As Barry Manilow famously claims in one of his best-known songs, he writes the songs that make the whole world sing. Judging by the number of fans joining him on the lyrics of every song in his setlist on Wednesday night at the Ford Center, he is probably right. The consummate entertainer even after three decades in the business, Manilow filled his two hours on stage with the verve and energy of his beloved classic tunes, plenty of banter and self-deprecating humor, and a heart-felt moment or two as he walked the audience down memory lane. His “Fanilows†loved every moment of it, and even more casual fans left with wide smiles and declarations of “He’s still got it!†at the end of the night.
“We are honored that the iconic Barry Manilow chose Evansville as a stop on his limited tour after many years of performing exclusively in New York and Las Vegas,†stated Executive Director Scott Schoenike.
Early in June, Manilow announced that he would be donating a new Yamaha piano to kick off an instrument drive for Evansville public schools. Fans could bring a new or gently used instrument of their own to the Ford Center ticket office prior to the show in exchange for complimentary tickets. The drive proved to be a resounding success, with more than 50 instruments collected – well above the tour’s average.
The Ford Center will welcome fans back to the building later this summer with Lynyrd Skynyrd August 1, Kirk Franklin August 31, and Sesame Street Live September 6-8.
