Barry Manilow on the mend after emergency surgery
On Thursday, Barry Manilow became a social media trending topic when reports that he was admitted to the hospital in Los Angeles following a Memphis concert hit the web. The pop singer-songwriter, who performed before more than 10,000 fans last Friday at Sunrise’s BB&T Center on his One Last Time! Tour, was flown to the hospital after suffering complications following oral surgery he underwent Monday. Several concert dates were postponed.
The official statement from publicist Victoria Varela on Friday afternoon should prove encouraging to fans:
“Barry is out of surgery and doing well. His doctors report that the surgery was successful and they expect no further complications. For the next 48 hours, Manilow has been instructed not to talk, sing, or rap.
“Barry thanks everyone for their well wishes and concern.”
And no, Fanilows, Manilow isn’t working on rapping. Just a bit of doctor’s bedside humor. The songwriter is, however, working on a new album he says will be a mix of standards and originals. The theme: his birthplace New York.
Howard Cohen: 305-376-3619, @HowardCohen
This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 7:09 AM with the headline "Barry Manilow on the mend after emergency surgery."