Grammy Award-winning Singer-Songwriter MELISSA MANCHESTER is touring Australia "Live in Concert" in October/November 2012. MELISSA MANCHESTER's career began in the 1970s when she recorded a series of albums featuring her own compositions and those of a variety of other songwriters, the calibre of Kenny Loggins, Carole Bayer Sager and others. Her hit singles included "Midnight Blue", "Whenever I Call You Friend", "Don't Cry Out Loud", "Through The Eyes Of Love", "You Should Hear How She Talks About You" and many others. Her songs have been recorded by the likes of Barbra Streisand, Dusty Springfield, Roberta Flack, Johnny Mathis, Dame Cleo Laine, Barbara Cook, among many others. Abstract Entertainment is proud to present MELISSA MANCHESTER in Concert in November 2012.

MELISSA MANCHESTER - BIOGRAPHY

Grammy Award-winning Singer-Songwriter MELISSA MANCHESTER was born in New York, who by the age of 15 was a published poet. After graduating from the High School of the Performing Arts, Melissa entered New York University and enrolled in a songwriting course taught by Paul Simon. She landed a staff writing position at Chappell Music and performed as a solo singer/pianist in the clubs of New York's Greenwich Village. While working in the New York "jingle singing" circuit, she met Bette Midler and Barry Manilow. As a back-up singer for Bette Midler, Melissa fulfilled her childhood fantasy by playing New York's Carnegie Hall. Ironically, six months later Melissa had a recording contract and went on to headline at Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall, plus performed to sell-out concerts across the U.S.

Melissa Manchester's music has served to establish her as a compelling singer/songwriter. Her debut release "Home To Myself" and "Bright Eyes" positioned her as a dynamic new talent, and launched the smash hit single "Midnight Blue". She co-wrote with Kenny Loggins the classic hit "Whenever I Call You Friend", and her songs have been recorded by Barbra Streisand, the late Dusty Springfield, Alison Krauss, Roberta Flack, Kathy Mattea, Peabo Bryson, Dame Cleo Laine, Johnny Mathis, Barbara Cook and the late Mel Torme, among many others. Her international hits "Through The Eyes Of Love" and "Don't Cry Out Loud" were written for her by her friend and frequent collaborator Carole Bayer Sager, Marvin Hamlisch and the late Peter Allen. Melissa Manchester was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1978 and 1979 and received the prestigious Grammy Award in 1982 for Best Female Vocalist. In 1980 she became the first artist in the history of the Academy Awards to have two nominated movie theme songs in a given year: "Through The Eyes Of Love" and "The Promise" - and went on to make Oscar history by performing both songs during the worldwide telecast. Her acclaimed album release "Tribute" came full circle for Melissa Manchester, honouring the great singers who influenced her, from Judy Garland to Barbra Streisand, Edith Piaf to Ella Fitzgerald. She has combined her acting and singing talents with starring roles in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Song And Dance" and "Music Of The Night", Stephen Sondheim's musical "Sweeney Todd" opposite Kelsey Grammer of "Frasier" success, and a recurring role in the hit television series "Blossom". She co-starred with Bette Midler in the feature film "For The Boys". Most recently, Melissa Manchester's songs were highlighted in the feature film "Dirty Girl", including the original theme song she co-wrote with Mary Steenburgen entitled "Rainbird".

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
LIONEL MIDFORD PUBLICITY on (02) 9328 6702 or 0414 774 962
Email: lionelmidford@bigpond.com Website: www.lionelmidfordpublicity.com