The Brooklyn-born singer and arranger turned jingle writing into a career of orchestral pop hits.
For the full Manilow experience, start with 'Can't Smile Without You' and 'Even Now.' Those two songs capture the lush, heartfelt sound that became his signature.
Manilow's sound was built on lush orchestration with strings and horns, creating a signature romantic ballad style that felt both polished and emotionally direct. Songs like 'Can't Smile Without You' and 'Even Now' became staples of 1970s and 1980s radio, offering a kind of grand-scale sincerity that connected with millions. While some critics dismissed the sentimental approach early on, he maintained his musical direction and built a catalog of over 50 studio albums.
He started playing accordion as a teenager in Brooklyn before working as a jingle writer and arranger. That background in commercial music helped shape the accessible, orchestral pop that defined his string of popular singles throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.