By admin 
Introduction
Barry Manilow Set to Honor Local Music Teacher as He Prepares for Emotional Cleveland Return
Music legend Barry Manilow is gearing up for what may be his final major arena tour, and as he prepares to revisit Northeast Ohio this summer, he’s bringing more than just his iconic hits. The 81-year-old superstar—whose career as a singer, songwriter, and producer has stretched across six remarkable decades—plans to honor a Cleveland-area music teacher during his upcoming performance at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Despite joking that he’s “100 years old,” Manilow shows no signs of slowing down. Filled with gratitude and disbelief that he’s still selling out arenas and preparing for five more nights at Radio City Music Hall, he remains deeply connected to the audiences who have supported him from the very beginning. Cleveland, he says, has always been a special stop. He fondly recalls past concerts at Blossom Music Center—especially the blazing heat of those outdoor summer shows—and looks forward to returning once more on June 5.
For Manilow, performing has always been about emotion. “I’m just about feelings,” he says. “If you can’t feel something with my music—or even with me just standing there—then I’m not doing my job right.” That emotional connection has helped him sell more than 85 million records worldwide, cementing his status as one of the best-selling artists in music history.
Yet, beyond the spotlight, Manilow’s commitment to music education has become one of the most meaningful chapters of his later career. Seventeen years ago, a friend asked him for help buying a saxophone for his daughter after her school ran out of instruments. The moment struck him deeply. Out of that simple request, the Manilow Music Project was born.
Since 2008, the project has donated over $10 million in instruments to schools across the U.S.—and now, during his farewell tour, Manilow is shifting the spotlight toward the educators who keep music alive. In every city on the tour, students are invited to vote for their favorite music teacher. The winning teacher receives premium seats at the show, an on-stage introduction from Manilow, and a $10,000 award to purchase new instruments for their school.
“It’s such a moving moment,” Manilow says. “The audience goes wild—screaming, cheering—for a music teacher. They won’t stop applauding. It’s beautiful.” For him, it has quickly become one of the most powerful parts of each night’s performance.
As he wraps up a highly successful Las Vegas residency and prepares to hit the road again, Manilow is also readying a brand-new album for release this summer. The record will feature a collection of original pop songs written throughout his career, offering fans yet another chapter in his ever-evolving musical journey.
Meanwhile, voting for Cleveland’s honored teacher is now open through April at manilowmusicproject.org—giving fans a chance to help spotlight a local educator when Manilow’s tour arrives in June.