Melissa Manchester Bio
MOR singer-songwriter Melissa Manchester, whose father was a
bassoonist for the New York Metropolitan Opera, began singing
commercial jingles at age 15 and went on to become a staff writer for
Chappell Music while attending the High School of Performing Arts.
After taking a songwriting class at New York University taught by Paul
Simon, Manchester took her talents to the Manhattan club scene, where
she was discovered by Bette Midler and Barry Manilow; the two hired her
as a backup singer in 1971. She recorded her debut album, Home to
Myself, in 1973, co-writing many of the songs with Carole Bayer Sager.
1975's Melissa produced her first Top Ten hit, "Midnight Blue," and set
the tone for most of her career with its direct, slickly produced MOR
pop sound. She and Kenny Loggins co-wrote the latter's 1978 duet hit
with Stevie Nicks, "Whenever I Call You Friend," and the following
year, Manchester returned to the Top Ten with "Don't Cry Out Loud."
1980 saw Manchester become the first singer to have two movie themes
nominated for Academy Awards (Ice Castles and The Promise); two years
later she achieved her highest Billboard singles chart placing with the
number five hit "You Should Hear How She Talks About You," which won a
Grammy for Best Female Vocal Performance. Through the '80s and '90s,
Manchester has alternated occasional recording with scriptwriting and
acting, appearing with Bette Midler in For the Boys and on the
television series Blossom as the title character's birth mother. In
spring 2004, Manchester returned with her first album in 10 years. When
I Look Down That Road, which included collaborations with Beth Nielsen
Chapman and Keb' Mo, marked her first proper release with Koch. ~ Steve
Huey, All Music Guide
Written by Steve Huey
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