Singer Barry Manilow on ‘staying young’ as he edges towards 80

Turning 80 on June 17, Copacabana hitmaker Barry Manilow is in the midst of a tour.

“I think of people who are 80… they look older than I do,” Barry said. ” They’re retired. You know, that ain’t me.”

The multi-award-winning singer told The Mirror: “I’m just getting started. I’ve always got the next one.”

In one of his many projects, Barry celebrates his 14th year playing at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino International Showroom.

In a candid chat to The Charlotte Observer, Barry admitted: “The evenings in Vegas… I’ve started to take it for granted.

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“These audiences, you would really think they’d be a little jaded, and would much rather go back out into the casino.

“But they’ve been great. But when we do these tours, they are there to see me.”

Barry is also producing an album for saxophonist Dave Koz and has his stage musical, Harmony.

Nominated for 15 Grammy Awards throughout his long-lasting career, Barry has top hits such as Mandy, I Write The Songs and Could It Be Magic.

The New Yorker, while incredibly talented, he is human – and he even caught Covid last year.

At the time, Barry Tweeted: “This just might be the cruellest thing that has ever happened to me.”

Barry was referencing being too ill to attend the premiere of his musical in New York.

Yet, he overcame the contagious virus, which is a testament to his strong health in older age, but how does he do it?

In a revealing interview to People, Barry said: “I don’t like sitting around watching television.

“I think by keeping working, you stay young, or at least you stay vibrant and your brain is always working.”

Barry added: “I mean, I’m just one of the lucky guys that always has something [to do].

“I’ve got two albums that I’m working on, then Radio City, and it just goes on and on and on.”