Barry Manilow’s Journey: A Story of Music, Love, and Living His Truth
Barry Manilow is known worldwide as a charming and talented singer whose songs have become unforgettable anthems. Tracks like “Mandy” and “Copacabana (At the Copa)” brought him international fame in the 1970s, even though critics initially doubted his talent.
But behind the scenes, Barry held a huge secret for most of his life: he came out as gay at the age of 73. Now, he’s living his happiest life alongside his husband, Garry Kief, and Garry’s daughter.
While Barry has long been a heartthrob to many, some have also wondered if he’s had plastic surgery. At 78, this Brooklyn-born music legend isn’t afraid to talk about it. Here’s everything you need to know about Barry Manilow’s journey, both in life and how he looks today.
A Complex Start: Barry’s Early Life
Barry Manilow was born on June 17, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York. His grandparents were Russian immigrants, and Barry is also half-Irish—his father, Harold, came from Ireland. But this wasn’t something Barry was encouraged to talk about growing up.
“The fact that Harold was an Irish truck driver was hidden from the family,” Barry told the Irish Independent. “It was considered a terrible thing for my mother to have done. They wouldn’t even allow my name to be Kelliher. They changed it immediately.”
When Barry was born, his name was Barry Pincus. “They had to dig deep into my father’s family to find one Jewish relative,” Barry said. “They went back to the 1800s and they found one uncle, a Jewish guy called Pincus. My mother made my father change his name to Pincus.”
Barry grew up with his mother, Edna, and his grandparents after his parents divorced when he was just a baby. Just weeks before his Bar Mitzvah, he officially changed his last name to Manilow.
His father was seen as a “monster” by his grandparents, but they were fond of his mother’s next partner, Willie Murphy, an Irish truck driver who had a huge record collection. Willie became a significant inspiration for Barry’s love of music.
Barry’s mother and stepfather even scraped together enough money to buy him a piano for $800—a purchase that took them five years to pay off. Their sacrifice paid off, as Barry’s musical talents blossomed.
Climbing the Ladder: The Early Music Career
Before he could realize his dreams, Barry attended the City College of New York and later the New York College of Music. He also studied at Juilliard, focusing on musical theater. Meanwhile, he worked as a log clerk at CBS to support himself.
It was during this time that Barry found his first love. In 1964, at 21, he married his high school sweetheart, Susan Deixler. “I was in love with Susan,” Barry said, describing her as “adorable, small, with great legs and a voluptuous figure.” However, he added, “I was just not ready for marriage.
I was out making music every night, sowing my wild oats. I was too young, I wasn’t ready to settle down.”
Barry had big dreams in the entertainment industry, and he was willing to risk it all. To support himself, he started writing songs for commercials. His first breakthrough came when he wrote “You Deserve a Break Today” for a McDonald’s commercial. The job paid the rent for years and proved to be the best decision he ever made.
“When I lucked into writing commercials, the only way you can go up against other songwriters is to write the catchiest melody you can write in fifteen seconds,” Barry explained. “And my instinct is always to write catchy melodies. So, when I started to do jingles, I won a lot of them because my melodies were catchier than the other guys’ melodies.”
The Big Break: “Mandy” Changes Everything
Barry released his first album in 1973, but it didn’t take off immediately. He sent his songs to other artists, but they all rejected them. “I made my first album, and it was good, but I thought that was the end of that,” he said. But then Clive Davis, the president of Arista Records, found a song for him called “Brandy.”
Originally a rock ‘n’ roll song, Barry decided to slow it down, changing the chords and even the key.
“In order to learn ‘Brandy,’ I slowed it down and changed the chords around,” Barry recalled. “But then I forgot about it and played Clive the rock-and-roll version. Then, I went to the piano and played him the ballad version. He said, ‘Do that. And we can’t use ‘Brandy.’ Sing ‘Mandy.’
There had been a hit record called ‘Brandy’ out two years earlier, so we changed the name. And my life changed.”
“Mandy” became an instant hit, reaching No. 1 on the charts. Barry followed it up with songs like “I Write the Songs,” “Could It Be Magic,” and “Copacabana (At the Copa).” In 1978, just five years after releasing his first album, Barry had five albums on the best-selling charts simultaneously and ten No. 1 singles.
He’d won numerous awards, including Grammy and Tony Awards, and gained a massive fan following known as “Fanilows.”
Fame and Finding Balance
Barry was always aware of the dangers of sudden fame. “I’ve learned over the years that at the beginning of your life, it’s all about me, me, me. ‘Look at me, look what I can do, look how great I am,’” he said. “Then, somewhere in the middle, you realize it’s got to go the other way. The arrows have to stop pointing towards yourself. They have to flip around and point out.”
Despite his fame, Barry’s personal life saw significant changes. He and Susan divorced after just two years of marriage. He described her as “the perfect wife,” but he left to chase his musical dreams.
Barry’s career continued to thrive, and he’s still performing today, with a reported net worth of around $100 million. Yet, for a long time, he carried a secret: he was gay. Finally, in 2017, at 73, Barry came out to the world. “If I had done it much earlier, I think it would have affected my career a lot,” he admitted.
“But by the time Garry and I decided to do it, being gay and being alive was accepted, so nothing changed. The only thing that is different is people are very happy for me.”
Barry and Garry were married in 2014 at their Palm Springs estate, a secret even to their guests. The two first met in 1978, and today, Garry is not only Barry’s husband but also the president of Barry Manilow Productions and his manager. “That’s the miracle of this relationship,” Barry said. “It’s built on respect, and we’ve never bumped heads about anything.”
Plastic Surgery Rumors: Facing the Truth
Through the years, Barry has faced speculation about his appearance. Some wondered if he’d had plastic surgery, with reports of facelifts, eye surgery, and Botox injections. Barry confirmed some of these rumors, saying he’d had a procedure to get rid of his jowls. “But they came right back,” he laughed. “That kind of stuff doesn’t last.”
He also tried Botox but didn’t like it. “I gave it a try, but it didn’t look right for me,” he said. Barry explained that several hip surgeries had caused his face to swell due to steroid shots.
Despite all the speculation, Barry’s charm and talent have never faded. “It’s luck, it’s just blind luck,” he said about his youthful look. “I’m really very old, please let’s not talk about it. It’s really depressing.”
Living His Best Life
Barry Manilow is a true legend, not only for his music but also for his bravery in living his truth. At 78, he is still performing, singing, and spreading joy around the world. His story proves it’s never too late to be yourself and find happiness.
So, here’s to Barry Manilow: an icon who continues to inspire with his music, his story, and his courage.