by Marvin Glassman

Special to DJW

There are entertainers who hold a special place in the Jewish community because of their unique statements about their identities. That was the case for Barbra Streisand in making the film "Yentl" and for Neil Diamond in his remake of "The Jazz Singer." Then there is Barry Manilow. The 56-year-old singer-songwriter, performing in concert at the Smirnoff Music Center July 5, sold more than 60 million records and had 25 consecutive top 40 hits over the past 28 years. However, he wants to be known more as the composer who wrote a great musical set in the Holocaust, "Harmony," than as the singer who wrote the popular songs that the whole world sings.

"Harmony," with music by Manilow and book and lyrics by Bruce Sussman (they wrote the Manilow hit and musical "Copacabana" which won the team a Grammy Award), had a successful debut in 1997 at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego. The play is based on the true story of the Comedian Harmonists, a group of young German performers, both Jewish and Gentile, who gained famed in Germany in the 1920s before becoming a threat to the Nazis in the 1930s. They combined a comedic flair to their music, with slapsticks along the lines of the Marx Brothers, music that varied from a capella singing to classics to klezmer and other popular idioms of the time.

"Harmony," with music by Manilow and book and lyrics by Bruce Sussman (they wrote the Manilow hit and musical "Copacabana" which won the team a Grammy Award), had a successful debut in 1997 at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego. The play is based on the true story of the Comedian Harmonists, a group of young German performers, both Jewish and Gentile, who gained famed in Germany in the 1920s before becoming a threat to the Nazis in the 1930s. They combined a comedic flair to their music, with slapsticks along the lines of the Marx Brothers, music that varied from a capella singing to classics to klezmer and other popular idioms of the time.

"Without a doubt, this is the one piece of work that I want to be remembered for, " said Manilow in a telephone conversation from his home in Palm Springs, Calif. "What inspired Bruce Sussman and me is to tell a story of a unique and talented group of individuals who touched the lives of millions in their time. They set out on a quest to find harmony in what turned out to be the most discordant chapter in history.

"The writing of the music has been the most challenging and creative journey of my career. I immersed myself in the musical style of the 1920s and '30s, including listening to klezmer and cantorial songs.

"What is ironic is that I have been turned off from Judaism for years, believing in the simple concept that if I wasn't good, God would punish me. I feel different now. What we learned from the 9/11 tragedy and 'Harmony' is that we all should be tolerant, accept ourselves and feel uplifted. It is the best way to fight tyranny. The best part of my success in my career is uplifting people's spirits with my music."

Putting words into action, Manilow performed in a benefit last month in England for the Israel Aliyah Centers for children and raised more than $500,000. "The Israel Aliyah Centers do fine work and I was honored to raise money by my performance."

"Harmony" achieved box office and critical success and Manilow expects it to hit Broadway by January. He will be giving a preview of "Harmony" to his fans by singing two songs from the show, "Every Single Day" and the title song "Harmony," in his Dallas concert.

In addition to Manilow's singing his hit songs, a highlight of the concert is Manilow singing "Not What You See," a song named after his grandparents, Esther and Joe Manilow, from his latest CD, "Here At The Mayflower." Manilow becomes an elderly man, with a hat and scarf, in a moving song about growing old with dignity.

In addition to Manilow's singing his hit songs, a highlight of the concert is Manilow singing "Not What You See," a song named after his grandparents, Esther and Joe Manilow, from his latest CD, "Here At The Mayflower." Manilow becomes an elderly man, with a hat and scarf, in a moving song about growing old with dignity.

Manilow is acknowledged in record circles as the number one adult contemporary artist of all time. Along with his Grammy, he earned an Emmy (for his televised special in 1977), a Tony (for his Broadway concert in 1977) and an Oscar nomination (for his song "Ready To Take A Chance Again" from the movie "Foul Play" in 1978). His hit songs, such as "Mandy" and "Even Now," have been so well-received that Manilow has been saluted by a diverse group of entertainers, such as country singers (in a televised cable show in 2000) and figure skaters, who performed their magic on ice to the Manilow hits. Manilow was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame last month.

Despite having worldwide fame, Manilow's roots are humble. He was born in Brooklyn as Barry Alan Pincus. Manilow's parents (a Jewish mother, Edna Manilow, and an Irish father, Harold Kelliher) were divorced when he was two. His name was "Pincus" because Kelliher wanted to give Barry his mother's maiden name. Manilow was raised by his mother Edna and his grandparents, immigrants from Russia who raised Barry in a Williamsburg apartment. He has no siblings. "We were very poor but I never knew it. I was given a secure upbringing and I always felt loved and wanted. Gramma and Grandpa taught me Jewish traditions and raised me to be polite, caring and sensitive, a gentleman."

Barry started singing in public for the first time and changed his name to Manilow shortly before his Bar Mitzvah to carry on the surname after his grandfather's death years later.

Manilow honed his music first on the accordion and refined it on the piano. "I hated the accordion. It seems that every Jewish kid has to play one. But when I played the piano, I knew the music would be my passion and my ticket out of Brooklyn, ".

For a time, things were traumatic for Manilow financially and emotionally. He nearly went bankrupt twice and had married and divorced his high school sweetheart by the age of 25.

He knew the craft of songwriting. For a time he coached singers wanting to audition on Broadway, wrote commercial jingles, and was the musical director for Bette Midler before starting his solo career in 1974. Manilow went on to write songs for Dionne Warwick and, over the years, has truly stretched as an artist, creating jazz, big band, and Broadway theatrical music.

Perhaps his fame and music may have masked some trauma in his life. His mother attempted suicide twice and died of lung cancer in 1996. Manilow has never married again, and lives with costume designer Linda Allen, whom he has known for 30 years.

Although he has never performed in Israel, Manilow was voted as the number one performer there in 1980. He sang "It's A Miracle" at a televised special of performers honoring Israel in 1978, and performed at a benefit in Washington for then Prime Minister and Mrs. Begin in 1983.

Manilow is involved in humanitarian efforts, such as the Starlight Foundation for terminally ill children and has contributed to the Simon Wiesenthal Institute in Los Angeles. B'nai B'rith International honored Manilow for his humanitarian efforts in 1978.