Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow, who has enjoyed a career spanning seven decades, surpassed Elvis Presley’s record for most performances with his 637th show at Westgate Las Vegas.
The Brooklyn-born crooner, 80, announced on September 23 that he had signed on to perform again starting in February 2024. The record was set by Elvis at the legendary International Theater in the hotel.
As a tribute to the king, Manilow donned a leather jacket and belted out Elvis’ hit “Hound Dog,” which received a standing ovation.
Turning to his early beginnings in music, Manilow told the audience how his grandfather inspired him to become a musician.
“Grandpa wouldn’t give up.” Every Saturday afternoon he took me across the Brooklyn Bridge and to Times Square, and he put all his money into this thing, and eventually I realized what he was asking me to do, and I sang to him, and I liked it. ‘ he said.
Barry Manilow broke Elvis Presley’s records for most performances at the Westgate in Las Vegas by performing his 637th show at the hotel
Manilow appeared perky as he ran across the stage and tossed red scarves to his adoring fans
As a tribute to the late pop singer, he sang the hit “Hound Dog” and received a standing ovation
From 1969 until his death in 1977, The King played 636 shows at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, each month long, twice a night (pictured on stage in 1975).
“It wasn’t so much the singing that I liked, but the music.” Even at that young age, I kind of got it. If you ask my musician friends, they say the same thing: I was bad at sports and math, but I somehow understood music.”
When asked what motivates him to perform night after night during his long-term residency, Manilow said, “These people are so happy, and they’re all ages.” That’s why I still do it. It’s about her, not about me.’
In 1969, Elvis began a seven-year residency at the Westgate, then called the International Hotel.
He performed on the same stage as Manilow in front of 1,150 spectators and completed a whopping 631 shows before his untimely death in 1977.
His stay at the hotel made Elvis one of the highest-paid performers in Las Vegas history at the time. The last show he performed at the hotel was on December 12, 1976.
He also lived in a 5,000 square foot suite on the 30th floor that still exists and is now known as the Elvis Suite.
The floor was remodeled shortly after Manilow’s debut in 1985.
Manilow donated last night’s performance fee to the Victoria’s Voice Foundation, a charity funded by Westgate Hotel owner Jackie Seigal, whose daughter Victoria died of a drug overdose in 2015.
Manilow donated his September 23 performance to the Victoria’s Voice Foundation, the eponymous charity named after hotel owner Jackie Seigal’s daughter
Manilow received a ceremonial key to the Vegas Strip during the first of his three record-breaking Charity Weekend Celebration shows on September 21st
The pop singer also announced that he had signed up for another appearance from February 2024
Seigal told that Maslow “will continue to break his own record every day.”
Former beauty queen Jackie is married to Westgate owner David Siegal and is best known for her starring role in the reality series Queen of Versailles.
The show was about the construction of her 90,000 square foot mansion in Orlando, Florida, which was inspired by the Palace of Versailles in France. A second season will air next year.
In an exclusive conversation with , Jackie spoke fondly of Barry Manilow and his support for Victoria’s Voice, a foundation that sheds light on the drug epidemic.
The charity is named after her daughter, who suffered a fatal overdose aged just 18.
“Barry has been a great support to Victoria’s Voice.” “We’re delighted he’s been retained for another year – he’s now broken the record for the most appearances of any artist on our stage,” she said.
“He will continue to break his own record every day.” I’m delighted with his support of Victoria’s Voice and his help in raising awareness of the drug epidemic. “Me Casa is his Casa, which he always welcomes in my Versailles in the Sky.”