Melissa Manchester bringing musical journey to Cedar Rapids concert

It's not surprising that Melissa Manchester became a venerable songwriter. The veteran who penned such well-crafted tunes as “Shine Like You Should,” “We've Got Time” and “Headlines,” learned from the best. That's not hyperbole.

Manchester, 71, who will perform Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids, enrolled in a songwriting class at New York University taught by Paul Simon. The iconic songsmith led the class in 1969 at the height of his powers back when the diminutive Simon and Art Garfunkel were the toast of New York City.

“It was a remarkable experience studying songwriting with Paul Simon,” Manchester said from East Greenwich, R.I. “I was 17 years old and as he was, at that moment, fantastically successful. It was surprising and thrilling that he took time to audition, personally, and teach a small group of students.

“Homework was to show up each week with a new song. Paul would come in from time to time with a new idea for a song, as well. Paul was rather scholarly in his approach to songwriting. He would do a lot of research into understanding styles before he started writing.”

Where do you go from there? Well, to another legend. Two years later, Manchester met Barry Manilow, who was the musical director for Bette Midler at the time. Midler hired her as backing singer with her Harlettes.

“Working for Bette Midler was another singular experience for me,” Manchester said. “ I was the founding member of what became The Harlettes. Besides her talent as a songstress and actor, Bette is highly intelligent and driven by enormous curiosity. She is a visionary and, as such, pushes herself and everyone around her to manifest her dreams. I was thrilled as one of the few to pay tribute to her at the Kennedy Center Honors last December.”

The member of the Songbook Hall of Fame learned much from Manilow, who remains a close friend.

“I met Barry Manilow when we were both jingle singers,” Manchester said. “He guided and arranged Bette’s musical ideas. Turns out he was spectacularly talented, as well.”

Manchester is considerably gifted, too. “Midnight Blue,” “Don't Cry Out Loud” and “You Should Hear How She Talks About You” are among her Top 10 hits.

After recording 19 albums, Manchester has plenty to choose from each time she takes the stage.

“I try to create a musical journey through my set list choices,” she said. “I offer several of my well-known songs, as well as other songs that have specific meaning to me.”

Much of Manchester's canon comprises love songs. It’s a stark contrast to much of contemporary music, since many new songs are about conspicuous consumption rather than relationships.

“I came of age as a singer/songwriter in the early ’70s, when songs were still melody driven,” she said. “There were long lyrical ideas that were developed, as were melodic ideas. The convention of today’s pop songs is rhythm driven --- shorter phrases that are often repeated, which makes it trickier to develop lyric and melody.

“This is merely a nugget of my thoughts, but I will add that I am glad and grateful for the musical era I came from.”

Manchester fondly looks back at the many duets she recorded.

“I’ve had the privilege of singing with everyone from Roberta Flack to Al Jarreau to Barry Manilow, as well as so many other great artists,” she said. “There is no favorite, only joyful collaborations.”

Manchester is creating new music and revamping material for her next project.

“I am working on a new album called ‘RE:VIEW.’ It’s the re-recording of several of my Billboard charted hits,” she said. “I'll be back on the road with some exciting new upcoming projects.”