Barry Manilow Signs Las Vegas Contract

LAS VEGAS - Barry Manilow, famous for songs such as "Mandy" and "Copacabana," has signed a long-term deal to perform at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel-casino. Manilow will perform five nights a week for 24 weeks through 2005 and into 2006, executives announced Tuesday. The 90-minute show premieres Feb. 24 and is called "Manilow: Music and Passion."

Executives declined to discuss contract details.

Manilow said at a news conference that playing Las Vegas made perfect sense after he made the decision to stop touring.

He said the show will include singers, dancers, a large band and new songs.

"It won't be static," Manilow said. "It will change every night."

His theater will hold about 1,700 people after renovations.

Manilow, who said he intends to write a Las Vegas theme song similar to "New York, New York," is following in the footsteps of Elvis Presley, who once performed at the Hilton, and other singers such as Celine Dion, Elton John and Gladys Knight.

Asked if he had gotten any tips from Dion about living and performing in Las Vegas, Manilow said no, but added: "I'll give her a call."

The Manilow deal is part of a plan to reinvigorate the aging Las Vegas Hilton.

Casino giant Caesars Entertainment Inc. sold the property to a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based Colony Capital LLC earlier this year in a deal worth $280 million.

Rudy Prieto, Las Vegas Hilton chief executive and general manager, said Manilow will help restore the luster to the 3,000-room hotel-casino that was built in 1969.