Last year Barry Manilow released his 60th album ‘The Greatest Songs of the Seventies’ an album of covers, yet with songs like ‘Mandy’, ‘Can’t Smile Without You’ and ‘Could It Be Magic’, he could have had his own hits on it.

What is amazing is that Barry, born Barry Pinkus in 1946, has only had one UK Top Ten hit single (‘I Wanna Do It With You’ in 1982).

Everybody seems to know Barry’s hits, ‘Copacabana’, ‘Bermuda Triangle’, the list goes on. However, one of his greatest songs, ‘I Write The Sonmgs’ was never a hit over here.

His albums however, were a different story and live; well, he was THE one to see.

His success, though muted here, was colossal in his American homeland and he has now sold in excess of 75 million records. Not only that, but he is a gifted pianist, songwriter, arranger and producer.

His many achievements include a Grammy, two Emmys, several Tony awards and an Oscar nomination.

For the past three years, he has been selling out the Las Vegas Hilton with his show ‘Ultimate Manilow: the Hits… and then some’. This non-stop hit-filled show is larger than life which has provided audiences with a truly unique evening of songs and memories.

And now it’s coming to Manchester.

His only UK date outside London has Barry gracing the stage of the MEN Arena in Manchester belting out the hits in the way only he can; in a style that has Rolling Stone magazine proclaiming him ‘The Showman of Our Generation’.

The show he is putting on for us is tailor-made for the British fans, as he said recently.

“The British public and I have had a long-standing love affair for over 30 years, and there is no audience for me like the people who party with me at a concert in the UK.”

Obviously enthusiastic, he continued. “I am creating a show that I can only do in Britain. If I tried to do the show anywhere else in the world, the audiences would think I was nuts!”

“But,” he added, “My British fans and I know better. We’ll have a ball!”

Next year, he returns to Las Vegas for his new show and concert goers here will have a chance to enter a contest to win a weekend in Vegas to see the show.

And if that wasn’t enough, to coincide with the tour Warner Music Entertainment has released ‘Barry Manilow – Happy Holiday!’, a live broadcast from December 2003 featuring over a dozen festive songs like ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Jingle Bells’.

Also on the DVD are duets with Jose Feliciano and Cyndi Lauper.

What made this show unique was that although it was live, the songs were requested by phone during the broadcast and there is an emotional link-up between an Army Sergeant stationed overseas to his wife!

It’s 70 minutes of Barry at his Christmassy best.

But there’s nothing like the real deal and Barry’s Manchester show promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Barry Manilow will be on stage at the MEN Arena on Monday 8th December. Tickets are available from the Box Office or online at www.ticketline.co.uk , www.ticketmaster.co.uk , or www.seetickets.com .