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Singer Manilow rights the wrongs done to schools' music programs
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JOHN GURZINSKI/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Fremont Middle School students Marada Touch, 13, left, and Daisy Rodriguez, 14, take photos of themselves as they pose with singer Barry Manilow on Thursday at Valley High School. Manilow donated five truckloads of musical instruments to the Clark County School District as part of his Manilow Music Project. » Buy this photo
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Cannon Junior High School students cheer Thursday as entertainer Barry Manilow donated five delivery trucks full of musical instruments to the Clark County School District. Manilow appeared at an event at Valley High School to donate more than $500,000 of music instruments as part of his Manilow Music Project. The project provides instruments to poorer schools nationwide so that students can study music. JOHN GURZINSKI/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL » Buy this photo
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Oct. 8, 2010 | 7:55 a.m.
Barry Manilow searched for a bridge across the generation gap as he faced hundreds of Clark County students Thursday at the Valley High School football field.
The students knew the nicely tanned man clad in a black leather jacket with his hair perfectly in place was there to give five truckloads of instruments, worth more than $500,000, to the school district.
But who was this generous man?
"I used to be the Justin Bieber of the '70s," Manilow said, chuckling.
The kids screamed loudly. He'd struck a chord.
"I don't think they know who I am," Manilow joked with reporters.
Bieber can only hope for Manilow's success. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter had a string of Top 40 hits including "Mandy," "Copacabana" and "I Write the Songs" and has sold more than 80 million records worldwide. He's become a top Vegas draw.
Manilow dubbed Thursday's event "Extreme Makeover: Band Edition."
"You know, what I discovered is that the instruments in these schools are in such bad shape, if they have them at all," he said. "The teachers themselves fix them up or they get part-time jobs so they can make money to fix the instruments so they can teach the kids to play."
He then motioned for five delivery trucks from the national Manilow Music Project, formed in 2008 as part of his nonprofit Manilow Health and Hope Fund, to drive to schools and deliver their loads. Some of the instruments were collected at the Paris Theatre box office, where fans brought new and gently used musical instruments to receive a voucher for a Manilow concert.
At least 600 students at 15 middle and high schools throughout the district will be able to play music with new instruments.
It's a relief for Valley High School principal Ron Montoya, who said his school is the second poorest in the district.
"We've been in existence since 1965, and we have some instruments from then," Montoya said. "We are upgrading significantly. We need as much help as possible. With a lack of bond funds and funding for schools, you never know when we can fix up the instruments, if we can at all."
Valley High will receive about 100 instruments.
Manilow has "taken the opportunity to make a difference in Las Vegas and to make sure our schoolchildren will have instruments they can play to bring joy to whomever listens," said Mayor Oscar Goodman.
School Board President Terri Janison vowed to protect music programs in the district despite tough economic times and budget cuts. "We will not cut music in our programs," she said.
Manilow talked to the kids about growing up in a rough section of Brooklyn, N.Y. There were sports teams. There were gangs. And then there was the school orchestra.
"It saved my life. It pointed me in the direction that I am right now," Manilow said. "Then I'm seeing budgetary problems, and they're cutting music in all those public schools all across the country. It just about killed me. I couldn't let that happen.
"It makes me happy we can do something like this. Maybe we can make a difference."
Contact Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.
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WOW! What extreme generosity. Nice. This story is a sight for sore eyes. Thank you Barry!
HI ITOFT....
Barry pays taxes on his residence in Nevada and sales tax on the production costs of the show. He also pays property, sales, and income taxes in California. (There is no income tax in Nevada.)
Garry Kief
Producer
Manilow In Paris
I think that what Barry Manilow has done is a credit to a man that is already a legendary musician. Bravo to him!
I commend Barry Manilow for his actions but I have to make one point. Barry works in Las Vegas, Nevada and earns a very good living doing so. Yet he lives in Palm Springs, California and unless he is losing money at the casinos or spending on retail items, he is paying virtually no taxes in Nevada that help support education. He does help generate revenues through the live 10% entertainment tax but he doesn't pay that, the people that see his show pay that tax. Having said this, I still give him a standing ovation for doing the right thing.
Excellent. Kudos to Mr. Manilow for his generosity!! It is SO good to have news of great acts of kindness. I hope more of our Vegas entertainers get involved with our students like this.
If public schools were properly funded, these types of donations would not be necessary. And, thank you, Barry, for your generosity.
This is what the REAL heroes do. You don't see this kind of generosity often to help seed success for the future of kids. Kudos to Manilow. He is an extraordinary kind of rockstar. I challenge any of the megaresort owners to do half of what needs to be done to help kids in Nevada! Fertita, Wynn, Murren, etc. are you listening????
Very cool. Reminds me that I may not have enough Manilow on my iPod.
GOD BLESSED THE CHILD THROUGH BARRY MANILOW!
he can well afford it.