In almost every city he has visited on his "One Last Time" tour, Barry Manilow has collected musical instruments to donate to local schools through his Manilow Music Project.
He is doing the same thing in Tucson.
From now through Monday, bring a new or gently used instrument β guitars, violins, drums, flutes, tubas, music stands, etc. β to the Tucson Convention Center Box Office, 260 S. Church Ave., and exchange it for two tickets to his concert Monday night. The instruments will be donated to Ironwood Ridge High School, part of the Amphitheater School District. Manilow said he also will donate the new Yamaha piano that he will play Monday night at the Tucson Arena.Β
"I believe a lot in teaching a young kid how to play an instrument because it makes their lives better or different,β the iconic pop superstar said during a phone call from California in mid-April.Β
βAll these schools are running out of them or they are broken down. These wonderful teachers, they stay until the middle of the night fixing up these instruments because the school districts donβt give them money for it. They are looking for everything. They are looking for music stands, sheet music that these kids can play."
Manilow's "One Last Time" tour officially ends his days of cross-country touring, although it is not the end of his performing days. He said he still plans to do shows, but doesn't want to do the long-haul touring that he has done year in and year out over his 40-plus-year career.Β
The Tucson Convention Center Box Office is openΒ 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and an hour before shows.
The Manilow Music Project is part of The Manilow Fund for Health and Hope, a grassroots organization tthat assists local charities and programs. In addition to providing musicalΒ instruments to high schools and middle schools, it offers music scholarships at universities throughout the US, Canada and the UK.
