From Pollstar .com - Gigs & Bytes

Gigs & Bytes:
Fanilows Boost Manilow
Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 1:01PMNever underestimate the power of dedicated fans.
Barry Manilow has a new album dropping Nov. 25. Called The Greatest Songs Of The Eighties, Manilow's latest effort has him covering some of the biggest pop hits of that decade, including a duet with Reba McEntire on "Islands In The Stream," as well as renditions of Phil Collins' "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)" and "Arthur's Theme (The Best That I Can Do)."
Here's where the fan power comes in. Within one day of Manilow's official site sending an e-mail blast to fans announcing the new work, the album shot up from No. 1,912 to No. 8 on the Amazon bestsellers chart.
Now, if only we could harness the fans' energy for our automobiles. Just think of the possibilities!

Original post url: http://www.pollstar.com/news/viewnews.pl?NewsID=11601

My Thoughts on the new 80's CD

The Greatest songs of the 80's is the 4th in Barry's series of decade CD's. He started with Greatest Songs of the 50's and has made it to the 80's! I think this is gonna be my favorite of all of them because this is my era!! I have so many memories both good and bad tacked to some of these songs, and who better to recreate them than Barry Manilow?
Rather than give the entire track listing, I'm just going to give my thoughts on a few of the songs that made the cut.
Islands In The Stream has never been one of my favorites, but i am a HUGE Reba McEntire fan!!! Reba loves to cut up and have fun with her music and so does Barry. I'm sure this will be a great "ham it up" song and I think it will be fun. I can't wait to hear it.
I've Had The Time Of My Life! Dirty Dancing was one of my favorite movies. I've watched it countless times and the ending was almost the most anticipated part of the movie. This one's gonna be GREAT!
Against All Odds I like Phil Collins, and I'm glad this one made it. I use to play this all the time and warm my vocals up. It's a beautiful song and it holds a lot of meaning.
Right Here Waiting. I'll never forget the first time I heard this song. I was riding in the car with my mom heading to somewhere, and as it started to play i remember telling my mom what a beautiful song it was. I love it to this day, and I'm sure Barry will do it justice.
These are just a few I wanted to comment on. Barry is a musical genious who puts his stamp on anything he chooses to try. We'll all have different opinions, my hope though is that we can keep them as posative as we can. Let's try not to complain about he should have done this or that!! let's just thankhim for the music and the time he's taken to do this and uplift him a bit rather than being so negative. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in wha tWE want and it isn't about what WE want, it's about what BARRY wants us to hear.
Barry manilow Greatest Songs of the 80's in in stores November 26!!!!! 40 LONG DAYS and counting

Barry Manilow On KOST 103.5 - October 10, 2008

My Sincere Condolences to Keely Vasquez

Today's entry is heartbreaking to me. I am an older sister of a brother who was inlisted in the US Army in Airborne Infantry from the age of 19. I can't imagine how I would feel if I lost him in the line of duty! I just can't.

Keely Vasquez Lost her Brother Gary J Vasquez age 33. Sgt 1st Class Vasquez was stationed in Afganastan when he lost his life. Those of us who have been fans of Barry and have seen the shows have come to love and admire Keely and so I'd like to take this moment and let her know she and her family are in my prayers today. God is so good and he's the ultimate giver of comfort so I'm lifting she and her family up today.

God Bless You Keely
R. I. P. Sgt Vasquez

Sgt. 1st Class Gary J. Vasquez, 33, of Round Lake, Ill., was a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha senior engineer sergeant

Soldier from Highland killed by blast in Afghanistan

A soldier from Highland, who was on his third tour in Afghanistan, was killed Monday when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device.

Sgt. First Class Gary J. Vasquez, 33, enlisted about nine years ago and was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he lived with his wife, Sarah Vasquez.

"He loved his job. He was happy to be doing what he was doing," Vasquez's brother, Barry DuHasek, said. "He basically indicated that he always wanted to be a soldier,"

DuHasek said Vasquez had served in the 82nd Airborne Division and was an Airborne Ranger before he became a Green Beret of the U.S. Special Forces.

Vasquez was riding with Capt. Richard G. Cliff Jr., 29, of Mount Pleasant, S.C., and Sgt. First Class Jamie S. Nicholas, 32, of Maysel, W.Va., according to the Department of Defense. All died in Yakhchal, Afghanistan, from wounds from the explosion.

The three soldiers were Green Berets, assigned to the First Battalion, Seventh Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg.

The Defense Department listed Vasquez's home as Round Lake, Ill., but family members said Wednesday he was from Highland.

"His personality was larger than life," DuHasek said. "He was probably one of the funniest people I've ever met. He was my best friend and my brother."

Vasquez graduated from Highland High School in 1992, and earned a theater degree from Illinois State University, DuHasek said. He enjoyed reading and spending time with his dogs, Smash and Medea.

He is survived by his wife, Sarah; his mother, Margaret DuHasek, of Highland; his brother, Barry DuHasek, of Highland; and his sister, Keely Vasquez of Chicago.

Vasquez was preceded in death by his father, Frank Vasquez, a lieutenant colonel who served in Vietnam.

Arrangements for Vasquez are pending at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home, 101 Ninth St. in Highland.

U.S. officials have said violence in Afghanistan is up about 30 percent this year over 2007. More American soldiers -- 112 -- have died in the country so far this year than in any year since the 2001 invasion.

Contact reporter Maria Baran at mbaran@bnd.com or 239-2460. Contact reporter Jacqueline Lee at jlee@bnd.com or 239-2655.