Las Vegas Weekly

October 27, 2009 · 3:07 PM

Barry Manilow to debut at the Paris on Valentine’s Day

By Robin Leach

Barry Manilow at the Clio Awards.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

It’s now definite -- a lock, as they say in show business -- that Barry Manilow will move to the Paris on the Strip right after his five-year contract with the Las Vegas Hilton ends in December.

The new deal has been signed, sealed and delivered, as they also say! Barry will open on Valentine’s Day to coincide with the release of his new album of love songs.

Here at Vegas DeLuxe, we were the first back to reveal back in the spring in a candid interview with Barry that he didn’t know if he would be renewing the Hilton contract, but he said if he didn’t, he definitely wanted to continue performing in Las Vegas. Over the months, we reported rumors as the Paris negotiations heated up that it would be Barry’s future home.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Robin Leach interviews Barry Manilow.

Then three weeks ago, my colleague Steve Friess went on the record saying that Barry had hired a new show director, but “nothing is set in stone and no contracts have been signed, but the pieces are clearly falling into place.” Now I can confirm that the move is a done deal, even though Paris officials still will not comment about the signed contracts and their specifics.

I’m told that Barry is thrilled to be on the Strip and excited about creating an all-new show for the Paris dates. This past weekend, he played The Hollywood Bowl for the first time in his career and said it was the best time he’s ever had having so much fun with the audience.

I believe Barry is set to undergo hip surgery this week, and, upon recovery, it will be a full-time, all-out effort with the new romance songs spectacular.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Barry Manilow at the Clio Awards.

Click HERE for our most recent story that reported the Paris probability and his new albums being released this winter: In the Swing of Christmas with 12 holiday standards in stores this month and The Greatest Love Songs of All Time in late January. Also Click HERE for our original interview with Barry about his Las Vegas future.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter HERE.

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