Melissa Manchester’s career is remarkable not only for its longevity and accomplishments, but for its versatility. Following her stint as a founding member of Bette Midler’s Harlettes, Manchester’s tremendously successful solo career brought her critical and commercial acclaim. Melisssa has recorded twentyone albums across her career, releasing her most recent album, The Fellas, on September 8th 2017.

In 1989, Melissa recorded an album called Tribute which was her homage to several of the iconic women singers who sparked a great light in her young soul. Ella, Judy, Edith, Rosie, Dionne and a few others shared that sacred space with her and shined their light on the path to come. Melissa always wanted to complete that idea with a follow-up album called The Fellas, paying tribute to some of the equally great male singers – Frank, Tony, Nat, Johnny and several others.

So, here it is – at long last – through a gift made possible by Dean Bob Slack Dean of Citrus College Visual and Performing Arts in Glendora, CA and their fantastic Blue Note Orchestra. While it’s primarily a solo album, Manchester did recruit one very special fella to join her on The Fellas: Barry Manilow duets with her on a jubilant “For Me and My Gal,” a tribute to Gene Kelly and Judy Garland, who performed the 1942 movie’s title track.  Sing and swing along, everybody!