I saw Bette Midler live in 1973 her first tour, probably around the time she was on Carson. I was a senior in high school and seeing that concert changed my life. And Barry Manilow was her pianist and arranger, a year before he had his first hit record. What an amazing live performer she was and still is.
This fine lady was a force of talent to be reckoned with. Her singing, her movies, her specials were top of the line. She was a favorite of everyone I know, myself included.
I was bewitched by her earlier appearances on the Tonight Show. I watched this when it aired and became a fan forever. Does anyone notice it is Barry Manilow is at the piano?
So much talent energy always gives it her all Muti Talented wonderful lady Took chances opened so many doors to performers The Great Miss Bette Midler❤️❤️
The true genius of Bette Midler is not that she has this great voice, it's actually fairly limited, it's that she has this brilliant mind continuously searching that voice, finding what's available that night, and then placing her tone EXACTLY at the right moment to please your ear and touch your heart. That's why the true fans love her so much, going on 50 years now.
She may be a good performer but her so called genius is only is a result of Barry Manilow being her MD he arranged & choose all her songs when she first started. If she didn’t his musical genius she’d not have had such a successful career. In fact all of her successful albums have been produced by Barry Manilow ! This includes recent albums!
@@deannebenkert6700 Her #1 hit was produced by Arif Mardin and he produced several things that did well for her too. Her talent was not beholden to Barry Manilow in any way and she didn't flop without him. She stood on her own and the charts and record sales of albums not produced by Barry prove that.
@@Nostaljack First I never said that she couldn’t stand on her own after Barry left her! I also never said she wasn’t talented. I said if it weren’t for Barry Manilow she wouldn’t have the career she has! Case in point if he hadn’t produced her first album using His arrangements for her the album would not have been the success it was making Bette a household name! He saved her 1st album from becoming a certain flop as management hated the original production of the album & finally reached out to Manilow who had all her original arrangements. They thought they could produce her album with different arrangements from the originals but they discovered no way!! He also arranged all the songs that got her noticed for her record contract. I know you like her & that is fine to each their own but understand that facts are facts and Barry Manilow is a big reason she was able to become a star!
One of the most talented entertainers of the 20th (and 21st) century. I met her once, and she is an absolute doll! In that conversation, she was more interested in me than she was of telling her story. I found that very endearing...
I recall this appearance; very impressed by the XXL TALENT level. During the interview, Ms. Midler announced that, initially, "we were going to show you a little skin" (back-up singers). However, thankfully, that "skin" was covered up by XXL roses. Seriously. We parents try to teach our daughters they have VALUE as persons, not just pounds of flesh. Recent pop stars have LOST that goal.
And Sharon Redd standing next to Midler. She went on to her own solo career, with several disco hits: "Love Insurance" and "In the Name of Love." She was among the more successful of Midler's backup, besides Katey Segal on "Married with Children. I saw Midler when she was at the Continental Baths, back in the early '70s.
Like (many) others have said, yes that is Barry Manilow on the piano, but he wasn't merely Bette's piano player. He was her musical arranger/conductor/producer, and pretty much responsible for her early sound and success. At the time of this Tonight Show clip, Barry's first album was out, and he was performing three of his own songs in the middle of Bette Midler's concerts, during her intermission, and getting standing ovations every night for "Could It Be Magic." After Bette's first two albums, Barry left her for his own solo career, and she didn't do another album two years, having to recover from losing him. She was pissed and felt betrayed, and it started a "frenemy" thing that lasted many years.
Thanks for posting this. Miss M was on Kimmel last night and she spoke about her audition for _The Tonight Show_ and, briefly, about her 1st appearance.
Fabulous! Thank you so much Mister D, for posting this. I have such a wonderful memory of watching this with my Dad the night it aired in 1973. Watching this now brought that right back, thank you so very much. Do you by chance have the rest of her appearance that night, when she sits with Johnny? I'd love to see that. Thanks Again. Donald M, NYC
I remember the first time Johnny Carson interviewed Bette Midler, on his show. He never said anything rude, but he acted like she was a fly by night entertainer and almost mocked her, with his demeanor. I think he developed a respect for her personality and talent over time. In my heart, I think he had her as one of his final guests, to make up for his previous behavior toward her. She is Divine!
I beg to differ, Mary. Carson had soo many people from NY saying wonderful things about our Girl. She went out, he saw, he put her on and spoke of her future. That's why Bette was his last guest. ✌❤
She was a gas on Broadway in “GYPSY”, “HELLO, DOLLY!”, “ANNIE GET YOUR GUN”, “GIRL CRAZY”, “CALL ME MADAM” and several shows by Cole Porter including “ANYTHING GOES” but her first nam was spelled “Ethel”.
If hadn’t been for Barry Manilow being her MD & arranging all her songs she would never have gotten a record contract. When she went into record her first album they didn’t use his arrangements - they found that the album sucked & she didn’t sound like the artist they signed. They then called Manilow asked him to produce her album & he brought his arrangements with him - thus a Grammy nominated album & Bette won the Grammy for Best New Artist. Bette should thank Manilow everyday for her career!!!!
@@donnatlaw6172 did you not read what I said - exactly what you said ! We are right - she is very ungrateful for Manilow’s help in making her a star! She even said that Barry had little to do with her being seen , Barry over heard her say this & she tried to deny she said it but it didn’t work - he didn’t talk to her for years after! He also produced her only other Grammy nominated albums Songbook of Rosemary Clooney & the Peggy Lee one! Truth be told she is an ungrateful BITCH!
