Barry Manilow.Photo:Martin Schoeller/NBC via Getty
Martin Schoeller/NBC via Getty
On Friday,The Hollywood Reporterpublished an expansive feature on the music legend, 80, in which he opens up about still breaking records with his Las Vegas residency and his storied career.
While reflecting on his early days trying to make it in New York City as a singer-songwriter in the early ‘70s, the superstar even spoke candidly about performing at the Continental Baths, a former gay bathhouse located in the basement of The Ansonia Hotel, now an apartment building called The Ansonia.
“They were just an audience,” he continued. “A great audience, too.”
Barry Manilow for The Hollywood Reporter.Joelle Grace Taylor
Joelle Grace Taylor
While Manilow admitted that it was an “unusual” venue — as it was also known to be a sex club, and men frequently watched performances in the cabaret either completely nude or with just a towel — he also said, “For me, it was a job for 75 bucks.”
Despite being immersed in LGBTQ+ culture at the time, Manilow said him and Midler, 78, essentially becoming the house attraction didn’t necessarily lead him to discovering his sexuality.
“At that point I wasn’t sure about that,” the “Mandy” singer said. “There were a lot of us in the world that had yet to figure it out.”
Barry Manilow in October 1975.Ann Limongello/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Ann Limongello/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
The Grammy winner kept his personal life out of the public spotlight for decades, and it wasn’t until 2017 that heofficially came out as gayin a PEOPLE cover story.
He explained at the time that he was always hesitant about being open with his sexuality, in fear of how it might affect his career and fans. “I thought I would be disappointing them if they knew I was gay. So I never did anything,” the “Copacabana” singer said.
That wasn’t necessarily the case, though, when news broke that he had married his longtime managerGarry Kiefin what was supposed to be aprivate, quiet ceremony in 2014. Of his fans learning about his marriage, Manilow said, “When they found out that Garry and I were together, they were so happy. The reaction was so beautiful — strangers commenting, ‘Great for you!’ I’m just so grateful for it.”
Prior to tying the knot, Manilow and Kief had actually been an item since shortly after they met in 1978.
Barry Manilow.Ethan Miller/Getty
Ethan Miller/Getty
The pop icon also told PEOPLE in his 2017 cover story that he knew “this was it” as soon as he and Kief met.
“I was one of the lucky ones,” he shared. “I was pretty lonely before that.”
The “Could It Be Magic” artist added, “Garry didn’t know what I did, even though I had all these records out. He was a guy, and I was a guy, so we could just deal with each other like two normal people, not like a superstar and a person.”
Barry Manilow in New York City in June 2023.ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty
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Manilow launched his acclaimed, career-spanning Las Vegas residency The Hits Come Home at the the Westgate Hotel in Las Vegas back in 2021 — and he’ll continue his run of shows throughout 2024.
His live show will resume this year in mid-February and continue through the end of the year.
source: people.com
