(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “LOOKS LIKE WE MADE IT”)

BARRY MANILOW: (Singing) Seems to be like we made it.

AILSA CHANG, HOST:

Extra particularly, seems to be like Barry himself has made it. The king of sentimental rock has damaged a file as soon as held by The King.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “ALL SHOOK UP”)

ELVIS PRESLEY: (Singing) I am all shook up. Ooh-ooh (ph).

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Seventies icon Barry Manilow has now performed extra exhibits at Vegas’ Worldwide Theater than the earlier file holder, Elvis Presley. It was a bit little bit of magic for Fanilows (ph).

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “COULD IT BE MAGIC”)

MANILOW: (Singing) May this be the magic eventually?

MATT KELEMEN: It is a testomony to his longevity.

CHANG: Matt Kelemen is an leisure author in Las Vegas, and he says this new milestone has solidified the 80-year-old as one of many metropolis’s staples.

KELEMEN: Should you actually wish to see a superb present, Barry Manilow is a good place to start out. Within the early ’60s, you’d have wished to see the Rat Pack. Within the late ’60s, early ’70s, you’d wish to go see Elvis.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “VIVA LAS VEGAS”)

PRESLEY: (Singing) Shiny mild metropolis going to set my soul – going to set my soul on hearth.

SHAPIRO: Elvis started performing on the theater on the Westgate Resort Resort – then referred to as the Worldwide Resort – in 1969. He racked up a complete of 636 exhibits by 1976.

(SOUNDBITE OF ELVIS PRESLEY SONG, “HOUND DOG”)

CHANG: Effectively, when Manilow performed his 637th present at that venue, he honored the King by singing “Hound Canine” sporting a crimson jacket with Elvis’ iconic TCB lightning bolt brand stitched on the sleeve.

SHAPIRO: Kelemen says each performers had an it issue that drew a crowd.

KELEMEN: You see previous footage of Elvis performing – they’re simply, like, close to hysterical. With Barry, it is not hysterics. However, I imply, there’s only a few exhibits that I’ve ever seen the place individuals have been so glad to be there. They’re glad due to their devotion to Barry Manilow.

SHAPIRO: In recognition of the brand new milestone, Manilow acquired a key to the enduring Vegas strip. September 23 was additionally declared Barry Manilow Day within the metropolis for his assist in establishing it as a major landmark for leisure.

CHANG: Kelemen agrees that the impression of a Vegas residency has shifted.

KELEMEN: There was a time when it was checked out just like the place the place entertainers went to retire. They’re normally veterans, however they’re simply so vibrant. And other people on the audiences – what’s not like most locations – that they are all from totally different locations. The one factor that they’ve in widespread is their devotion to the headliner.

SHAPIRO: And in that spirit, after breaking Elvis’ file, Manilow thanked the people who made it occur.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

MANILOW: It truly is all about you guys. It truly is. It is – you understand, I like all of the awards and all, however I would not be right here if it weren’t for you. Thanks for coming tonight.

(CHEERING)

CHANG: Nonetheless, even when Barry Manilow and Elvis pooled their spectacular efficiency data collectively, they’d nonetheless have a methods to go to defeat the longest-ever Vegas residency – Donny and Marie Osmond’s 1,730 exhibits.

SHAPIRO: However, hey, Manilow simply introduced extra Vegas dates for 2024, so who is aware of what miracle is perhaps across the nook?

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “IT’S A MIRACLE”)

MANILOW: (Singing) It is a miracle – miracle – a real, blue spectacle – a miracle come true. We’re collectively, child. I used to be going loopy until the miracle got here by way of. Now you are right here, and my arms are round you. And, child, there will be dancing on the street.

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