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Bette Midler: Barry Manilow
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On September 30, 2003 Bette Midler's tribute to Rosemary Clooney [W]as released. This much anticipated recording finds Bette covering Rosemary's greatest hits from the 50s using new arrangements by their mutual friend Barry Manilow.
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The 61-year-old Midler, born in New Jersey and raised in Hawaii, has been entertaining fans with her high-energy performances for more than 40 years. In 1970 she and piano accompanist Barry Manilow performed in the bath houses in New York City. Manilow produced her first major album, "The Divine Miss M," in 1972.
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Manilow had a dream one night that Midler would be the perfect person to sing Clooney's material. He woke up with arrangements for each song clearly in his mind, he said, and called Midler. In the old days, Manilow said Midler picked all of her own material, but this time she accepted his suggestions.
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Multi Grammy Award-winning singer/comedienne/author who has ... proven herself to be a very capable actress in a string of both dramatic and comedic roles, Bette Midler was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on December 1, 1945. She studied drama at the University of Hawaii and got her musical career started by performing in gay bathhouses with piano accompaniment from Barry Manilow. Her first album was "The Divine Miss M" released in November 1972, followed by the self-titled "Bette Midler" released in November 1973, both of which took off up the music charts, and Bette's popularity swiftly escalated from there.
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With Manilow, at 64, Cher, 61, and John, 60, Midler is part of a community of older performers exploiting the pool of tourists and high-rollers in this neon desert. Midler says she feels as energetic as she was 10 years ago — crediting good genes from a long line of family members who “are speedy and don’t shrink.”
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[Nick] Clooney said the tribute album is a great honor, especially since Rosemary, Barry and Bette all had been friends. If there was one song Clooney would add, "it would be 'When October Goes,' since it was recorded by both Rosemary and Barry. It would be nice if Bette could sing it, too."
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