long and successful career in show business, Manilow shared, "I resisted accepting this incredible career for years until I finally decided to make Friends with it, and I have. I'm the luckiest guy in the world. I love it and I'm going to keep doing it until I die."

With Worldwide sales of more than 80 million records, success is a benchmark in popular music. Rolling Stone crowned him "a giant among entertainers... the showman of our generation," and Frank Sinatra summed up Manilow best when Ol' Blue Eyes told the British press, "He's next." He currently has 50 Top 40 hits. And now, Manilow is returning to the place where it all began, his hometown, New York City, with a new concert series on Broadway - marking his return to The Great White Way for the first time in more than two Decades with Manilow on Broadway.

Manilow's roots remain in his native Brooklyn, where music was an integral part of his life. By the age of seven, he was taking accordion lessons and playing on a neighbor's piano. Choosing a career in music while still in his teens, he attended New York College of Music and the Juilliard School of Music while working in the mailroom at CBS. He subsequently became musical director for a CBS show named "Callback" (the predecessor to "American Idol") which led to a lucrative sideline on New York's advertising jingle circuit.

Since then, Manilow has been ranked as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time, according to R&R (Radio & Records), with no less than 25 consecutive Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1975 and 1983. The list includes all-time Favorites that Manilow still sings today: "Mandy," "It's A Miracle," "Could It Be Magic," "I Write the Songs," "Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again," "This One's For You," "Weekend In New England," "Looks Like We Made It," "Can't Smile Without You," "Even Now," and the Grammy Award-winning "Copacabana (At the Copa)." Manilow's Broadway show is destined to be as legendary as the man himself.

Tickets, ranging in price from $50 to $350, are now on sale. For tickets, please visit www.ManilowOnBroadway.com or call (212) 239-6200 / (800) 432-7250. Barry Manilow Fan Club tickets are available now at www.manilow.com and by calling (310) 957-5788. Citi cardmembers will have access to preferred tickets and exclusive VIP packages through Citi's Private Pass program (details at www.citiprivatepass.com).

Photo credit: © RD / Orchon / Retna Digital.