Melissa Manchester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melissa Manchester
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Manchester in concert (2009)
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| Background information | |
| Born | February 15, 1951 The Bronx, New York City, US |
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| Years active | 1971–present |
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Melissa Manchester (born February 15, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She became very popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Her music was a big hit, especially with fans of adult contemporary music.
Manchester has written many of her own songs. Her first major hit single was "Midnight Blue" in 1975. She is also known for songs like "Come In from the Rain" and her version of "Don't Cry Out Loud".
Her most successful song was "You Should Hear How She Talks About You" in 1982. It reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart. Besides singing, she has also acted in movies, on television, and on stage.
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Early Life and First Steps in Music
Melissa Manchester was born in the Bronx, New York, into a musical family. Her father, David Manchester, played the bassoon for the famous New York Metropolitan Opera. Her mother, Ruth, was a clothing designer who started her own company.
Manchester began her music career at a young age. She learned to play the piano at the Manhattan School of Music. When she was 15, she started singing for commercials. By 17, she was a staff writer for a music company while still in high school.
She later studied songwriting at New York University with the famous musician Paul Simon. She performed in clubs in Manhattan, where her friend Barry Manilow introduced her to singer Bette Midler. In 1971, Manchester joined the Harlettes, a group of backup singers for Midler.
A Successful Solo Career
Manchester released her first album, Home to Myself, in 1973. She wrote many of the songs with Carole Bayer Sager. Two years later, her album Melissa gave her a top-ten hit with the song "Midnight Blue".
In 1976, Manchester released the song "Come in From the Rain." Many other famous artists have since recorded their own versions of the song. These artists include Diana Ross and Rosemary Clooney.
She worked with Kenny Loggins to write his 1978 hit song "Whenever I Call You 'Friend'". In 1979, her version of "Don't Cry Out Loud" became a top-ten hit. This earned her a Grammy nomination. That same year, she performed two songs at the Academy Awards.
In 1982, she released her biggest hit, "You Should Hear How She Talks About You". The song won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance. It was a huge success on the music charts.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Manchester balanced her music with acting. She appeared with Bette Midler in the movie For the Boys and on the TV show Blossom.
Later Career and New Music
In 2001, Manchester wrote and recorded the music for the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure. In 2004, she released a new album called When I Look Down That Road.
In 2013, she announced she was making her 20th album, You Gotta Love the Life. She used a website called Indiegogo to raise money from her fans to release the album herself. One of the songs, "Feelin' for You," was inspired by a funny moment at a bar. The album was released in 2015.
In 2017, she released The Fellas, an album of songs originally by male singers who inspired her, like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Manchester worked on her 24th album, Re:View. This album features new versions of some of her most famous hits. In 2021, she was honored with the New Standard Award from the Great American Songbook Foundation for her contributions to music.
In 2023, she toured the United States playing Mrs. Brice in the musical Funny Girl.
Awards and Recognition
- Grammy Award: She won for "You Should Hear How She Talks About You" in 1982.
- Academy Awards: Two songs she performed, "Through The Eyes of Love" and "I'll Never Say Goodbye," were nominated for Oscars in 1979 and 1980.
- Bronx Walk of Fame: She has a spot on the walk of fame in her home borough.
- Teaching: Manchester is an adjunct professor at the USC Thornton School of Music, where she teaches young musicians.
- Songbook Hall of Fame: In 2021, she received the New Standard Award for her lasting impact on American music.
Personal Life
Manchester married Kevin De Remer in 1982. He worked as her tour coordinator. They have two children. The couple divorced in 2014.
Selected Discography
Here are some of Melissa Manchester's most well-known albums.
Studio Albums
- 1973: Home to Myself
- 1975: Melissa
- 1978: Don't Cry Out Loud
- 1982: Hey Ricky
- 1989: Tribute
- 1995: If My Heart Had Wings
- 2004: When I Look Down That Road
- 2014: You Gotta Love the Life
- 2017: The Fellas
- 2024: Re:View
Compilation Albums
- 1983: Greatest Hits
- 1997: The Essence of Melissa Manchester
- 2013: Playlist: The Very Best of Melissa Manchester
Film and Television Work
Manchester has acted in several movies and TV shows. She also writes and performs songs for films.
- The Great Mouse Detective (1986): She was the voice of Miss Kitty Mouse and wrote a song for the movie.
- For the Boys (1991): She acted in this film with Bette Midler.
- Blossom (1993-1995): She played the character Maddy Russo.
- Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure (2001): She wrote songs for this animated movie.
- Dirty Girl (2010): She played a piano teacher in this film.
See also
In Spanish: Melissa Manchester para niños
