Grammy winner Melissa Manchester to perform at Columbia June 27
Contact: Tonya Lowentritt
6/18/08
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HAMMOND – Grammy-winner Melissa Manchester is coming to Southeastern Louisiana University’s Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts June 27.
Manchester, who has been delighting audiences for three decades with her sensual ballads such as “Whenever I Call You Friend,” “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” and “Midnight Blue,” will perform at the historic downtown Hammond theatre at 7:30 p.m.
“Melissa Manchester’s work defines classic contemporary music,” said Columbia Director Donna Gay Anderson. “Her musical background is rich. Her father was a bassoonist for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and she studied songwriting at New York University under Paul Simon. This wealth of experience is evidenced in her songs. It is an honor to have her coming to Columbia.”
Manchester also worked as a staff writer at Chappell Music and performed as a solo singer/pianist in clubs in Greenwich Village and Manhattan’s Upper West Side, where she met Bette Midler. She performed in many venues as a back up singer for Midler, including New York’s Carnegie Hall. Six months later Manchester had a recording contract of her own and was performing to sold-out audiences.
She was nominated for Grammy Awards in 1978 and 1979 and received the Grammy Award in 1982 for Best Female Vocalist for “You Should Hear How She Talks About You.”
In 1980 Manchester became the first artist in the history of the Academy Awards to have two nominated movie themes in a year – “Ice Castles” and “The Promise” -- and to perform both songs during the awards show.
She debuted her new song “Power of Ribbons” in front of an estimated crowd of 50,000 at Revlon’s Run/Walk for Women in Los Angeles in May and followed it up with an encore performance at a sold-out Dodger Stadium on Mother’s Day. Manchester is donating the royalties to the ongoing battle against breast cancer. “Power of Ribbons” is available for download at Amazon.com and iTunes.
She will perform her new song and many of her classic hits for a local audience at her June 27 Columbia Theatre concert.
Tickets for Melissa Manchester are $39, Orchestra 1 and Loge; $34, Orchestra 2 and Balcony 1; and $26, Orchestra 3 and Balcony 2. They are available online at columbiatheatre.org or at the Columbia box office, 220 E. Thomas St., 985-543-4371. Box office hours are noon-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and one hour before performance times.
For information about upcoming events in the Columbia Theatre, visit columbiatheatre.org or call (985) 543-4366.
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