Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

MANCHESTER, Melissa

(b 15 Feb. '51, NYC) Singer, songwriter. Daughter of bassoonist with NY Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. High School of Performing Arts; writing songs for publisher, recording commercial jingles age 15. Studied with Paul Simon; became member of Harlettes, Bette Midler backup group '71, then solo act in clubs. LPs for Bell Home To Myself '73, Bright Eyes '75 well-received; then the label became Arista, with producer Vin Poncia; third LP Melissa was a no. 12 album incl. hit 'Midnight Blue' (no. 6 '75). Following mid-'70s ABC-TV show Good Vibrations From Central Park, with the Temptations and Sly and the Family Stone, the New York Times reported 'the cool Miss Manchester completely steals the show'. Further top ten singles 'Don't Cry Out Loud' '79 (written by Peter Allen/Carole Bayer Sager); 'You Should Hear How She Talks About You' '82; first performer to have two recorded film themes nominated for Oscars same year (Ice Castles and The Promise '80). Further albums for Arista: Better Days And Happy Endings, Help Is On The Way, Singin', Don't Cry Out Loud, Melissa Manchester, For The Working Girl, Hey Ricky (top 20 album incl. '83 title single) and Emergency, which did not reach the top 100 albums: her chart career had faded, but she still had many fans. She switched to MCA for Mathematics '85; Tribute '89 was on Mika, If My Heart Had Wings '95 on Atlantic.