Melissa Manchester's Metropolitan Opera Connection

"Manchester, whose father was a bassoonist for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and whose mother was a former singer during World War II, grew up with music in her blood. 'Music was just a basic part of my education,' Manchester said. 'There was always singing in the house.' From a very young age, Manchester knew exactly what she wanted to do. [Source]

"Through The Eyes of Love"


"Don't Cry Out Loud"


"You Should Hear How She Talks About You"


"Whenever I Call You Friend"



Melissa Manchester (born February 15, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Beginning in the 1970s, she has recorded generally in the adult contemporary genre. She has also appeared as an actress on television, in films, and on stage. Manchester was born in the Bronx, a borough of New York City, to a musical family of Jewish ethnicity. Her father was a bassoonist for the New York Metropolitan Opera. Manchester started a singing career at an early age, learning the piano and harpsichord at the Manhattan School of Music and Arts, singing commercial jingles at age 15, and becoming a staff writer for Chappell Music while attending Manhattan's High School of Performing Arts. She studied songwriting at New York University with Paul Simon. Manchester then appeared on the Manhattan club scene, where she was discovered by Barry Manilow and Bette Midler, who took her on as one of her backup singers, the Harlettes in 1971. [Source]