Profile of the Day: Barry Manilow

Posted June 17, 2026 by Amanda | No Comment

Happy birthday to Barry Manilow! Today the singer-songwriter turns 83.

Image: Barry Manilow / Alan Light, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Manilow was born Barry Alan Pincus on June 17, 1943 in Brooklyn New York to Harold Pincus and Edna Manilow. His father left the family when he was two and he eventually adopted his mother’s maiden name as his last name.

He began his career working as a commercial jingle writer, penning memorable jingles for Band-Aid and State Farm Insurance. In the 1970s, Manilow began working with Bette Midler as her pianist and soon became her musical director and co-producer. His partnership with Midler set the stage for Manilow to release his own album and first big hit, “Mandy.” He would release many more hit songs, including “Looks Like We Made It,” “Could It Be Magic,” and “Copacabana (At the Copa).”

Today, Manilow has sold over 85 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time.

In December 2025, Manilow was diagnosed with lung cancer and had surgery to remove a tumor from his left lung. Although currently cancer-free, Manilow still struggled with complications with his voice. Amazingly, he is set to return to live performances and resume his residency in Las Vegas next month.

Do you have a favorite Barry Manilow song?

Explore Barry Manilow’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re related!