Melissa Manchester (born February 15, 1951) is an American
singer-songwriter and actress. Since the 1970s, her songs have been
carried by adult contemporary radio stations. She has also appeared on
television, in films, and on stage.Manchester was born in the Bronx, a
borough of New York City, to a musical family. Her father was a
bassoonist for the New York Metropolitan Opera. Her mother was one of
the first women to design and found her own clothing firm, Ruth
Manchester Ltd. Manchester hails from a Jewish background. Manchester
started a singing career at an early age. She learned the piano and
harpsichord at the Manhattan School of Music, began singing commercial
jingles at age 15, and became a staff writer for Chappell Music while
attending Manhattan's High School of Performing Arts.She studied
songwriting at New York University with Paul Simon. Manchester played
the Manhattan club scene, where she was discovered by Barry Manilow,
who introduced her to Bette Midler. In 1971 she became a member of the
Harlettes, the back-up singers for Midler.
singer-songwriter and actress. Since the 1970s, her songs have been
carried by adult contemporary radio stations. She has also appeared on
television, in films, and on stage.Manchester was born in the Bronx, a
borough of New York City, to a musical family. Her father was a
bassoonist for the New York Metropolitan Opera. Her mother was one of
the first women to design and found her own clothing firm, Ruth
Manchester Ltd. Manchester hails from a Jewish background. Manchester
started a singing career at an early age. She learned the piano and
harpsichord at the Manhattan School of Music, began singing commercial
jingles at age 15, and became a staff writer for Chappell Music while
attending Manhattan's High School of Performing Arts.She studied
songwriting at New York University with Paul Simon. Manchester played
the Manhattan club scene, where she was discovered by Barry Manilow,
who introduced her to Bette Midler. In 1971 she became a member of the
Harlettes, the back-up singers for Midler.
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