Melissa Manchester

Grammy Award-winning artist Melissa Manchester got her start as a solo singer/pianist in the clubs of New York s Greenwich Village where she met Better Midler and Barry Manilow. As a back up singer for Bette Melissa fulfilled her childhood fantasy of playing Carnegie Hall . Six months later she had a recording contract and went on to headline at Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall and performed for sold-out audiences across the country. Melissa s music has served to establish her as a compelling singer/songwriter. Her debut releases Home to Myself and Bright Eyes positioned her as a dynamic new talent and Melissa launched the smash hit single Midnight Blue. Melissa and Kenny Logins co-wrote the radio classic Whenever I Call You Friend and her songs have been recorded by Barbara Streis C Dusty Springfield Alison Krauss Roberta Flack Johnny Mathis Kathy Matea Peabo Bryson and Cleo Laine. Her international hits Through the Eyes of Love and Don t Cry Out Loud were written for her by her friends and frequent collaborators Carole Bayer Sager Marvin Hamlisch and the later Peter Allen. Melissa was nominated for a Grammy in 19878 and 1979 and received a Grammy in 1982 for Best Female Vocalist. In 1980 she became the first artist in the history of the Academy Awards to have two nominated movie themes in a given year Through the Eyes of Love and The Promise and made Oscar history by performing both songs during the worldwide telecast. She has produced albums starred in Andrew Lloyd Weber s Song and Dance and Music of the Night and co-starred with Bette Midler in the 20th Century Fox Film