embarrassing fact: First album I ever owned on cassette was barry manilows greatest hits :D Was staying with my grandma in Acton, and had my first 'stereo' which was basically a radio + tape deck, about 2.5 watts output, that was given to me by a family friend. I was 9 years old, we were in the local woolworths (most likely Ealing), and she asked if I would like a cassette tape... had no idea who the fuck was who, so she said "Barry Manilow is good, you'll like him" and promptly bought the tape. Fucking loved 'i made it through the rain' and played the shit out of it
Can't say I was ever a fan, soon grew out of pop stuff like that, but.... caught a TV show on him a couple of years back and found myself watching it 'an audience with barry manilow' or whatever, and actually enjoyed it - seems a proper nice bloke, and def knows how to entertain a crowd
Obviously I'll never mention his name again now I know he has the gay, but still.