Name	Arista
Parent	Sony Music Entertainment
Founded	1974
Founder	Clive Davis
Status	Active
Genre	Various
Distributor	RCA Music GroupRCA Records(Outside the US)
Country	United States
Url	rcamusicgroup.com }}

Arista () is an American record label. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operates under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records (which would become Sony Music Entertainment). Currently, the label is a major distributor and promoter of albums throughout the United States and United Kingdom.

History

Background

After being fired from CBS Records, Clive Davis was hired by Columbia Pictures to be a consultant for the company’s record and music operations. Assuming the presidency of this division in late 1974, Davis would fold the various Columbia legacy labels (Colpix Records, Colgems Records, and Bell Records) into a new entity named Arista Records, ultimately buying a percentage of the company from Columbia Pictures. The label was named Arista after New York City's secondary school honor society (of which Davis was a member at Erasmus Hall High School). In early 1975, most of the artists who had been signed to Bell were let go, except David Cassidy (left for RCA Records), Tony Orlando and Dawn (left for Elektra Records), and The 5th Dimension (departed for ABC Records). Others, such as Suzi Quatro and Hot Chocolate, were farmed out to the Bell/Arista-distributed label, Big Tree. Several Bell acts, such as Barry Manilow, the Bay City Rollers, and Melissa Manchester moved to Arista. The British Bell label kept that name for a couple of years before changing its name to Arista. The label was immortalized in the 1978 Rockpile song "They Called It Rock," in the lyric, "Arista says they love you/But the kids can't dance to this."

Besides boasting such big name stars as Manilow and Dionne Warwick; one of the pivotal moments in Arista's history was the signing of Aretha Franklin in 1980, after her long relationship with Atlantic Records ended. The label's most significant acquisition, however, came in 1983, when Davis signed Warwick's cousin (and Franklin's Goddaughter) Whitney Houston. Houston would eventually become Arista's biggest selling recording artist, with sales of 55 million units in the U.S. alone—according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

Subsidiary imprint labels

Arista had an imprint label in the 1970s called Arista Novus, which focused on contemporary jazz artists. It distributed two other jazz labels, "Arista Freedom," which specialized in avant-garde jazz and, until 1982, GRP Records, which specialized in contemporary jazz and what came to be known as smooth jazz. A country music division, Career Records, was merged into the Arista Nashville division in 1997. Arista Austin was used in the late 1990s as a country label. Additionally, Arista was the North American distributor of Jive Records from 1981 until 1987. During the 1990s, Arista also distributed the Logic, Rowdy and Heavenly labels.

Acquisitions, sell-offs

Looking to stave off bankruptcy, Columbia Pictures sold Arista to German-based Ariola Records in 1979. After Ariola purchased General Electric's RCA Records in 1986, the combined company was renamed Bertelsmann Music Group, though Arista's US releases would not note BMG until 1987.

Into the 1980s, Arista continued its success, including major UK act Secret Affair. Over the years it acquired Northwestside Records, deConstruction Records, First Avenue Records, and Dedicated Records in the UK. In 1989, Arista entered into a joint venture with Antonio "L.A." Reid and Babyface in the creation of LaFace Records, which it fully acquired in 1999. In 1993, Arista also entered into a joint-venture with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs to form Bad Boy Records. Arista acquired Profile Records, the home of Run-D.M.C. and Poor Righteous Teachers, in 1997.

Milli Vanilli scandal

In 1989, Arista signed a German-based duo named Milli Vanilli, consisting of Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan, and released its wildly successful multi-platinum debut album (which had been previously released in Europe the year before), ''Girl You Know It's True'', the same year in the U.S. and Canada. The album became a success, was certified sextuple platinum in the United States, and charted five top-ten singles, three of which peaked at number one. In 1990, the duo won two American Music Awards and a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Despite their success, rumors began to surface about the duo, and were confirmed later that year, when Milli Vanilli's svengali producer and manager, Frank Farian, publicly revealed that the two hadn't performed a single note on their album. Carol Decker, the lead singer of the short-lived group T'Pau, in an interview after a performance on MTV, said that the two were using a Synclavier and not singing at all.

This revelation caused a firestorm in the music industry, as recording artists, particularly pop acts that heavily relied on electronic processing and over-dubbing (what they referred to as "studio magic"), were now under scrutiny and subsequently forced to cut back on lip-synching to show that they were authentic. Milli Vanilli's Grammy Award was subsequently revoked. Clive Davis promptly released the duo from its contract and deleted the album and its masters from their catalogue—making ''Girl You Know It's True'' the largest-selling album to be deleted. A court ruling in the U.S. allowed anyone who had bought the album to get a partial refund.

In response to the scandal, Arista's position was that the company had been completely unaware of Morvan and Pilatus having not themselves recorded their album. In a post-debacle interview, Morvan defended himself by saying, "[Before Milli Vanilli] I was working at a McDonald's. What would you have done?"

Reconstructing Arista

At the end of 2000, following its 25th anniversary, BMG pushed Davis out as label head and promoted L.A. Reid as its new President and CEO. Under Reid, the label had success with newer acts such as Avril Lavigne and Pink, as well as legacy acts like Outkast and Usher. Reid, however, seemed to lose focus when it came to promoting its established acts such Whitney Houston and Toni Braxton, both of whom had been the label's biggest sellers over the years. Reid's extravagant spending, meanwhile, caused the company to lose money. After the formation of the joint venture of BMG and Sony Music Entertainment (the former CBS Records) in 2004, Reid was let go. Arista, always an independently managed label at BMG, was merged with J Records in August 2005 and began operating under the newly formed RCA Music Group—of which Davis had become CEO, and thus again became in control of Arista. The Arista label has continued to be used for new releases, while its reissues are released through Sony Music's Legacy Recordings. Also, as a result of the Sony-BMG merger, Arista once again became related to Columbia Pictures, which is fully owned by the Sony Corporation of America (through Sony Pictures Entertainment) - who would buy out BMG's share in 2008.

Arista Nashville

In 1989, Arista Records launched Arista Nashville, which specializes in country-music artists. In 1996, Arista Nashville launched a subsidiary label known as Career Records, the roster of which at the time included Brett James, Tammy Graham, and Lee Roy Parnell.

Artists

Dido

Whitney Houston

Jennifer Hudson

Barry Manilow

Sarah McLachlan

Santana

References

See also

Arista Nashville

List of record labels

Category:Record labels established in 1974 Category:American record labels Category:RCA Records Music Group Category:Sony subsidiaries Category:Sony Music Entertainment Category:Arista Records

cs:Arista Records de:Arista Records es:Arista Records fr:Arista Records ko:아리스타 레코드 hr:Arista Records it:Arista Records mk:Arista Records ja:アリスタ・レコード no:Arista Records pl:Arista Records pt:Arista Records simple:Arista Records sk:Arista Records fi:Arista Records sv:Arista Records tr:Arista Records

name	Deborah Cox
background	solo_singer
birth date	July 13, 1974
origin	Toronto, Canada
genre	R&B;, pop, soul
occupation	Singer-songwriter, actress, dancer
years active	1995–present
label	Arista (1995–2000)J (2000–2003)Decca (2007)Deco Recording Group (2008–present)
website	DeborahCox.com }}

Deborah Cox (born July 13, 1974) is a Canadian R&B; singer-songwriter and actress. Her 1998 song "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" held the record for longest-running number one single on ''Billboard's'' Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart (14 weeks), a record held for nearly eight years. She has achieved ten number-one hits on ''Billboard's'' Hot Dance Club Play chart. She is often cited as Canada's top R&B; artist.

Early life

Deborah Cox was born in Toronto to parents of Afro-Guyanese descent, grew up in Toronto, Canada and attended Earl Haig Secondary School. She began singing for TV commercials at age 12, and entered various talent shows with the help of her mother. She performed in nightclubs as a teenager, and began to write music around the same time. Cox entered the music industry in the early 1990s, performing as a backup vocalist for Celine Dion for six months. After receiving many rejection letters from Canadian record labels that claimed their "quota" had been reached, Cox moved to Los Angeles in 1994 with producer and songwriting partner, Lascelles Stephens.

Career

1995–1997: ''Deborah Cox''

In 1995, label executive Clive Davis signed Cox to Arista Records, and she released her self-titled debut album the same year. After middling success, Cox released a non-album single for the soundtrack to the 1997 movie ''Money Talks'', titled "Things Just Ain't The Same". A dance mix of the song topped the U.S. dance charts and was included on her second album, 1998's ''One Wish''.

1998–2001: ''One Wish''

The first single from that album, "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here", spent fourteen weeks at #1 on the Hot R&B; charts in the USA, as well as eight consecutive weeks at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album went platinum, becoming Cox's biggest-selling album to date. Cox then recorded a new song, "Absolutely Not", for the soundtrack to ''Dr. Dolittle 2''. Remixes of the song repeated the success of ''One Wish'''s singles on the dance charts, and the Chanel mix of "Absolutely Not" was included on her third album.

2002–2005: ''The Morning After'' and acting career

Cox's third album ''The Morning After'' was released in November 2002 on J Records.

On February 17, 2004, she made her Broadway debut in the Elton John-Tim Rice musical ''Aida'', returning to recording only to release a dance remix of "Easy As Life" as a single.

Cox also has been involved in a number of movies and soundtracks. In 2000, she played Niko Rosen in ''Love Come Down''. In 2001, her hit song "Absolutely Not" was featured in ''Dr. Dolittle 2''. In 2005, in the movie ''Blood of a Champion'' she played the role of Sharon, and again in 2005, her voice was featured in the movie ''Hotel Rwanda'' in the song "Nobody Cares".

To sustain demand for Cox's club appearances, while focused on her family and new album projects, she released a dance single titled ''House Is Not a Home'' on Nervous Records in January 2006. Later in the year, the song "Definition of Love" was used in the movie ''Akeelah and the Bee'', but was not released as a single.

2006–2007: ''Destination Moon''

Between 2005 and 2006 Deborah recorded her fourth album, called ''Destination Moon''. It is a tribute to jazz singer Dinah Washington and was released on June 19, 2007.

Cox performed the Canadian national anthem at the 2008 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans. She contributed the song "This Gift" to the soundtrack of the 2008 movie ''Meet the Browns'' and was part of Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour 2008. Deborah has also starred in "A Good Man is Hard to Find" along side Golden Brooks and Darius McCrary.

2008–2009: ''The Promise''

In early 2008, Cox & Stephens created the Deco Recording Group, her very own independent label, which is distributed through Image Entertainment. Soon she started recording songs for a new album.

Her fifth R&B; studio album, ''The Promise'', was released on November 11, 2008. The first single "Did You Ever Love Me" was released to radio on August 26, 2008 and peaked at #69 on the Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs Chart. The song "Beautiful U R" has been released digitally to iTunes and Amazon.com on September 16, 2008. It has recently reached #3 on the Canadian Radio Chart becoming her most successful single in nearly ten years. It also peaked at #3 on the Canadian Hot AC Chart (January, 2009 Chart) and hit #1 on the US Dance chart becoming her tenth song to do it. Deborah has also appeared during her promotion for "The Promise" with interviews on Entertainment Tonight Canada, E-Talk, CHUM FM, Proud FM, various CBC radio shows, and over 70 interviews across the country. The video for "Beautiful U.R." is directed by Lil X, and has been serviced on November 15, 2008. The song was certified gold for digital downloads in January, 2009. "Saying Goodbye" was sent to Urban/AC radios in February, while "The Promise" is scheduled to be released as a single in July. Cox joined forces with Kenny Lattimore for the "Timeless Promise Tour" in July 2009.

''The Promise'' debuted and peaked at #106 on the US Top 200 and on #14 on the US R&B; Album Chart selling 6,419 copies in its first week. As of September 19, 2009 it has sold about 38,700 copies in the US.

In April 2009, she was featured on the single "Leave The World Behind". The house track was produced by four DJs — Axwell, Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso and Laidback Luke. It peaked at #40 on the US Dance chart.

2010–present: The Queen Project

In September 2009 it was announced she would be joining Kelly Price and Tamia to form the super group The Queen Project. Their first single "Queen" will be released this fall with a self-titled album due early 2010. Shep Crawford will be the sole producer of this album. The women seek to empower women of all ages, races and backgrounds by doing a number of community service projects.

Personal life

Cox currently lives in Miami, Florida. She is married to her high school sweetheart and manager, Lascelles Stephens. They have three children: son, Isaiah (born July 1, 2003), and two daughters, Sumayah (born June 29, 2006), and Kaila Michelle (born February 23, 2009).

Discography

1995: ''Deborah Cox''

1998: ''One Wish''

2002: ''The Morning After''

2007: ''Destination Moon''

2008: ''The Promise''

Awards and nominations

;1996

Won: Juno Award for Best R&B;/Soul Recording (''Deborah Cox'').

Nominated: American Music Award for Favorite New Artist - Soul/Rhythm & Blues.

;1997

Nominated: Juno Award for Best Female Vocalist.

;1998

Won: Juno Award for Best R&B;/Soul Recording ("Things Just Ain't the Same").

Won: Soul Train Award for Best R&B;/Soul Single - Female ("Nobody's Supposed to Be Here").

;1999

Won: Juno Award for Best R&B;/Soul Recording (''One Wish'').

Nominated: Juno Award for Best Female Vocalist.

Won: Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best R&B;/Soul Song of the Year ("Nobody's Supposed to Be Here").

;2000

Nominated: Genie Award for Best Original Song ("Our Love" and "29").

Nominated: Soul Train Award for Best R&B;/Soul Single - Group, Band or Duo ("Same Script, Different Cast" feat. Whitney Houston).

Nominated: Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist ("We Can't Be Friends")

;2002

Nominated: Juno Award for Best Dance Recording ("Absolutely Not").

;2008

Nominated: Juno Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year (''Destination Moon'').

Received a star on walk of fame, in Toronto's Scarborough Town Centre.

;2009

Nominated: Juno Award for R&B;/Soul Recording of the Year (''The Promise'').

See also

List of number-one dance hits (United States)

List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

References

External links

Official website

Deborah Cox at MySpace

Discography

Deborah Cox at Southern Decadence

Category:1974 births Category:Arista Records artists Category:Black Canadian musicians Category:Canadian house musicians Category:Canadian expatriate musicians in the United States Category:Canadian film actors Category:Canadian female singers Category:Canadian musical theatre actors Category:Canadian pop singers Category:Canadian rhythm and blues singers Category:Canadian television actors Category:Decca Records artists Category:Canadian people of Guyanese descent Category:J Records artists Category:Juno Award winners Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Toronto Category:People from Scarborough, Ontario

de:Deborah Cox it:Deborah Cox pt:Deborah Cox ru:Кокс, Дебора sv:Deborah Cox

name	Barry Manilow
birth name	Barry Alan Pincus
born	June 17, 1943Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
background	solo_singer
genre	Pop, soft rock
occupation	Singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor
years active	1973–present
instrument	Vocals, keyboards, accordion
associated acts	Bette Midler
label
website	}}

Barry Manilow (born June 17, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana (At the Copa)."

In 1978, five of his albums were on the best-selling charts simultaneously, a feat equalled only by Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen and Johnny Mathis. He has recorded a string of Billboard hit singles and multi-platinum albums that have resulted in his being named Radio & Records number one Adult Contemporary artist and winning three straight American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist.Between 1974 - 1979 Manilow had 10 number 1 singles 5 of which were consecutive. Several well-known entertainers have given Manilow their "stamp of approval," including Sinatra, who was quoted in the 1970s regarding Manilow, "He's next." In 1988, Bob Dylan stopped Manilow at a party, hugged him and said, "Don't stop what you're doing, man. We're all inspired by you."

As well as producing and arranging albums for other artists, such as Bette Midler and Dionne Warwick, Manilow has written songs for musicals, films, and commercials. From February 2005 to December 30, 2009, he was the headliner at the Las Vegas Hilton, performing hundreds of shows before ending his relationship with the hotel. From March 2010, he has headlined at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. He has sold more than 80 million records worldwide.

Early life

Manilow was born Barry Alan Pincus to Harold Pincus and Edna Manilow. His mother's family was Jewish, while his father, who was often known by the surname "Keliher," was born to a Jewish father and Irish American mother. Barry's name was changed to Barry Manilow at the time of his Bar Mitzvah, adopting his mother's maiden name. Reared in the community of Williamsburg in northern Brooklyn, Barry attended nearby Eastern District High School, from which he graduated in 1961. In the same year, he enrolled in the Juilliard performing arts school, while working at CBS to pay his expenses.

At CBS, in 1964, Manilow met Bro Herrod, a director, who asked him to arrange some songs for a musical adaptation of the melodrama, ''The Drunkard.'' Instead, Manilow wrote an entire original score. Herrod used his composition in the Off Broadway musical, which enjoyed an eight year run at New York's 13th Street Theatre. Manilow then earned money by working as a pianist, producer, and arranger.

During this time he began to work as a commercial jingle writer, an activity that continued well into the 1970s. Many of those he wrote and/or composed he would also perform, including State Farm Insurance ("Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there..."), and Band-Aid ("I am stuck on Band-Aid, 'cause Band-Aids stick on me!"), for which he adopted a surprisingly convincing child-like voice. His singing-only credits include Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, and the famed McDonald's "You Deserve a Break Today" campaign. Manilow won two Clio Awards in 1976 for his work for Tab and Band-Aid. These jingles were a mainstay of his concerts for years as his "V.S.M.," or "Very Strange Medley."

By 1967, Manilow was the musical director for the WCBS-TV series ''Callback'', which premiered on January 27, 1968. He next conducted and arranged for Ed Sullivan's production company, arranging a new theme for ''The Late Show'', while still writing, producing, and singing his radio and television jingles. At the same time, he and Jeanne Lucas performed as a duo for a two-season run at New York's Upstairs at the Downstairs club.

Career

1970s: Success

Manilow's well-known association with Bette Midler began at the Continental Baths in New York City. He accompanied her and other artists on the piano from 1970 to 1971, and Midler chose him to assist with the production of her first two albums, ''The Divine Miss M'' (1972) and ''Bette Midler'' (1973), and act as her musical director on ''The Divine Miss M'' tour. Manilow worked with Midler for four years, from 1971 to 1975. In 1974, Bell Records released Manilow's first album, ''Barry Manilow,'' which offered an eclectic mix of piano-driven pop and guitar-driven rock music, including a song that Manilow had composed for the 1972 war drama ''Parades.''

Among other songs on the album were "Cloudburst", and "Could It Be Magic." The latter's music was based on Chopin's "Prelude in C Minor, Opus 28, Number 20", and provided Donna Summer with one of her major hits. (It was also covered by Take That in the 1990s, as an up-beat disco version of the song. Take That have since performed Manilow's original version in their Beautiful World Tour.) When Manilow's record company, Bell Records, merged with other labels, new entity Arista Records formed. Under the auspices of its head Clive Davis many artists were dropped. Davis was reassured by the Manilow acquisition after seeing him perform as the opening act at a Dionne Warwick concert.

The partnership began to gain traction in 1974, with the release of Manilow's second album, ''Barry Manilow II,'' originally titled ''Sweetwater Jones'' on Bell Records and given its eventual title when reissued on Arista, which contained the breakthrough number-one hit, "Mandy." Manilow had not wanted to record "Mandy," which had originally been titled "Brandy" and was co-written and originally recorded by Scott English, but the song was included at the insistence of Davis. Following the success of ''Barry Manilow II,'' the first Bell Records album release was re-mixed and re-issued on Arista Records as ''Barry Manilow I.'' When Manilow went on his first tour, he included, in his show, what he called "A V.S.M.," or "A Very Strange Medley." As previously stated, this was a sampling of some of the commercial jingles that he had written, composed, and/or sung. Beginning with Manilow's March 22, 1975, appearance on ''American Bandstand'' to promote the second album, a productive friendship with Dick Clark started. Numerous appearances by Manilow on Clark's productions of ''Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve,'' singing his original seasonal favorite "It's Just Another New Year's Eve," ''American Bandstand'' anniversary shows, ''American Music Awards'' performances, and his 1985 television movie ''Copacabana'' are among their projects together.

"Mandy" was the start of a string of hit singles and albums that lasted through the rest of the 1970s to the early 1980s, coming from the multi-platinum and multi-hit albums ''Tryin' to Get the Feeling,'' ''This One's for You,'' ''Even Now,'' and ''One Voice''. Despite being a songwriter in his own right, several of Manilow's commercial successes were with songs by others. Among hits he did not write or compose are "Mandy," "Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again" by David Pomerantz, "Weekend in New England" (by Randy Edelman), "Looks Like We Made It" by Richard Kerr and Will Jennings, "Can't Smile Without You" and "Ready to Take a Chance Again." Ironically, another one of his hits that Manilow did not write or compose himself was his number 1 "I Write The Songs" (by Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys). According to album liner notes, Manilow did, however, co-produce them with Ron Dante and arrange them.

Manilow's breakthrough in Britain came with the release of "Even Now," the first of many top 20 albums on that side of the Atlantic. This was quickly followed by ''Manilow Magic – The Best Of Barry Manilow,'' also known as ''Greatest Hits.'' On its initial release it was marketed with a large television campaign by the mail order label "Teledisc." In the late 1970s and early 1980s, ABC aired four variety television specials starring and executive produced by Manilow. ''The Barry Manilow Special'' with Penny Marshall as his guest premiered on March 2, 1977 to an audience of 37 million. The breakthrough special was nominated for four Emmys and won in the category of "Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Special." ''The Second Barry Manilow Special'' in 1978, with Ray Charles as his guest, was also nominated for four Emmys.

right|Manilow in 1979|thumbManilow's "Ready To Take a Chance Again" originated in the film ''Foul Play,'' which also featured "Copacabana," from his 4th studio album "Even Now." "Ready To Take A Chance Again" was nominated that year for the "Best Original Song" Oscar. ''Copacabana'' would later take the form of a musical television movie, starring Manilow, and three musical plays. On February 11, 1979, a concert from Manilow's sold-out dates at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, California aired on HBO series ''Standing Room Only,'' which was the first pay-television show to pose a serious challenge to network primetime specials in the ratings. From the same tour in 1978, a one-hour special from Manilow's sold out concert at the Royal Albert Hall aired in the UK.

On May 23, 1979, ABC aired ''The Third Barry Manilow Special,'' with John Denver as his guest. This special was nominated for two Emmy awards and won for "Outstanding Achievement in Choreography." Also in 1979, Manilow produced Dionne Warwick's "comeback" album ''Dionne,'' her first to go platinum. He scored a top ten hit of his own in the fall of 1979 with the song "Ships" (written and composed by Ian Hunter, former lead singer of Mott the Hoople) from the album "One Voice."

1980s

The 1980s gave Manilow the adult contemporary chart-topping songs "The Old Songs", "Somewhere Down the Road", "Read 'Em and Weep" (a Meat Loaf cover, written by Jim Steinman) and a remake of the 1941 Jule Styne and Frank Loesser standard "I Don't Want to Walk Without You." Manilow continued having high radio airplay throughout the decade. In the UK, Manilow had five sold-out performances at Royal Albert Hall. In the United States, at Radio City Music Hall (1984) his 10-night run set a box-office sales record of nearly $2 million, making him the top draw in the then 52-year history of the venue. In 1980, Manilow's ''One Voice'' special, with Dionne Warwick as his guest, was nominated for an Emmy for "Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction".

Also in 1980, a concert from Manilow's sold-out shows at England's Wembley Arena was broadcast while he was on a world tour. Manilow released the self-titled ''Barry'' (1980), which was his first album to not reach the top ten in the United States, stopping at #15. The album contained "I Made It Through The Rain" (originally a minor hit for its writer, Gerard Kenny) and "Bermuda Triangle." The album ''If I Should Love Again'' followed in 1981, containing "The Old Songs," "Let's Hang On," and "Somewhere Down The Road." This was the first of his own albums that Manilow produced without Ron Dante, who had co-produced all the previous albums. Manilow's sold-out concert at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena in Pittsburgh aired nationally on Showtime, and locally on Philadelphia's now-defunct PRISM. In 1982, a concert from his sold out Royal Albert Hall show was broadcast in England. The live album and video ''Barry Live in Britain'' also came from his Royal Albert Hall shows.

On August 27, 1983, Manilow performed a landmark open air concert at Blenheim Palace in Britain. It was the first such event ever held at that venue and was attended by a conservative estimate of 40,000 people. This concert was also taped for airing on Showtime. In December 1983, Manilow was reported to have endowed the music departments at six major universities in the United States and Canada. The endowments were part of a continuing endeavor by Manilow to recognize and encourage new musical talent.

In 1984 Manilow released ''2:00 AM Paradise Cafe,'' a jazz/blues collection of original barroom tunes recorded in one live take in the studio. That same year, Showtime aired a documentary of Manilow recording the album with a number of jazz legends, such as Sarah Vaughn and Mel Tormé. In 1984 and 1985, England aired two one-hour concert specials from his National Exhibition Centre (NEC) concerts. In 1985, Manilow left Arista Records for RCA Records. There he released the pop album ''Manilow'', and began a phase of international music, as he performed songs and duets in French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese, among other languages. The ''Manilow'' album was a complete about face from the ''Paradise Cafe'' album, containing a number of tracks of a modern uptempo and synthesized quality. In 1985, Japan aired a Manilow concert special where he played "Sakura" on the koto.

In his only lead acting role, he portrayed Tony Starr in a 1985 CBS film based on ''Copacabana'', alongside Annette O'Toole as Lola Lamarr and Joseph Bologna as Rico. Manilow penned all the songs for the movie, with lyrics provided by established collaborators Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman, and released ''Copacabana: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album'' on RCA Records. In October 1986, Manilow, along with Bruce Sussman, Tom Scott, and Charlie Fox, went to Washington, D.C. for two days of meetings with legislators, including lunch with then Senator Al Gore (D-TN). They were there to lobby against a copyright bill put forward by local television broadcasters that would mandate songwriter-producer source licensing of theme and incidental music on syndicated television show reruns and would disallow use of the blanket license now in effect. The songwriters said without the blanket license, artists would have to negotiate up front with producers individually, without knowing if a series would be a success. The license now pays according to a per-use formula. Manilow said that such a bill would act as a precedent for broadcasters to get rid of the blanket license entirely.

The following year, McGraw-Hill published his autobiography, ''Sweet Life: Adventures on the Way to Paradise'', which had taken him about three years to complete. While promoting the work, Manilow defended his music in a telephone interview: "I live in laid-back L.A., but in my heart, I'm an energetic New Yorker and that's what has always come out of my music. I've always been surprised when the critics said I made wimpy little ballads". Manilow returned to Arista Records in 1987 with the release of ''Swing Street.'' The album, a mixture of traditional after-dark and techno jazz, contained "Brooklyn Blues," an autobiographical song for Manilow, and "Hey Mambo," an uptempo Latin style duet with Kid Creole, produced with the help of Emilio Estefan, Jr., founder of Miami Sound Machine.

In March 1988, CBS aired Manilow's ''Big Fun on Swing Street'' special. It featured songs and special guests from his ''Swing Street'' and ''2:00 AM Paradise Cafe'' albums, including Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Phyllis Hyman, Stanley Clarke, Carmen McRae, Tom Scott, and Uncle Festive, a band within Manilow's band at the time. The special was nominated for two Emmys in technical categories, and won in the category of "Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music program".

In 1988, he performed "Please Don't Be Scared" and "Mandy/Could It Be Magic" at ''That's What Friends Are For: AIDS Concert '88'', a benefit concert for the Warwick Foundation headed by Dionne Warwick and shown on Showtime a few years later. In the 1988 Walt Disney Pictures animated feature ''Oliver & Company,'' Bette Midler's character sang a new Manilow composition called "Perfect Isn't Easy." The 1989 release of ''Barry Manilow'', which contained "Please Don't Be Scared," "Keep Each Other Warm," and "The One That Got Away," ended Manilow's streak of albums of original self-written material (he neither wrote nor arranged any of the songs except for two) and began a phase of his recording career consisting of covers and compilations.

From April 18 to June 10, 1989, Manilow put on a show called ''Barry Manilow at the Gershwin'', making 44 appearances at the Gershwin Theatre (also known as the Uris Theatre), where, by coincidence, he recorded ''Barry Manilow Live'' in 1976. A best-selling 90-minute video of the same show was released the following year as ''Barry Manilow Live On Broadway''. The Showtime one-hour special ''Barry Manilow SRO on Broadway'' consisted of edited highlights from this video. Manilow followed this set of shows with a world tour of the Broadway show.

1990s

In the 1990s, Manilow released a number of cover tunes. It started with the 1989 release ''Barry Manilow'', continued with his 1990 Christmas LP ''Because It's Christmas''. Consequent "event" albums followed including: ''Showstoppers'', a collection of Broadway songs (1991), ''Singin' with the Big Bands'' (1994) and a late 1970s collection ''Summer of '78'' (1996) which included the hit "I Go Crazy", formerly a hit for Paul Davis in 1978. The decade ended with Manilow recording a tribute to Frank Sinatra ''Manilow Sings Sinatra'' (1998) released months after Sinatra's death.

In 1990, Japan aired ''National Eolia Special: Barry Manilow On Broadway'' where he sang the title song "Eolia", which was used as a song there in a commercial for an air conditioner company of the same name, as well as other songs from his 1989–1990 ''Live on Broadway'' tour. In the early 1990s, Manilow signed on with Don Bluth to compose the songs with lyricists Jack Feldman and Bruce Sussman for three animated films. He co-wrote the Broadway-style musical scores for ''Thumbelina'' (1994) and ''The Pebble and the Penguin'' (1995). The third film, entitled ''Rapunzel'', was shelved after the poor performance of ''Pebble''. Manilow was also to be cast as the voice of a cricket. Manilow also composed the score and wrote two songs with Bruce Sussman for ''Disney Sing Along Songs: Let's Go To The Circus''.

On February 19, 1992, Manilow testified before the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and Judicial Administration House Committee in support of H.R. 3204 ''The Audio Home Recording Act of 1991''. The bill was signed into law on October 28, 1992 by President George H. W. Bush. The Act, a historic compromise between the consumer electronics and music industries, became effective immediately. In 1993, PBS aired, as a fundraiser, ''Barry Manilow: The Best of Me'', which was taped at Wembley Arena in England earlier that same year. The BBC also played a one-hour version of the same show including "The Best of Me", sung during the concert, as a bonus song or "lucky strike extra" as Manilow says, not seen in ''The Greatest Hits...and then some'', the video release of the show; however, the song was included on the DVD of the same title, with Manilow seated in front of a black curtain, lip-syncing to the recording. Manilow branched out in another direction and, with long-time lyricist Bruce Sussman, launched ''Copacabana'', a musical play based on previous Manilow-related adaptations. They wrote new songs and it ran for two years on the London West End, and a tour company formed.

In December 1996, A&E; aired ''Barry Manilow: Live By Request'', the first of his two ''Live By Request'' appearances. The broadcast was A&E;'s most successful music program, attracting an estimated 2.4 million viewers. The show was also simulcast on the radio. In March 1997, VH-1 aired ''Barry Manilow: The Summer of '78'', a one-hour special of Manilow solo at the piano being interviewed and playing his greatest hits as well as songs from ''Summer of '78'' his latest release at the time. In another collaboration between Manilow and Sussman they co-wrote the musical ''Harmony'', which previewed October 7 to November 23, 1997 at the La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, California. Later in 2003, ''Harmony'' was originally scheduled for a tryout run in Philadelphia before going to Broadway, but was canceled after financial difficulties. After a legal battle with Mark Schwartz, the show's producer, Manilow and Sussman in 2005 won back the rights to the musical.

On October 23, 1999, NBC aired the two-hour special ''StarSkates Salute to Barry Manilow'' taped at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada featuring numerous figure skaters performing to Manilow's music. Manilow also performed.

2000s

In the year 2000, Manilow had two specials, ''Manilow Country'' and ''Manilow Live!'', taped over two consecutive days at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville, Tennessee. On April 11, 2000, The Nashville Network (TNN) aired the two-hour ''Manilow Country'', which featured country stars Trisha Yearwood, Neal McCoy, Deana Carter, Jo Dee Messina, Lorrie Morgan, Kevin Sharp, Lila McCann, Gillian Welch and Jaci Velasquez singing their favorite Manilow hits with a "country" twist; Manilow also performed. This "special" was TNN's first High Definition (HD) broadcast and became one of TNN's highest rated concert specials.

In June 2000, DirectTV aired the two-hour concert special ''Manilow Live!'' where Manilow had his band, a 30-piece orchestra, and a choir. This HDTV special documented the concert tour at the time with the greatest hits of his career and was also released to video. Also that year, he worked with Monica Mancini on her Concord album ''The Dreams of Johnny Mercer'' which included seven songs Manilow wrote to Mercer's lyrics. Meanwhile, Manilow's record contract with Arista Records was not renewed due to new management. He then got a contract at Concord Records, a jazz-oriented label in California, and started work on the long-anticipated concept album, ''Here at the Mayflower''. The album was another eclectic mix of styles, almost entirely composed and produced by Manilow himself. While Manilow was at Concord Records, the Barry Manilow Scholarship was awarded for four consecutive years from 2002 to 2005 to the six highest-achieving students to reward excellence in the art and craft of lyric writing. The UCLA Extension course "Writing Lyrics That Succeed and Endure," taught by long time Manilow collaborator, Marty Panzer, and each student received three additional "master class" advanced sessions as well as a three-hour private, one-on-one session with Mr. Panzer. Scholarship recipients were selected by the instructor based on progress made within the course, lyric writing ability, and the instructor's assessment of real potential in the field of songwriting. In February 2002, Manilow returned to the charts when Arista released a greatest hits album, ''Ultimate Manilow''. On May 18, 2002, Manilow returned to CBS with ''Ultimate Manilow'', his first special at the network since his ''Big Fun on Swing Street'' special in 1988. The special was filmed in the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California and was nominated for an Emmy in the category of "Outstanding Music Direction".

Produced by Manilow, ''Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook'' was first released on September 30, 2003. It was the first time that Bette Midler had worked with Barry in more than twenty years. Instantly successful, the album went gold and they worked together again on a 2005 follow-up album entitled ''Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook''. On December 3, 2003, A&E; aired ''A Barry Manilow Christmas: Live by Request'', his second of two concerts for the series. The two-hour special had Manilow taking requests for Christmas songs performed live with a band and an orchestra. Manilow told the audience that he was what Clay Aiken was going to look like in thirty years, thus acknowledging an ongoing comparison between the two. Also on the special were guests Cyndi Lauper, Jose Feliciano, and Bette Midler (Midler, busy preparing her own tour in LA, appeared only in a pre-taped segment).

2004 brought the release of two albums. These were, consecutively, a live album, ''2 Nights Live!'' (BMG Strategic Marketing Group, 2004), and ''Scores: Songs from Copacabana & Harmony'', an album of Manilow singing songs from his musicals. ''Scores'' was the last of Manilow's creative projects with the Concord label. During his third appearance on ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'' on September 15, 2004, Winfrey announced that Manilow is one of the most requested guests of all time on her show. On the show he promoted his ''One Night Live! One Last Time!'' tour. It was around this time period where Manilow appeared for the first time on the mainstream FOX program ''American Idol'' in which his back-up singer, Debra Byrd, doubles as voice coach on the series. Manilow also appeared on Clay Aiken's TV special, ''A Clay Aiken Christmas''.

Las Vegas Hilton executives in a press conference with Manilow on December 14, 2004 announced his signing to a long-term engagement as the house show. In March 2006, Manilow's engagement was extended through 2008.

Manilow returned to Arista Records under Davis for a new covers album, released January 31, 2006, called ''The Greatest Songs of the Fifties''. Manilow said he was blown away with the idea, which Davis presented to him when he visited his Las Vegas show. "When he suggested this idea to me, I slapped my forehead and said, 'Why hasn't anyone thought of this idea?'" Manilow said. It was an unexpected success, debuting at number one in the Billboard 200, marking the first time a Manilow album debuted at the top of the album chart as well as the first time a Manilow album has reached number one in 29 years. It was eventually certified Platinum in the U.S., and sold over 3 million copies worldwide.

In March 2006, PBS aired ''Barry Manilow: Music and Passion'', a Hilton concert taped exclusively for the network's fundraising drive. Manilow was nominated for two Emmys, winning for "Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program". A sequel album to his best-selling fifties tribute album, ''The Greatest Songs of the Sixties'' was released on October 31, 2006 including songs such as "And I Love Her" and "Can't Help Falling in Love". It nearly repeated the success of its predecessor, debuting at #2 in the Billboard 200. In January 2007, Manilow returned to his hometown of New York City for three shows at Madison Square Garden. One highlight was the showing onscreen of Manilow performing in one of his first television appearances while the "live" Manilow played along onstage.

The same year saw him playing several shows on the east coast of the United States in August. Four more took place in December, half in the NY tri-state area in Uniondale and East Rutherford, and 2 in Cleveland, Ohio and Detroit. Manilow launched another short tour in early 2008, visiting several large venues including the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. A further album in the decades themed series went on release September 18, 2007. ''Barry Manilow: Songs from the Seventies'', a PBS concert special based on the work, was taped in Manilow's home town, Brooklyn, October 2007. The show aired on PBS December 2007 and was rebroadcast over New Year 2009. He appeared on American Idol on February 3, 2009 during Hollywood Week to give advice to the contestants.

In October 2009, Manilow TV, a monthly video subscription service, launched. Once a month, Barry Manilow picks a different concert from his personal archive to show to subscribers. The first month, Episode #1, showed performances from April 20 & 21, 1996 at Wembley Arena in London.

It is confirmed as of October 7, 2009 that Manilow will be concluding his Resident show at the Hilton "Ultimate Manilow The Hits" on December 30, 2009. Manilow opened his new show "Manilow Paris Las Vegas" at the Paris Hotel & Casino at Las Vegas in March, 2010.

2010

On January 26, 2010, Manilow released his new album ''The Greatest Love Songs of all Time''.

In December 2010, Barry was nominated for a Grammy award in the category Best Traditional Pop Album for "The Greatest Love Songs of All Time."

On December 11, 2010, Manilow performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway.

2011

Manilow completed work on his new album, ''15 Minutes'', in March 2011, with his official Facebook page announcing that he had completed putting 'finishing touches' to the album on March 16, 2011.

On March 13, 2011, Barry appeared at the Olivier Awards 2011 at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, singing Copacabana with the BBC Concert Orchestra and also singing with hit West End star, Kerry Ellis.

From March 2011, he is hosting "They Write the Songs", a 10-part documentary series for BBC Radio 2 in which he looks at the life and work of popular composers.

In June 2011 Barry said, in an interview with the L.A Times, that his new album is influenced by Britney Spears, the album is about the pleasures and pitfalls of fame. It was influenced directly by Spear's personal struggles in late 2007.

In June 2011 Manilow's "15 Minutes" debuted at number 7 on the U.S Billboard Hot 100 Album Chart.

Newsmakers

Throughout his career, Barry Manilow has made media headlines on various subjects from his health to crashing his Range Rover.

His mother, Edna Manilow, explained how her son got a scar on his right cheek near his nose: "How did you notice that? The scar on his cheek here? Well, when he was little, he had a little girlfriend, Elizabeth, and she pushed him and he fell and I didn't pay too much attention to it and then it started infecting — you know, it got an infection, and I had to take him to the hospital and it healed. But it stayed, obviously, you all noticed it. He puts on make-up."

On October 25, 1978, one hour before his scheduled debut at the Olympia Theatre he fractured his ankle. Manilow was rushed to a doctor who taped the injury minutes before he stepped onstage. Manilow insisted on going on and doing his complete show, which included an intricate disco dance in the popular "Copacabana" production number.

In an April 1979 Ladies Home Journal interview, Manilow admitted to experimenting with marijuana, stating he lost the taste for it quickly.

On February 4, 1982 Manilow, who was bedridden in a Paris hotel with bronchial pneumonia, had been ordered by doctors to cancel a nine-concert European tour; he had fallen ill earlier that week following completion of the month-long United Kingdom leg of the tour. He was ordered to remain in bed for at least a week and would probably return to his Los Angeles home when he was able to travel, said publicist Heidi Ellen Robinson.

Manilow sprained his ankle October 6, 1983 on the stage at London's Royal Festival Hall while performing at a sold-out benefit concert before the Prince and Princess of Wales, who hosted the show. Manilow was treated and released from a London hospital.

He again underwent emergency oral surgery on December 7, 1986 at the Hospital of the Good Samaritan in Los Angeles to remove a non-cancerous cyst in his upper jaw that exploded. Three days later he was released in good condition from the hospital. During the emergency, he used his friend Elizabeth Taylor's dental surgeon.

On May 13, 1989 Manilow was rushed to Lenox Hill Hospital during intermission at Broadway's Gershwin Theater cancelling the second half of his show. His agent Susan Dubow said he was "feeling fine" after being forced from the Broadway stage because of an adverse reaction to medication prescribed for a stomach ailment. Dubow also added that Manilow was ready to return to the stage to complete the run of his concert show, which was then extended one week to June 3.

In 1989, Manilow told ''Us Magazine'' he was hoping for a dinner invitation from his new Bel-Air neighbors, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, but complained they cramp his style of sunbathing in the nude. "I thought it was pretty hot, but there is Secret Service all over the place. I always know when they are coming home because of all the helicopters. If I am out there sunbathing in the nude, I go, 'S---, the Reagans are coming home.' But, who knows, maybe they will invite me over for dinner one night."

In 1989 an American tabloid claimed he was engaged to porn star Robin Byrd. On a June 22, 1989 appearance on ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'', Manilow was asked by Carson about the headline story. He disputed the story telling Carson he is just friends with Byrd and an innocent picture was taken and that there is no truth to them being engaged. After he met Byrd, his band gave him a videotape of ''Debbie Does Dallas'' as a present for his birthday. Manilow added to Carson that he can't watch his friend doing that.

To help with the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo in 1989 which affected the Charleston, South Carolina, area, Manilow held a benefit concert November 12, 1989 at the University of South Carolina's Carolina Coliseum in Columbia, where the $10 tickets sold out in three hours, and asked concertgoers to bring canned food to be donated to residents in disaster areas. Before his concert, Mayor T. Patton Adams named that day "Barry Manilow Day" and Manilow presented the Red Cross and the Salvation Army with checks of $42,500 each.

On February 27, 1992, Manilow was the Master of Ceremonies for friend Elizabeth Taylor's 60th birthday bash at Disneyland in Anaheim, California and sang "I Made It Through the Rain" to Taylor who was accompanied by her eighth husband, Larry Fortensky.

On January 15, 1994, 3 hours before showtime Manilow canceled a performance at an Ethnic Pride and Heritage Festival hosted at the Convention Center in Atlantic City, NJ. Benefactors included the Community Foundation of New Jersey as well as United Hospitals Medical Center Foundation and Newark Museum in Newark during the pre-inaugural activities for then New Jersey Governor-elect Christie Whitman. Manilow said in a statement that he was specifically told in writing the concert would be part of a non-partisan event. Organizers approached Donald Trump who shuffled his entertainment schedule at Trump Plaza and dispatched Paul Anka to substitute for Manilow. Manilow refunded the cash advance paid, shortly afterward.

Manilow, on February 8, 1994, sued Los Angeles radio station KBIG (104.3 FM), seeking $13 million in damages and $15 million in punitive damages because their ad was causing irreparable damage to his professional reputation. The ad, a 30-second spot introduced that January 31, suggested that people listen to KBIG because it does not play Manilow's music. The lawsuit was filed in Orange County Superior Court by Manilow's attorney C. Tucker Cheadle of Hastings, Clayton & Tucker in Los Angeles. Two days later, KBIG/104.3 FM agreed to drop the commercial poking fun at the singer, but a lawyer representing his business interests stopped short of agreeing to withdraw a $28 million lawsuit.

On February 20, 1996, just after noon, Manilow wrecked his 1993 Range Rover in a four-vehicle crash on a rain-slick interstate in Los Angeles while heading to his Bel-Air home. No one was injured in the accident. Manilow, who wasn't hurt, stood on the shoulder of Interstate 5 signing autographs and posing for snapshots until an aide showed up and took him home, his spokeswoman Susan Dubow said.

In March 1996, Manilow had photorefractive keratectomy eye surgery on one of his eyes. ''People'' Weekly, in their June 26, 2000 issue, reported that Manilow had eye surgery done by Los Angeles doctor Robert K. Maloney, but incorrectly stated it was LASIK. Manilow is quoted saying he now connects with the audience instead of "seeing a blur."

In October 1996, it was reported that Manilow sold his gated, Bel-Air home of 17 years with a recording studio for close to its $2.45 million asking price and was looking to buy another residence in the Los Angeles area. He had multiple offers on the 1950s home of with many pathways, a long driveway and city views. It finally went to a local television producer. The nearby Hotel Bel-Air supposedly regularly provided Manilow with room service.

On June 26, 1997, Manilow was diagnosed with bronchitis before a scheduled performance in Austin, Texas, his spokeswoman Susan Dubow said the following day. Four other shows also had to be postponed. Manilow was back on the road that July 8 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dubow said this is only the second time in Manilow's career that illness forced him to postpone a performance.

Arizona Court of Appeals Judge Philip Espinosa, in another notable headline story, sued Manilow over the volume of a December 23, 1993 concert he attended with his wife. The judge said in a lawsuit he has had a constant ringing in his ears and nearly blew his ears out. Espinosa sought unspecified damages, and the trial was set for September 23, 1997. The suit also names Manilow's production company, an Arizona concert promoter and the city of Tucson, which runs the convention center where the concert was held. In July 1997, to settle the suit it was reported that Manilow donated $5,000 to American Tinnitus Association, an ear-disorder association.

On May 22, 1999, Manilow was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital after suffering an adverse reaction to dental surgery. According to Manilow's spokesperson Susan Dubow, he spent two days in the hospital with an infected mouth and then was "resting comfortably at home." Since the initial operation in 1986 when Manilow had a benign tumor removed from the roof of his mouth he has had to have minor dental surgery several times over the years. It was following such a procedure that Manilow's mouth became infected, Dubow explained.

In October 2001, Manilow visited Ground Zero in New York City.

On May 28, 2003, Manilow injured his nose in the middle of night when he awoke disoriented and walked into a wall when he returned to his Palm Springs home after spending two weeks in Malibu working on longtime friend Bette Midler's upcoming Rosemary Clooney tribute album. He passed out for four hours after the accident but was OK, his manager said.

On July 29, 2003, Manilow had a complete upper and lower facelift, which includes the removal of drooping skin from the eyelids and the general tightening of facial skin. Manilow was photographed after the surgery with what looked like a surgical wrap under his chin while leaving a plastic surgeon's office wearing a disguise of dark glasses and a blonde wig in the streets of Beverly Hills, California in an effort to escape without recognition.

On January 31, 2004, Manilow was treated for stress-related chest pains during a 24-hour stay at the Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California. Manilow was rushed to the hospital after two days of arbitration in a lawsuit where he was fighting to win back the rights to the original stage musical ''Harmony'' from producer Mark Schwartz. Manilow was diagnosed with an atrial fibrillation. After his heart rate returned to normal, doctors permitted him to return home.

In what is called a "Platinum Package," Manilow offers fans a pre-concert meet-and-greet, champagne and photo session with front row seats, for a price: $1,500 each (the money goes to Manilow's foundation). Formerly, each participant was allowed to do this just once (Manilow's people did keep track). However, in recent years, his management has allowed repeaters: now it's once per person per year.

To help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, for every US dollar donated by his fans to the American Red Cross through the Manilow Fund for Health and Hope website, Manilow personally matched, and the fund itself also matched, tripling the original donation. The fund delivered $150,000 in less than 48 hours to the American Red Cross, and hoped to raise a grand total of $300,000. On July 14, 2005 Manilow appeared on ''Larry King Live'' whereby the host alluded to the star's hushed social life. Manilow stated that he would hope fans concentrated on his music.

Manilow made headlines in June 2006 when Australian officials blasted his music between 9pm until midnight every Friday, Saturday and Sunday to deter gangs of youths from congregating in a residential area late at night. On July 18, 2006, Manilow released a tongue-in-cheek statement saying that the youths might like his music.

On August 29, 2006, Manilow had hip surgery at a Southern California hospital. According to his press release, he tore the labrum (cartilage) in both hips. When the symptoms of extreme pain and discomfort did not go away following preliminary treatment, an MRI arthogram was performed and the labrum tears were discovered.

Manilow's first appearance back from the surgery took place at a concert in Atlantic City, with Barry springing forth from a golden wheelchair and holding his 2006 Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.

Discography

Awards

1977 Grammy – I Write The Songs – Song of the Year (award went to the song's writer Bruce Johnston)

1977 Emmy for Outstanding Special – Comedy, Variety or Music – ''The Barry Manilow Special''

1977 Special Tony Award – ''Barry Manilow on Broadway''

1978 American Music Awards – Best Pop/Rock Male Artist

1979 Grammy – Copacabana Best Pop Male Vocal Performance

1979 American Music Awards – Best Pop/Rock Male Artist

1980 American Music Awards – Best Pop/Rock Male Artist

2002 Songwriter's Hall of Fame

2006 Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program – ''Barry Manilow: Music And Passion''

2007 RIAA – Plaque commemorating worldwide record sales of 75 million

2009 Clio Awards Honorary award for prior work with commercial jingles

? Kentucky Colonel

2009 Inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame

Selected TV and movie appearances

''Donny & Marie'' in 1977.

ABC special ''The Stars Salute Israel At 30'' on May 8, 1978.

May 8, 1982, ''Goldie & Kids'' a special where he acted in skits and sang "One Voice" and "I Am Your Child" with hostess Goldie Hawn.

On September 17, 1987 he appeared in the star-studded CBS special ''We The People 200: The Constitutional Gala'' taped at the Philadelphia Civic Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to debut his song "Let Freedom Ring" where President Ronald Reagan was in attendance.

On May 17, 1993, Manilow made a guest appearance on the CBS show ''Murphy Brown''. On the show, Candice Bergen's title character had frequently made reference to her hatred of Manilow's music, but after she became a mother, Manilow appeared to sing her a sweet version of his tune "I Am Your Child," winning her over with the song about a parent's bond with a child. Later that year he appeared in England on ''Surprise! Surprise!'' with Cilla Black where he performed the new single he had recorded with Cilla of "You'll Never Walk Alone".

Guest appearance in a 2001 episode of ''Ally McBeal''. He played both a hallucination of Ally's and himself on stage at the end of the show.

Played himself in a cameo in the 2002 dark comedy ''Unconditional Love'' starring Kathy Bates and Rupert Everett where "Can't Smile Without You" also played a key role in the plot.

On December 11, 2003, Manilow appeared on the NBC show ''Will & Grace'' as himself backstage between tour stops. The name of the episode is

"Fanilow" as in a fan of Manilow.

On April 20, 2004 – April 21, 2004 Manilow reunited with Debra Byrd his former backup singer who is now the vocal coach at ''American Idol'' when he appeared as a guest judge and worked with the top seven finalists for the popular FOX variety prize show where the season three contestants sang his songs as the theme for the week.

On December 8, 2004, he was a guest on the NBC special ''A Clay Aiken Christmas'', hosted by the former ''Idol'' runner-up.

On March 21, 2006 – March 22, 2006 Manilow returned to ''American Idol'' in season five when 1950s music was the theme. He again helped the top eleven finalists to fine tune their performances and again sang on the results show.

In November 2006, he appeared on Logo's reality show ''Jacob and Joshua: Nemesis Rising'' as himself in Las Vegas for a recording session with the twins.

On November 23, 2006, Manilow appeared live on a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and performed the song "What the World Needs Now" on the television broadcast of the parade.

On December 2, 2006, Manilow was the celebrity guest and theme for the week on series three of ''The X Factor'' where he assisted the top four acts with their performances.

On December 12, 2006, appeared live at the 2006 Royal Variety Performance and performed a selection from his latest album.

''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' on October 31, 2007 on November 17, 2008 and on July 12, 2011.

He guest starred on ''Family Guy'' in "Back to the Woods" on February 17, 2008

He guest starred on ''Strictly Come Dancing'' on December 7, 2008

Barry narrated and wrote original music for the Ocean Spray Christmas special "Cranberry Christmas".

He appeared as a guest on ''Friday Night with Jonathan Ross'' (UK) on September 11, 2009.

On October 2, 2009 he appeared on BBC Radio 4's ''Desert Island Discs''.

He appeared as a guest on ''The Jay Leno Show'' (US) on December 10, 2009.

He appeared as a guest on ''The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien'' (US) on January 21, 2010. He mentioned that, before he became famous, he wrote advertising jingles, including two well-known jingles for Band-Aid and State Farm. Also, he commented on his diet of "forgetting to eat".

On February 6, 2010, he was a guest on ''The Jimmy Kimmel Show'' where Jimmy showed a photo of him in the 1970s and discussed his new album.

On December 11, 2010 he ended the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo, Norway singing four of his most known and popular songs. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.

On June 15, 2011 he appeared on "Good Morning America" performing his new album, "Fifteen Minutes".

On June 23, 2011 he appeared on CNN's ''Piers Morgan Tonight''.

On June 24, 2011 he appeared on the UK's ''Paul O'Grady Live''.

Notes and references

External links

Barry Manilow official website

Manilow TV

Category:1943 births Category:Living people Category:American composers Category:American crooners Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:American musical theatre actors Category:American musicians of Irish descent Category:Arista Records artists Category:Bell Records artists Category:Concord Records artists Category:Emmy Award winners Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Jewish American composers and songwriters Category:Jingle writers Category:Juilliard School alumni Category:People from Brooklyn Category:RCA Records Category:Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees Category:Tony Award winners

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name	Annie Lennox OBE
background	solo_singer
birth name	Ann Lennox
birth date	December 25, 1954
origin	Aberdeen, Scotland
occupation	Singer-songwriter, activist, humanitarian ambassador
genre	Pop, Rock, Blue-eyed soul, New Wave, R&B;
instrument	Vocals, piano, keyboards, guitar, accordion, harmonium
years active	1975–present
associated acts	The Catch, The Tourists, Eurythmics
label	RCA, Arista (1981–2009)Island, Decca (2010–)
website	www.annielennox.com }}

Annie Lennox, OBE (born Ann Lennox, 25 December 1954), is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s as part of the new wave band The Tourists, she and fellow musician David A. Stewart went on to achieve major international success in the 1980s as Eurythmics.

Lennox embarked on a solo career in the 1990s with her debut album, ''Diva'' (1992), which produced several hit singles including "Why" and "Walking on Broken Glass". To date, she has released five solo studio albums and a compilation album, ''The Annie Lennox Collection'' (2009). She is the recipient of eight Brit Awards, four Grammy Awards and an MTV Video Music Award. In 2002, Lennox received a Billboard Century Award; the highest accolade from ''Billboard'' Magazine. In 2004, she won both the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Into the West", written for the soundtrack to the feature film ''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King''.

In addition to her career as a musician, Lennox is also a political and social activist, notable for raising money and awareness for HIV charities in Africa. She also objected to the unauthorized use of the 1999 Eurythmics song "I Saved the World Today" in an election broadcast for Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in 2009. In 2011, Lennox received an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II for her "tireless charity campaigns and championing of humanitarian causes".

Known as a pop culture icon for her distinctive contralto vocals and visual performances, Lennox has been named "The Greatest White Soul Singer Alive" by VH1 and one of The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time by ''Rolling Stone''. She has earned the distinction of "most successful female British artist in UK music history" due to her global commercial success since the early 1980s. Including her work within Eurythmics, Lennox is one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 80 million records worldwide.

Early life

Lennox was born on Christmas Day, 1954, in Summerfield Maternity hospital, Aberdeen. Her father worked at the shipyard, and her mother was a cook until she became a housewife. Lennox was an only child and the family lived in a small two-roomed apartment in a tenement with communal laundry facilities. Despite her family's financial status, Lennox had piano lessons at school from the age of seven years at the cost of £4.00 per term. She was interested in singing and, with plenty of time to herself, passed some of the time by singing along to the popular music of the time, including music by The Beatles. She was an unhappy teenager, partly because of a struggle over boundaries for her independence with her overprotective father. She attended Aberdeen High School for Girls, now Harlaw Academy. In 1964, her early talent was demonstrated when she came second in a talent contest at a Butlins holiday camp. She sang the song "Mairi's Wedding".

In the 1970s, Lennox won a place at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she studied the flute and classical music for three years. She lived on a student grant and worked at part-time jobs for extra money. Lennox was unhappy during her time at the Royal Academy partly because she was lonely and shy, and she missed many history-of-music lessons.

Lennox's flute teacher's final report stated: "Ann has not always been sure of where to direct her efforts, though lately she has been more committed. She is very, very able, however." Two years later, Lennox reported to the Academy: "I have had to work as a waitress, barmaid, and shop assistant to keep me when not in musical work." She also played and sang with a few bands, such as Windsong, during the period of her course. In 2006, the academy made her an honorary Fellow. Lennox also was made a Fellow of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama that year.

Music career

1976–90: Dragon's Playground, The Tourists and Eurythmics

In 1976, Lennox was flautist with a band called Dragon's Playground, leaving before they appeared on TV's New Faces. Between 1977 and 1980, she was the lead singer of The Tourists (initially known as The Catch), a moderately successful British pop band and her first collaboration with Dave Stewart. During the time they were in The Tourists, Stewart and Lennox were involved in a relationship, though this had ended by the time they formed Eurythmics.

Lennox and Stewart's second collaboration, the 1980s synthpop duo Eurythmics, resulted in her most notable fame, as the duo's alto, soul-tinged lead singer. Early in Eurythmics' career, Lennox was known for her androgyny, wearing suits and once impersonating Elvis Presley. Eurythmics released a long line of singles in the 1980s, including "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)", "Love Is A Stranger", "Here Comes the Rain Again", "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves", "Who's That Girl?", "Would I Lie to You?", "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)", "Missionary Man", "You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart", "Thorn in My Side", "The Miracle of Love" and "Don't Ask Me Why". Though Eurythmics never officially disbanded, Lennox made a fairly clear break from Stewart in 1990. Thereafter, she began a long and equally-successful solo career.

Lennox and Stewart reconvened Eurythmics in the late 1990s with the album ''Peace'', their first album of new material in ten years. A subsequent concert tour was completed, with profits going to Greenpeace and Amnesty International.

Lennox has received eight BRIT Awards, the most of any female artist. Four of the awards were given during her time with Eurythmics, and another was given to the duo for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 1999.

The 1988 single with Al Green, "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" (a cover version of Jackie DeShannon's 1969 hit), was recorded for the soundtrack of the movie ''Scrooged''. Though it was produced by Dave Stewart, it was credited to Lennox and Green. This one-off single peaked at #2 on the US Adult Contemporary chart, #9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was a top 40 hit in the UK. Lennox performed the song "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye", a Cole Porter song, that same year for a cameo appearance in the Derek Jarman film ''Edward II''. She then made an appearance with David Bowie and the surviving members of Queen at 1992's Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at London's Wembley Stadium, performing "Under Pressure".

1992–93: ''Diva''

Lennox began working with former Trevor Horn protegé Stephen Lipson, beginning with her 1992 solo début album, ''Diva''. It was a commercial and critical success, charting #1 in the UK, #6 in Germany, and #23 in the US where it went double platinum. Lennox's profile was boosted by ''Diva'''s singles, which included "Why" and "Walking on Broken Glass". "Why" won an MTV Award for Best Female Video at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, while the video for "Walking on Broken Glass" featured the actors Hugh Laurie and John Malkovich. "Little Bird" also formed a double A-side with "Love Song for a Vampire", a soundtrack cut for Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 movie ''Bram Stoker's Dracula''. The B-side of her single "Precious" was a self-penned song called "Step by Step", which was later a hit for Whitney Houston for the soundtrack of the film ''The Preacher's Wife''. The song "Keep Young and Beautiful" was included on the CD release as a bonus track (the original vinyl album had only ten tracks).

The album entered the UK album chart at no.1 and has since sold over 1.2 million copies in the UK alone, being certified quadruple platinum. It was also a success in the US where it was a top 30 hit and has sold in excess of 2,700,000 copies. In 1993, the album was included in ''Q magazine'''s list of the "50 Best Albums of 1992". ''Rolling Stone'' magazine (25 June 1992, p. 41) described the album as "''...state-of-the-art soul pop...''" and it is included in Rolling Stone's (13 May 1999, p. 56) "Essential Recordings of the 90's" list. The album won Best British Album at the 1993 Brit Awards.

1995–2000: ''Medusa'' and return to Eurythmics

Although Lennox's profile decreased for a period because of her desire to bring up her two children outside of the media's glare, she continued to record. Her second album, ''Medusa'', was released in March 1995. It consisted solely of cover songs, all originally recorded by male artists including Bob Marley and The Clash. It entered the UK album chart at No. 1 and peaked in the US at number 11, spending 60 weeks on the ''Billboard 200'' chart and selling over 2,000,000 to date in the United States. It has achieved double platinum status in both the UK and the US. The album yielded four UK singles: "No More I Love You's" (which entered the UK singles chart at No. 2, Lennox's highest ever solo peak), "A Whiter Shade of Pale", "Waiting in Vain" and "Something So Right". The album was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the Grammy Awards of 1996, losing to ''Turbulent Indigo'' by Joni Mitchell, however, Lennox won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the single "No More I Love You's". Though Lennox declined to tour for the album, she did perform a large scale one-off concert in New York's Central Park, which was filmed and later released on home video.

Lennox also provided an extensive solo vocal performance (without lyrics) for the soundtrack score of the film ''Apollo 13'' in 1995.

In 1997, Lennox re-recorded the Eurythmics track "Angel" for the Diana, Princess of Wales tribute album, and also recorded the song "Mama" for ''The Avengers'' soundtrack album. In 1998, following the death of a mutual friend (former Tourists member Peet Coombes), she re-united with Dave Stewart. Following their first performance together in eight years at a record company party, Stewart and Lennox began writing and recording together for the first time since 1989. This resulted in the album ''Peace''. The title was designed to reflect the duo's ongoing concern with global conflict and world peace. The record was promoted with a concert on the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior II, where they played a mixture of old and new songs. "I Saved the World Today" was the lead single, reaching number eleven on the UK singles chart. Another single, released at the beginning of 2000, "17 Again", made the UK top 40, and topped the US dance chart. In 2002, Lennox received a Billboard Century Award; the highest accolade from ''Billboard'' Magazine, with Editor-in-Chief Timothy White describing her as one of "the most original and unforgettably affecting artists in the modern annals of popular music."

2003–07: ''Bare'' and work in Africa

In 2003, Lennox released her third solo album, ''Bare''. The album peaked at #3 in the UK and #4 in the US - her highest charting album in the US to date. She embarked on her first tour as a solo artist to promote the album. The tour, simply titled Solo Tour, pre-dated the release of the album and visited both the US and Europe, with only a two-night stop in the UK at Saddler's Wells Theatre in London. The album has been certified Gold in both the UK and the US and was nominated for Best Pop Album at the 46th Grammy Awards. The album was released with a DVD which included interviews and acoustic versions of songs by Lennox. The Japanese edition of the album features a version of Lennox's earlier hit "Cold" recorded live in Toronto.

In 2004, Lennox won the Academy Award for Best Song for "Into the West" from the film ''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'', which she co-wrote with screenwriter Fran Walsh and composer Howard Shore. The song also won a Grammy award and a Golden Globe award. She had previously recorded "Use Well the Days" for the movie, which incorporates a number of quotations from Tolkien in its lyrics. This song was not used in the film, but it appears on a bonus DVD included with the "special edition" of the movie's soundtrack CD. In mid-2004, Lennox embarked on an extensive North American tour with Sting. In July 2005, Lennox performed at Live 8 in Hyde Park, London, along with Madonna, Sting, and other popular musicians.

In 2005, Lennox and Stewart collaborated on two new songs for their Eurythmics compilation album, ''Ultimate Collection'', of which "I've Got a Life" was released as a single in October 2005. The promotional video for the song features Lennox and Stewart performing in the present day, with images of past Eurythmics videos playing on television screens behind them. The single peaked at number fourteen in the UK Singles Chart and was a number-one US Dance hit. On 14 November 2005, Sony BMG repackaged and released Eurythmics' back catalogue as 2005 Deluxe Edition Reissues.

2007–08: ''Songs of Mass Destruction'' and AIDS activism

Ending her long association with Stephen Lipson, Lennox's fourth solo album, ''Songs of Mass Destruction'', was recorded in Los Angeles with veteran producer Glen Ballard (known for producing Alanis Morissette's album, ''Jagged Little Pill''). It was released on 1 October 2007, and was the last studio album of Lennox's contract with BMG. It peaked at #7 in the UK and #9 in the US. Lennox stated that she believed the album consisted of "twelve strong, powerful, really emotive songs that people can connect to". If she achieves that, she says, "I can feel proud of [it], no matter if it sells ten copies or 50 million." Lennox described it as "a dark album, but the world is a dark place. It's fraught, it's turbulent. Most people's lives are underscored with dramas of all kinds: there's ups, there's downs - the flickering candle." She added, "Half the people are drinking or drugging themselves to numb it. A lot of people are in pain."

The album's first single was "Dark Road", released on 24 September 2007. Another song on the album, "Sing", is a collaboration between Lennox and 23 prominent female artists: Anastacia, Isobel Campbell, Dido, Céline Dion, Melissa Etheridge, Fergie, Beth Gibbons, Faith Hill, Angelique Kidjo, Beverley Knight, Gladys Knight, k.d. lang, Madonna, Sarah McLachlan, Beth Orton, Pink, Kelis, Bonnie Raitt, Shakira, Shingai Shoniwa, Joss Stone, Sugababes, KT Tunstall, and Martha Wainwright. The song was recorded to raise money and awareness for the HIV/AIDS organization Treatment Action Campaign. Included among the group of vocalists are TAC activist members' own vocal group known as The Generics, whose CD of music inspired Lennox to make "Sing".

To promote ''Songs of Mass Destruction'', Lennox embarked on a primarily North American tour called Annie Lennox Sings, which lasted throughout October and November 2007. The tour had 18 stops: London, San Diego, New York City (two dates), Boston. The venues generally were at medium-size theatres, except in New York, where one of the dates was a United Nations fundraiser at the Midtown restaurant Cipriani.

2008–09: ''The Annie Lennox Collection'' and departing from Sony

Finishing out her contract with Sony BMG, Lennox released the compilation album ''The Annie Lennox Collection''. Initially intended for release in September 2008, the release date was pushed back several months to allow Lennox to recuperate from a back injury. The compilation was eventually released in the US on 17 February 2009, and in the UK and Europe on 9 March 2009. Included on the track listing are songs from her four solo albums, one from the ''Bram Stoker's Dracula'' soundtrack, and two new songs. One of these is a cover of Ash's single, "Shining Light". The other is a cover of a song by the English band Keane, originally the B-side of their first single in 2000. Lennox renamed the song from its original title "Closer Now" to "Pattern of My Life". A limited 3-disc edition of the album included a DVD compilation featuring most of Lennox's solo videos since 1992, and also featured a second CD of rarer songs including a version of R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" with Alicia Keys and Lennox's Oscar winning "Into the West" from the third ''Lord of the Rings'' film. The album entered the UK Album Chart at #2 and remained in the top 10 for seven weeks.

Lennox's recording contract with Sony BMG concluded with the release of ''Songs of Mass Destruction'' and the subsequent retrospective album ''The Collection'', and much was made in the press in late 2007/early 2008 about the apparent animosity between Lennox and the record company. Lennox stated that while on a trip to South Africa in December 2007 to appear at the 46664 campaign in Johannesburg, the regional company office of the label failed to return phone calls and e-mails she made to them for three weeks, and had completely failed to promote the Sing project as planned. Upon her return to the UK, Lennox met with the head of Sony BMG UK, Ged Docherty, who was "mortified" by the problems she had encountered with the South African branch. However, the debacle (partly inflamed when Lennox's dissatisfaction with the South African office was made public on her blog) led to press reports falsely stating that she was being dropped by Sony BMG. The record company themselves quickly refuted the rumour stating that Lennox's contract with them had merely been fulfilled and that they hoped she would consider remaining with them. The British tabloid, ''Daily Mirror'', subsequently printed a retraction of its story about her being dropped by the label.

2010–present: Island Records and ''A Christmas Cornucopia''

In August 2010, Lennox signed a new contract with Island Records in the UK and Decca Records in the US (both part of the Universal Music Group). Her first release was a Christmas album entitled ''A Christmas Cornucopia'', issued on 15 November 2010. The album is a collection of Lennox's interpretations of traditional festive songs such as "Silent Night" and "The First Noel", along with one new composition, "Universal Child", which was released as a download-only single on 13 October 2010. Lennox had previously showcased the song on the ''American Idol Gives Back'' TV show in April 2010. She sang the song "Angels from the Realms of Glory" from the album for the TNT special ''Christmas in Washington''.

A music video was produced for a second single from the album, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". Lennox also performed the track on the UK chat show ''Loose Women'' in December 2010, and was also interviewed.

According to Metacritic, ''A Christmas Cornucopia'' has gained "generally favourable reviews". Ian Wade of BBC Music gave the album a very positive review, saying "this collection could find itself becoming as much a part of the holiday season as arguments with loved ones." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine awarded the album 3.5/5 and said "Lennox seems more inspired on ''A Christmas Cornucopia'' than she has in years." John Hunt of ''Qatar Today'' magazine gave the album 9/10 and said "in particular, the vocal work and musical arrangement of 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' are impactful to the point of being intimidating."

Public image

Charity and political work

In 1990, Lennox recorded a version of Cole Porter's "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" for the Cole Porter tribute album ''Red Hot + Blue'', a benefit for AIDS awareness. A video was also produced. Lennox has been a public supporter of Amnesty International and Greenpeace for many years, and she and Dave Stewart donated all of the profits from Eurythmics' 1999 Peacetour to both charities.

In 2006, in response to her humanitarian work, Lennox became patron of the Master's Course in ''Humanitarian and Development Practice'' for Oxford Brookes University. In October 2006, Lennox spoke at the British House of Commons about the need for children in the UK to help their counterparts in Africa.

On 25 April 2007, Lennox performed "Bridge over Troubled Water" during the ''American Idol'' "Idol Gives Back" fundraising drive.

Lennox's 2007 song "Sing" was born out of her involvement with Nelson Mandela's 46664 campaign and Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), both of which are human rights groups which seek education and health care for those affected by HIV. In December 2007, Lennox established The SING Campaign, an organisation dedicated to raising funds and awareness for women and children affected by HIV and AIDS.

On 11 December 2007, she performed in the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway together with a variety of artists, which was broadcast to over 100 countries. She led a rally against the Gaza War in London on 3 January 2009.

Lennox opened the 2009 Edinburgh Festival of Politics with a stinging attack on Pope Benedict XVI's approach to HIV/AIDS prevention in Africa. She said that the Pope's denunciation of condoms on his recent tour of Africa had caused "tremendous harm" and she criticised the Roman Catholic Church for causing widespread confusion on the continent. Lennox also condemned the media's obsession with "celebrity culture" for keeping the AIDS pandemic off the front page. In an attempt to counter this, during her address, she wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "HIV positive". Lennox wore similar T-shirts at the 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame concert at Madison Square Garden on 30 October 2009, while appearing on ''The Graham Norton Show'' on 30 November 2009 (where she performed the new song "Full Steam", a duet with singer David Gray), also during a recorded performance for ''American Idol'' during a 21 April 2010 fund-raiser, Idol Gives Back, and most recently during a performance on the live Comic Relief show on 18 March 2011. In June 2010, she was named as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for AIDS.

Lennox also supports the Burma Campaign UK, a non-governmental organisation that addresses the suffering in Burma and promotes democratisation.

In December 2010, it was confirmed that Lennox was in the New Years Honours List and would become an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of her humanitarian work. She received the award from Queen Elizabeth II on 28 June 2011.

Gay icon

Lennox has garnered a significant following within the LGBT community. According to ''The Advocate'', "her distinctive voice and provocative stage persona have made Lennox a longtime gay icon." With Eurythmics' music videos earning regular rotation on MTV in the 1980s, Lennox took part in the shaping of popular culture alongside other gay icons such as Boy George, Madonna, Morrissey, and Michael Stipe.

Music videos

Both during her work with Eurythmics and in her solo career, Lennox has made a number of music promo videos. The 1987 Eurythmics album ''Savage'' and her 1992 solo album ''Diva'' were both accompanied by video albums, both directed by Sophie Muller. Actors Hugh Laurie and John Malkovich appeared in the music video for "Walking on Broken Glass", while the video for "Little Bird" paid homage to the different images and personas that have appeared in some of Lennox's previous videos. The clip features Lennox performing on stage with several lookalikes (male and female) that represent her personas from "Why", "Walking on Broken Glass", "Sweet Dreams", "Beethoven", "I Need a Man", "Thorn in My Side", "There Must Be an Angel", and even her stage image from the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert.

Personal life

Both of Lennox's parents died of cancer. Her first marriage from 1984 to 1985 was to a German Hare Krishna devotee Radha Raman. From 1988 to 2000, she was married to Israeli film and record producer Uri Fruchtmann. They have two daughters, Lola (born 1990) and Tali (born 1993). A son, Daniel, was stillborn in December 1988. Lennox describes herself as an agnostic and lives in Notting Hill, London.

Lennox was estimated to have a fortune of £30 million in the ''Sunday Times Rich List'' of 2010.

Discography

Studio albums

''Diva'' (1992)

''Medusa'' (1995)

''Bare'' (2003)

''Songs of Mass Destruction'' (2007)

''A Christmas Cornucopia'' (2010)

Compilation albums

''The Annie Lennox Collection'' (2009)

Awards and nominations

Lennox has received a variety of major awards during her career:

; American Music Awards

2008 – AMA Award of Merit for her work and her humanitarian efforts

; Academy Awards

2004 – Best Original Song ("Into the West")

; Grammy Awards

1984 – Best New Artist (Eurythmics) (nominated)

1986 – Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (Eurythmics, "Would I Lie to You?") (nominated)

1987 – Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (Eurythmics, "Missionary Man") (Won)

1993 – Album of the Year (''Diva'') (nominated)

1993 – Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (''Diva'') (nominated)

1993 – Best Music Video – Long Form (''Diva'') (Won)

1996 – Best Pop Album (''Medusa'') (nominated)

1996 – Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("No More I Love You's") (Won)

2004 – Best Pop Album (''Bare'') (nominated)

2005 – Best Song Written For a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media ("Into the West") (Won)

; Ivor Novello Awards

1984 – Songwriter of the Year for Lennox and Dave Stewart

1987 – Songwriter of the Year for Lennox and Dave Stewart

1987 – Best contemporary song ("Its Alright, (Baby's Coming Back)")

1993 – Best Song ("Why")

; BRIT Awards

1984 – Best British Female Artist

1986 – Best British Female Artist

1989 – Best British Female Artist

1990 – Best British Female Artist

1993 – Best British Female Solo Artist

1993 – Best British Album (''Diva'')

1996 – Best British Female Solo Artist

1999 – Outstanding Contribution to British Music (Eurythmics)

; MTV Video Music Awards

1992 – Best Female Video ("Why")

; Golden Globe Awards

2004 – Best Original Song – Motion Picture ("Into the West")

; Honorary degrees and awards

1986 – Associate – Royal Academy of Music London

1997 – Fellowship – Royal Academy of Music London

2006 – Honorary Doctor of Music – The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

2006 – Fellowship – Edinburgh College of Art

2009 – Honorary Doctorate at the University of Edinburgh (awarded 20 October 2009), in recognition of her work in the field of HIV/AIDS, and her success as a recording artist.

; Other awards / titles / ambassadorships

2002 – Billboard Century Award by ''Billboard''

2008 – OUT magazine honoured Lennox for her work in the HIV and Aids field. The top 100 most influential people in Gay Culture.

2008 – The British Red Cross Services to Humanity Award

2008 – Glamour Magazine's Inspirational Woman of the Year Award

2008 – Honoured at the 2008 Youth AIDS Gala, for her contribution in helping the fight against HIV and AIDS

2008 – The German Sustainability "special achievement" award for her commitment in the fight against HIV and AIDS

2008 – Webby Award for official website www.annielennox.com

2009 – Save the Children "Amigo de los Niños" Award

2009 – Awarded the "Freedom of the City of London" by the British Red Cross for services to humanity in the field of HIV and AIDS

2009 – Nobel Peace Laureates for services to humanity

2010 – Patron of the Elton John Aids Foundation

2010 – Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Scotland

2010 – Ambassador for HIV/AIDS in London

2010 – UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador

2010 – Barclays Women of the Year Award

2010 – [International Service Award] for Global Defence of Human Rights

2010 – GQ Charity Woman of the Year Award

2010 – Harper's Bazaar Lifetime Achievement Award

2010 – OBE – Order of the British Empire for her work fighting AIDS and poverty in Africa

Footnotes

External links

Official Annie Lennox website

The SING Campaign website, founded By Annie Lennox">The SING Campaign website, founded By Annie Lennox

Annie Lennox official YouTube channel

Category:1954 births Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music Category:Androgyny Category:Arista Records artists Category:Best Song Academy Award winning songwriters Category:Brit Award winners Category:Decca Records artists Category:Universal Music Group artists Category:Female rock singers Category:Scottish agnostics Category:Scottish singers Category:Scottish singer-songwriters Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Ivor Novello Award winners Category:Living people Category:People associated with Oxford Brookes University Category:People from Aberdeen Category:Scottish musicians Category:Scottish contraltos Category:Scottish female singers Category:Scottish pop singers Category:Scottish rock singers Category:Torch singers Category:Scottish activists Category:AIDS activists Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire Category:People educated at Harlaw Academy

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Name	Aretha Franklin
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Aretha Louise Franklin
Born	March 25, 1942Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, pianist
Years active	1956–present
Genre	Soul, jazz, blues, R&B;, gospel, rock
Instrument	Vocals, piano
Label	ColumbiaAtlanticArista
Associated acts	Sweet Inspirations, Carolyn Franklin, Erma Franklin, Cissy Houston, George Benson, George Michael, Michael McDonald, Eurythmics }}

Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B;, gospel music, and rock. ''Rolling Stone'' magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All Time as well as the ninth greatest artist of all time. She has won 18 competitive Grammys and two honorary Grammys. She has 20 No.1 singles on the Billboard R&B; Singles Chart and two No.1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: "Respect" (1967) and "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987), a duet with George Michael. Since 1961, she has scored a total of 45 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. She also has the most million-selling singles of any female artist (14). Between 1967 and 1982 she had 10 No.1 R&B; albums—more than any other female artist. In 1987, Franklin became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was the only featured singer at the 2009 presidential inauguration of Barack Obama.

Biography

Early life and career: 1942–1959

Aretha Louise Franklin (named for two aunts) was born in a two-room house in Memphis located at 406 Lucy St. She was the third of four children born to Barbara (née Siggers) and C.L. Franklin and the fifth of six overall in between past relationships by her parents. Franklin's family moved to Buffalo, when Franklin was two, and then by four, had settled in Detroit. Following the move to Detroit, Franklin's parents, who had a troubled marriage, split. Due to her father's work as a Baptist minister, Franklin was primarily raised by her grandmother, Rachel. Franklin suffered a tragedy when her mother died in Buffalo when Aretha was ten. Franklin sang in church at an early age and learned how to play piano by ear.

By her late preteens, Franklin was regularly singing solo numbers in her father's New Bethel Baptist Church. C.L. (né Clarence LaVaughn) Franklin), Aretha's father, was a respected local preacher. She grew up with local and national celebrities hanging out at her father's home including gospel greats Albertina Walker and her group The Caravans, Mahalia Jackson and Clara Ward, three women who played a pivotal role in her vocal development as a child.

Early success: 1960–1966

She released her first single for Columbia in September 1960, aged 18. It reached No. 10 on ''Billboard'''s R&B; chart. Her first album was released in January 1961. The label had her record mainly jazz-influenced pop music, hoping for success with this format as the label had with Billie Holiday. Columbia founder John H. Hammond later admitted in an interview years later that he felt Columbia did not really understand Franklin's background in gospel and failed to bring that aspect out in her secular recordings. After scoring two more top ten R&B; hits with "Operation Heartbreak" and "Won't Be Long" in 1961, Franklin scored her first top 40 pop hit with her rendition of "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody". However later releases failed to find similar success, although Franklin had a near-Top 50 hit with "Runnin' Out of Fools" (1963).

After the release of a tribute album to Dinah Washington, Columbia drifted away from their early jazz dreams for Franklin and had the singer record renditions of girl group-oriented hits including "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)", "Every Little Bit Hurts" and "Mockingbird" but every attempt to bring her success with the material failed. However, she had garnered fame for being a multi-talented vocalist and musician. During a show in 1965, the master of ceremonies gave Franklin a tiara crown declaring her "the queen of soul". The title would prove to be prophetic. By 1966, struggling with recording for Columbia, Franklin decided not to sign a new contract with the label and settled with a deal with Atlantic. After she gained success at Atlantic, Columbia would release material from Franklin's prior recordings with the label which continued until 1969.

Superstardom: 1967–1972

Franklin began recording her first songs for Atlantic in early 1967. Initially sent to Muscle Shoals's legendary FAME studios where the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section was the in-house band, Franklin cut her first song – the blues ballad "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)", which finally allowed Franklin to show her gospel side. Tensions between Franklin's then-husband and then-manager Ted White and a musician led to Franklin and White hiding from public view in New York. Franklin eventually returned to the studio in New York to record the b-side, the gospel-oriented "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man". "I Never Loved a Man" soared up both the pop and R&B; charts upon its release peaking at number-nine and number-one respectively.

Her second single with Atlantic would also be her biggest, most acclaimed work. "Respect", originally recorded and written by R&B; singer Otis Redding, would become a bigger hit after Franklin's gospel-fueled rendition of the song. The song also started a pattern of Franklin in later songs during this period producing a call and response vocal with Franklin usually backed up by her sisters Erma and Carolyn Franklin or The Sweet Inspirations. Franklin is credited with arranging the background vocals and ad-libbing the line, "r-e-s-p-e-c-t, find out what it means to me/take care of TCB", while her sisters shouted afterwards, "sock it to me". Franklin's version peaked at number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming a sixties anthem. Franklin had three more top ten hits in 1967 – "Baby I Love You", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "Chain of Fools". "Respect" later won Franklin her first two Grammys. She eventually won eight consecutive Grammys under the Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance category.

By the end of the year, Franklin not only became a superstar but she stood as one of the symbols of the civil rights movement partially due to her rendition of "Respect", which had a feminist-powered theme after Franklin recorded it. Franklin's other hits during the late sixties included "Think", her rendition of Dionne Warwick's "I Say a Little Prayer", "Ain't No Way" and "The House That Jack Built" among others. By the end of the sixties, Franklin's title as "the queen of soul" became permanent in the eyes of the media. After a few struggles in 1969, she returned with the ballad, "Call Me" in January 1970. That same year she had another hit with her gospel version of Ben E. King's "Don't Play That Song", while in 1971, Franklin was one of the first black performers to headline Fillmore West where she later released a live album. That same year she released the acclaimed ''Young, Gifted & Black'' album, which featured two top ten hits, the ballad "Daydreamin'" and the funk-oriented "Rocksteady". In 1972, she released her first gospel album in nearly two decades with ''Amazing Grace''. The album eventually became her biggest-selling release ever, selling over two million copies and becoming the best-selling gospel album of all time.

Decline and fallout with Atlantic: 1973–1979

Aretha had another number-one R&B; hit in 1973 with the Carolyn Franklin and William "Sonny" Sanders-composed "Angel", however its parent album, ''Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)'', failed to repeat the success of Franklin's other albums. By 1974, after four years performing in Afrocentric-styled clothing, the singer glammed up her look and styled red hair releasing ''Let Me In Your Life''. The album yielded the smash single, "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)". While several singles would later find success on the R&B; charts, Franklin was losing favor with pop audiences as soul music was starting to be overtaken by the emerging disco genre. Atlantic Records had also by this point given priority attention to Roberta Flack, leading to relations between Franklin and the company becoming estranged as a result. Franklin turned down a number of tracks giving to her by Marvin Yancy and Chuck Jackson (though eventually they would contribute to her 1975 album, ''You''). Several of the songs including "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" was later recorded by Natalie Cole. After the arrivals of Cole and Chaka Khan, Franklin's star ebbed.

She briefly returned to the top 40 in 1976 with the Curtis Mayfield production, ''Sparkle'', which spawned the number-one R&B; hit, "Giving Him Something He Can Feel". Despite this, Franklin struggled to find success with subsequent releases. After the release of 1979's ''La Diva'', an attempt for Franklin to find a disco audience that flopped, selling less than 50,000 copies, Franklin's contract with Atlantic expired. Neither Atlantic nor Aretha had any interest in renewing it. While she was performing in Las Vegas on June 10, 1979, Franklin's father, C.L., was shot during an attempted robbery at his LaSalle Street home in Detroit. The incident left C.L. in a coma for the next five years. Aretha moved back to the Detroit area in late 1982 from Los Angeles (where she had lived since 1976) to help care for her father.

Comeback: 1980–1989

In 1980, Franklin among other prominent rhythm and blues and soul artists including Ray Charles and James Brown appeared on the film, ''The Blues Brothers.'' Franklin appeared as the wife of musician Matt "Guitar" Murphy, who engages in a brief war of words with Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi before going into "Think". Following that performance, Clive Davis signed Franklin to his Arista Records imprint. The singles "United Together" and the George Benson-featured "Love All the Hurt Away" returned Franklin to the R&B; top ten while 1982's ''Jump to It'', featuring a contemporary R&B; production style by Luther Vandross, became a comeback of sorts for Franklin on the pop music chart. The album stayed at No. 1 on the R&B; Albums chart for seven weeks and crossed to No. 23 on the ''Billboard'' 200 album chart, selling over 600,000 units and becoming Aretha's first gold-certified album since the ''Sparkle soundtrack''. The title track became Franklin's first number-one R&B; hit in five years while also hitting No. 24 on the Hot 100. After the relative failure of her 1983 follow-up, ''Get It Right'', also produced by Vandross, Franklin took some personal time off. Following the July 1984 death of her father, she entered the United Sound Studios in Detroit to record a new album for Arista in October of that year. Inspired by the recent success of fellow artist Tina Turner and Arista's emerging star Whitney Houston, Arista paired Franklin with Narada Michael Walden.

The album released in July 1985, ''Who's Zoomin' Who?'', featured R&B;, pop, dance, synthpop and rock elements and became Franklin's first platinum-certified success. The album launched several major hits including the title track and the Motown-inspired "Freeway of Love". The rock-influenced Annie Lennox duet, "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" also became a hit for Franklin on the pop charts though it failed to climb higher than No.66 on the R&B; chart due to its more pop rock-leaning sound. Music Videos for each of the singles became prominent fixtures on MTV, BET and VH-1 among other video channels. In 1986, Franklin released her self-titled follow-up to ''Who's Zoomin' Who''. The album sold almost a million copies, and featured the number-one hit, "I Knew You Were Waiting for Me", a duet with George Michael. In April 1987, the song became Franklin's first single since "Respect" to hit No. 1 on the Hot 100.

Other hits from the album included a cover of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and another Motown-inspired hit, "Jimmy Lee". In 1987 she returned to her gospel roots with the album, ''One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism'', which failed to repeat the success of ''Amazing Grace'' despite a powerful rendition of "Oh Happy Day", featuring Mavis Staples, but did reach the Top 10 of Billboard's gospel chart. In 1986, she sang the theme song ("Together") for the ABC television network.

Later work: 1989–2003

In 1989, Franklin returned with her first pop album in three years with ''Through the Storm'' but despite scoring a Top 20 hit with the title track featuring Elton John and the presence of Whitney Houston in their duet single, "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Ever Gonna Be", the album tanked, as did a follow-up, 1991's new jack swing effort, ''What You See Is What You Sweat''. After singing Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free" on the ''Malcolm X soundtrack'' in 1992 and singing at then-President Bill Clinton's inauguration ceremony in 1993, Franklin returned to favor with pop audiences later in 1993 with the release of the dance single, "Deeper Love", which was featured on the soundtrack of ''Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit''. The following year, Franklin issued her Arista hits album and with Babyface released two hit singles, "Honey" and the top 40 pop ballad "Willing to Forgive". In 1995, her song "It Hurts Like Hell" appeared on the soundtrack for the movie ''Waiting to Exhale''. Four years passed until Franklin released another album. 1998's ''A Rose Is Still a Rose'' reintroduced Franklin to a new R&B; audience and featured elements of neo soul and hip hop soul with production from Lauryn Hill, Jermaine Dupri and Sean "Puffy" Combs. The title track, written and produced by Hill, became Franklin's biggest hit in years reaching number 26 on the Hot 100 and reaching the R&B; top five.

She later reprised her role as Matt "Guitar" Murphy's wife in the Blues Brothers remake, ''Blues Brothers 2000'' singing "Respect". She struggled to record a successful follow-up, however, and it would be five more years before a new album emerged. Franklin issued her next album, ''So Damn Happy'', in 2003.

Current work: 2004–present

In 2003, after 23 years with Arista, Franklin parted with the company and decided to go on the independent route, forming Aretha's Records two years later. Franklin released a duets compilation album, ''Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen'', in 2007. The album featured the Fantasia duet, "Put You Up on Game", which despite becoming a modest hit on Urban AC radio, stalled at No. 41 on the R&B; charts. A year later, Franklin issued her first holiday album, ''This Christmas, Aretha''. After initially being released as a Borders exclusive, it was later released by the DMI label.

In 2008, Franklin was honored as MusiCares "Person of the Year", two days prior to the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, where she was awarded her 18th career Grammy. Franklin was personally asked by then newly-elected President Barack Obama to perform at his inauguration singing "My Country 'tis of Thee". The memorable hat she wore at the ceremony was donated to the Smithsonian Institution. In 2010, Franklin received an honorary music degree from Yale University.

In 2010 and through early 2011, Franklin had told the media she had selected actress Halle Berry to play her in the featured role of the legendary singer in a biopic loosely based on Franklin's memoirs, ''Aretha: From These Roots''. In January 2011, Berry turned down the role. Franklin said she's now setting her sights on singers Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson on getting the lucrative role.

Marking her 50th anniversary in show business, Franklin released her thirty-eighth studio album, ''A Woman Falling Out Of Love'', on May 3, 2011, through WalMart. It is the first release off Franklin's own record label, Aretha's Records, a label she formed back in the 1990s. However, Aretha's new disc peaked at a disappointing #54 on ''Billboard'''s main album chart, dropping off after only two weeks. She co-produced some of the new tracks. The first single from the album is the ballad "How Long I've Been Waiting" which failed to chart. Ronald Isley will be featured in the album doing the Barbra Streisand standard, "The Way We Were", as he and Franklin covered the Carole King classic, "You've Got a Friend", first issued on Isley's ''Mr. I'' album.

Following her exit from the stage in November, 2010 and her surgery the following month, Franklin has recently returned to the stage, rescheduling dates she was forced to cancel due to recent health problems.

In September 2011, Tony Bennett will be releasing a duet with Franklin entitled "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" off of his forthcoming album, Duets II (Tony Bennett album).

Personal life

In 1956, shortly after her 14th birthday, Franklin gave birth to her eldest child, a son she named Clarence (for her father). Around 1957 she gave birth to another son, Edward. She never identified by name the father of either child. Her grandmother, Rachel, raised the boys while Aretha pursued her singing career. Rachel lived in a guest house behind C.L. Franklin's LaSalle Street home. The Franklin family moved from their home on Boston Street in Detroit's North End section to LaSalle Street during the late 1950s.

Against her father's wishes Aretha began dating a family acquaintance named Ted White. In 1961 they were quickly married in Ohio by a judge. White became her personal manager as well as co-writer. Shortly afterward, she purchased a house on Sorrento Avenue in northwest Detroit, where she resided for the next decade. Their son Teddy (Ted White Jr.) was born in 1964. She and Ted divorced in 1969. Teddy is the musical director and guitarist of her touring band. From 1969 until 1976, she had a seven-year relationship with her road manager Ken Cunningham. (Although she and Ted White did not divorce until late 1969, Aretha conceived her fourth child in June of that year.) In the early 1970s the couple moved from Detroit to New York City, at which time Aretha's grandmother moved into her Sorrento Avenue home. Their son Kecalf (from the initials of his parents' names: Kenneth E Cunningham Aretha Louise Franklin and pronounced "kelf") was born on March 28, 1970 at Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital.

On April 11, 1978, Aretha Franklin married actor Glynn Turman at her father's New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit. Franklin's father performed the marriage ceremony. The couple returned to their home in Encino, California. In late 1982, Franklin moved back to Detroit, and in 1985 she purchased a home in West Bloomfield, where she still resides. Turman and Franklin divorced in early 1984. The couple did not have children. They remained friends, and she sang the theme song for his show, ''A Different World'', in the late 1980s.

Franklin's sisters Erma and Carolyn, are both deceased, as is her brother Cecil. As of 2011, her half-brother Vaughn (born 1934) is alive as is her half-sister, Carl Ellan Kelley (née Jennings; born 1940). Kelley is C.L. Franklin's daughter by Mildred Jennings, a then 13-year-old congregant of New Salem Baptist Church of Memphis, Tennessee, where C.L. was pastor in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Aretha's sons, Ted White Jr. ("Teddy") and Kecalf Cunningham, are active in the music business. Teddy has been a guitarist in Aretha's back up band since the late 1980s, while Kecalf works as a Christian hip-hop rapper and producer.

Aretha Franklin is a registered Democrat.

In September 2010, her son Edward was attacked and severely beaten by three people while at a gas station on Joy Road in northwest Detroit.

Franklin's long friendship with Cissy Houston during Houston's time with The Sweet Inspirations led to Franklin becoming Whitney Houston's godmother. Cissy Houston sang the operatic soprano whoop in the background of Franklin's "Ain't No Way".

Awards and achievements

On June 28, 1968 she became the second African-American woman to appear on the cover of ''TIME'' magazine.

In 1985, then-Gov. James Blanchard of Michigan declared her voice “a natural resource” during a ceremony that marked her 25 years in show business.

Aretha Franklin is one of three musicians, along with Madonna & Marvin Gaye, to have singles peak at each of the top 10 positions on the US Billboard Hot 100.

On January 20, 1987, she became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

On March 29, 1987, Franklin sang "America the Beautiful" at ''WrestleMania III''.

In 1987, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Musicology degree from the University of Detroit.

In September 1999, she was awarded The National Medal of Arts by President Clinton.

In 2004, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked her No. 9 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

In 2005, she was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush.

In 2005, she became the second woman (Madonna being the first, a founding member) to be inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame.

In 2005, Franklin was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.

On February 6, 2006, she performed, along with Aaron Neville, "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XL.

On May 13, 2006, she was presented with an honorary Doctor of Music degree by the Berklee College of Music.

On April 1, 2007 Aretha sang "America the Beautiful" at ''WrestleMania 23.''

On May 14, 2007, she was presented with an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

In 2007, Aretha Franklin's recording of "Respect" was voted a Legendary Michigan Song.

Is an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority

On February 8, 2008, Franklin was honored as MusiCares "Person of the Year".

On February 14, 2008, Franklin was given the Vanguard award at the NAACP Image awards.

On May 4, 2008, Franklin was given the Key to the City of Memphis at the 2008 "Memphis in May International Music Festival" by Mayor Dr. Willie Herenton during her performance onstage.

On September 13, 2008, Franklin was ranked No .19 on the ''Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists'' list by ''Billboard''. November 2008, Franklin was named by ''Rolling Stone'' as the No. 1 all-time best singer of the rock era, according to the magazine's survey of 179 musicians, producers, Rolling Stone editors, and other music industry insiders. On January 20, 2009, Franklin performed "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" during the inauguration ceremony of Barack Obama. The distinctive hat she wore during that performance is displayed at the Smithsonian. On May 23, 2010, Franklin received an Honorary Doctorate in Music from Yale University. On Feb 13, 2011, the Grammy Awards paid tribute to Franklin with a medley of her classics by fellow singers Christina Aguilera, Florence Welch, Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride and Yolanda Adams Grammy.com.

Grammy Awards

Franklin has won eighteen Grammy Awards in total during her career (she first charted in 1961) and holds the record for most Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance awards with eleven to her name (including eight consecutive awards from 1968 to 1975 – the first eight awarded in that category).

{|class="wikitable" |- !colspan="5"|Aretha Franklin's 18 Grammy Award Wins |- !# !Year !Category !Genre !Title |- | 1 || style="text-align:center;"| 1968 || Best Rhythm & Blues Recording || R&B; ||Respect |- | 2 || style="text-align:center;"| 1968 || |Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Respect |- | 3 || style="text-align:center;"| 1969 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Chain Of Fools |- | 4 || style="text-align:center;"| 1970 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Share Your Love With Me |- | 5 || style="text-align:center;"| 1971 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Don't Play That Song For Me |- | 6 || style="text-align:center;"| 1972 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Bridge Over Troubled Water |- | 7 || style="text-align:center;"| 1973 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Young, Gifted and Black (album) |- | 8 || style="text-align:center;"| 1973 || Best Soul Gospel Performance || Gospel || Amazing Grace (album) |- | 9 || style="text-align:center;"| 1974 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Master Of Eyes |- |10 || style="text-align:center;"| 1975 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing |- |11 || style="text-align:center;"| 1982 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Hold On...I'm Comin' (album track) |- |12 || style="text-align:center;"| 1986 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Freeway Of Love |- |13 || style="text-align:center;"| 1988 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Aretha (album) |- |14 || style="text-align:center;"| 1988 || Best R&B; Performance – Duo Or Group with Vocals || R&B; || I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) (with George Michael) |- |15 || style="text-align:center;"| 1989 || Best Soul Gospel Performance – Female || Gospel || One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism (album) |- |*|| style="text-align:center;"| 1991 || Living Legend Award || Special | |- |*|| style="text-align:center;"| 1994 || Lifetime Achievement Award || Special | |- |16 || style="text-align:center;"| 2004 || Best Traditional R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Wonderful |- |17|| style="text-align:center;"| 2006 || Best Traditional R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || A House Is Not A Home |- |18|| style="text-align:center;"| 2008 || Best Gospel-Soul Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group || Gospel |Never Gonna Break My Faith (with Mary J. Blige) |} *According to NARAS Rules: 'Special' Grammy Awards (such as Lifetime Achievement) are not counted in a performer's tally.

Discography

Top 10 US Hot 100 singles

Year	Title	Peak
1967	"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)"
1967
1967
1967	"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"
1967
1968	"(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone"
1968
1968	"The House That Jack Built"
1968	"I Say a Little Prayer"
1971
1971
1971
1972
1973	"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)"
1985	"Freeway of Love"
1985	"Who's Zoomin' Who"
1987	"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (with George Michael)

Source:

All no. 1 hits in US R&B; 100 singles

Year	Title	Peak
1967	"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)"
1967
1967
1967
1968	"(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone"
1968
1969	"Share Your Love with Me"
1970
1970	"Don't Play That Song (You Lied)"
1971
1971
1972
1973
1973	"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)"
1974
1976	"Something He Can Feel"
1977
1982
1983
1985	"Freeway of Love"

Source:

Filmography

Movies

''Cooley High'' (1975)

''The Blues Brothers'' (1980)

''Motown 40: The Music Is Forever'' (1998) (ABC-TV documentary)

''Blues Brothers 2000'' (1998)

''DIVAS LIVE'' (1998)

''Immaculate Funk'' (2000) (documentary)

''Rhythm, Love and Soul'' (2002)

''Tom Dowd & the Language of Music'' (2003) (documentary)

''Singing in the Shadow: The Children of Rock Royalty'' (2003) (documentary)

''From The Heart / The Four Tops 50th Anniversary and Celebration'' (2004)

''Atlantic Records: The House that Ahmet Built'' (2007) (documentary)

Television

''The Mike Douglas Show

In 1972, she had a role in the TV show Room 222

''Solid Gold'' (numerous appearances with the last in 1982 performing "Jump To It")

''Kelly & Company'' (Marilyn Turner and John Kelly, Detroit)

''Dayna'' (Dayna Eubanks, fomer Detroit newscaster)

''Rolonda Show'' (Rolonda Watts)

''The Oprah Winfrey Show'' (numerous appearances including Oprah's 40th birthday, with Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight)

''Live with Regis and Kelly'' (numerous appearances)

''The View''

References

External links

Aretha Franklin at Legacy Recordings

Aretha Franklin at NPR Music

Category:1942 births Category:African American female singers Category:African American pianists Category:African American singer-songwriters Category:American child singers Category:American gospel singers Category:American rhythm and blues singers Category:American soul singers Category:Arista Records artists Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Baptists from the United States Category:Columbia Records artists Category:Feminist musicians Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners Category:Kennedy Center honorees Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Tennessee Category:Musicians from Detroit, Michigan Category:People with cancer Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients Category:Rhythm and blues pianists Category:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Category:Songwriters from Michigan Category:United States National Medal of Arts recipients

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