Barry Manilow Realizes Its ‘Sunshine’ & More
With a career spanning more than five decades, 85 million albums sold worldwide, 52 Top 40 singles (including 13 No. 1 hits) and recognition as Billboard’s No. 1 Adult Contemporary Artist of all time, Barry Manilow remains one of the most celebrated and influential entertainers in modern music. Today, the GRAMMY®, TONY®, and EMMY® Award-winning icon announces his new studio album, What A Time, due out June 5, marking his first album of new material in nearly 15 years.
Produced by Manilow and longtime collaborator Michael Lloyd, What A Time is Manilow’s 33rd studio album and his first almost all-original LP since 2011’s 15 Minutes, which debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200. The album brings together an eclectic and cross-generational group of collaborators, including Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, nine-time GRAMMY® winner Dave Cobb, and longtime co-writers Bruce Sussman and Adrienne Anderson. The result is a collection that pairs Manilow’s signature melodic grandeur with fresh textures and stylistic turns — from classic, string-swept torch songs to groove-driven R&B flourishes, heartland rock touches, and gospel-inspired crescendos.
Alongside the announcement, Manilow has released “Sun Shine,” a radiant, feel-good new single that offers a glimpse of What A Time. Breezy and melodic, the song becomes an immediate friend, one that you want to hear again and again. Written by Manilow and Gary Barlow, the song was produced by Manilow, David Benson and Greg Bartheld.
The album opens with “Once Before I Go,” an epic love song executive-produced by Clive Davis and co-written by Dean Pitchford and the late Peter Allen. Featuring a sweeping string arrangement by William Ross, the track underscores the emotional clarity and vocal command that have defined Manilow’s catalog for generations. The song debuted on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and reached the top 10 on Mediabase’s AC chart, and its accompanying music video — filmed at the Westgate Las Vegas, home to Manilow’s long-running and record-setting residency — offers an intimate glimpse inside a venue that has become synonymous with his enduring live success. Widely regarded as one of the most successful touring artists of all time, Manilow has also set the lifetime performance record at Radio City Music Hall, further cementing his status as a live entertainment powerhouse.