The music icon brought hits to New Jersey and donated them to local high schools.
Barry Manilow performed at the Prudential Center in Newark on Friday.
He also donated $10,000 to the music department of Newark’s East Side High School. Half of the funds will go to his Thaddeus Expose, a music teacher, as part of the prize, and the rest will be used to purchase instruments.
“When I was a kid, I thought that as soon as I hit someone’s piano keys, I would enter the world of music. It gave me a lot of money,” says Manilow.
Manilow made Newark the second stop on his summer arena tour. In each city he visits, he gives donations to local music educators.
Manilow says music opened countless doors for him.
“Fans I don’t know who love what I do, they gave me what I have and I will always be grateful to them. But music is where it all started.” he says.
The donation was from the Manilow Music Project. The Prudential Center also donated a similar amount, bringing his total donation to Eastside High School to $20,000.
“Giving art students the opportunity to purchase musical instruments is clearly necessary,” said Sean Saade, executive vice president of entertainment at The Prudential Center.
Expose is one of several teachers nominated in New Jersey, chosen by an online vote.