Along with his 637th efficiency at Vegas’ Worldwide Theater, Barry Manilow has damaged the efficiency report beforehand held by Elvis Presley.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “LOOKS LIKE WE MADE IT”)
BARRY MANILOW: (Singing) Seems like we made it.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
Extra particularly, appears like Barry himself has made it. The king of soppy rock has damaged a report as soon as held by The King.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “ALL SHOOK UP”)
ELVIS PRESLEY: (Singing) I am all shook up. Ooh-ooh (ph).
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
Seventies icon Barry Manilow has now performed extra reveals at Vegas’ Worldwide Theater than the earlier report holder, Elvis Presley. It was slightly little bit of magic for Fanilows (ph).
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “COULD IT BE MAGIC”)
MANILOW: (Singing) Might this be the magic finally?
MATT KELEMEN: It is a testomony to his longevity.
CHANG: Matt Kelemen is an leisure author in Las Vegas, and he says this new milestone has solidified the 80-year-old as one of many metropolis’s staples.
KELEMEN: Should you actually need to see a very good present, Barry Manilow is a good place to begin. Within the early ’60s, you’ll have needed to see the Rat Pack. Within the late ’60s, early ’70s, you’d need to go see Elvis.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “VIVA LAS VEGAS”)
PRESLEY: (Singing) Shiny mild metropolis going to set my soul – going to set my soul on fireplace.
SHAPIRO: Elvis started performing on the theater on the Westgate Resort Resort – then referred to as the Worldwide Resort – in 1969. He racked up a complete of 636 reveals by 1976.
(SOUNDBITE OF ELVIS PRESLEY SONG, “HOUND DOG”)
CHANG: Properly, when Manilow performed his 637th present at that venue, he honored the King by singing “Hound Canine” sporting a crimson jacket with Elvis’ iconic TCB lightning bolt brand stitched on the sleeve.
SHAPIRO: Kelemen says each performers had an it issue that drew a crowd.
KELEMEN: You see previous footage of Elvis performing – they’re simply, like, close to hysterical. With Barry, it isn’t hysterics. However, I imply, there’s only a few reveals that I’ve ever seen the place folks have been so completely happy to be there. They’re completely happy due to their devotion to Barry Manilow.
SHAPIRO: In recognition of the brand new milestone, Manilow acquired a key to the enduring Vegas strip. September 23 was additionally declared Barry Manilow Day within the metropolis for his assist in establishing it as a major landmark for leisure.
CHANG: Kelemen agrees that the influence of a Vegas residency has shifted.
KELEMEN: There was a time when it was checked out just like the place the place entertainers went to retire. They’re normally veterans, however they’re simply so vibrant. And other people on the audiences – what’s in contrast to most locations – that they are all from totally different locations. The one factor that they’ve in frequent is their devotion to the headliner.
SHAPIRO: And in that spirit, after breaking Elvis’ report, Manilow thanked the those who made it occur.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MANILOW: It truly is all about you guys. It truly is. It is – you realize, I like all of the awards and all, however I would not be right here if it weren’t for you. Thanks for coming tonight.
(CHEERING)
CHANG: Nevertheless, even when Barry Manilow and Elvis pooled their spectacular efficiency data collectively, they’d nonetheless have a methods to go to defeat the longest-ever Vegas residency – Donny and Marie Osmond’s 1,730 reveals.
SHAPIRO: However, hey, Manilow simply introduced extra Vegas dates for 2024, so who is aware of what miracle could be across the nook?
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “IT’S A MIRACLE”)
MANILOW: (Singing) It is a miracle – miracle – a real, blue spectacle – a miracle come true. We’re collectively, child. I used to be going loopy until the miracle got here by way of. Now you are right here, and my arms are round you. And, child, there will be dancing on the street.
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