Melissa Manchester
b. 15 February 1951, the Bronx, New York, USA. A former staff writer at Chappel Music and back-up singer for Bette Midler, Manchester launched her own career in 1973 with HOME TO MYSELF. Her intimate style showed a debt to contemporary New York singer/songwriters, but later releases, including her self-titled third album, were more direct. This collection, produced by Richard Perry and Vini Poncia, yielded the artist's first major hit, Midnight Blue (US Top 10), and set the pattern for her subsequent direction which, if carefully performed, lacked the warmth of those early recordings. Success as a performer and songwriter continued into the '70s and '80s. Whenever I Call You Friend, co-written with Kenny Loggins, was a best-selling single for him in 1978, while in 1979 Melissa's second US Top 10 was achieved with Don't Cry Out Loud (composed by Carole Bayer Sager and Peter Allen). Three years later she scored another hit with You Should Hear How She Talks About You. Although she has since diversified into scriptwriting and acting, Manchester remains a popular recording artist.