Public Can Trade a New or Gently Used Musical Instrument For Free Tickets to Manilow’s January 29th Concert

 [East Baton Rouge, LA—December 12, 2013] – Legendary singer-songwriter Barry Manilow hopes others will once again follow his philanthropic lead as he brings his Manilow Music Project to East Baton Rouge Parish School District in Louisiana.  The pop icon plans to donate a Yamaha piano to launch a local music instrument drive. Anyone who donates a new or gently used musical instrument to the Baton Rouge River Center box office will receive 2 free tickets (valid for pre-selected seat locations) for Manilow’s January 29th show.

The Manilow Music Project has conducted music instrument drives all over the country to assist local schools with their music programs.  “I’m thrilled to be able to help bring the gift of music to these kids,” added Manilow.

The Baton Rouge River Center will be the base for the instrument drive in East Baton Rouge from now through January 29th. The instrument drop off location is open 10:00am -5:00pm Monday through Friday or two hours prior to scheduled event start time.

“The East Baton Rouge Parish School System is thrilled to partner with the Barry Manilow Foundation in collecting musical instruments for students in our schools,” said Dr. Bernard Taylor Jr., Superintendent of East Baton Rouge Parish Schools. “With music being the universal language, we are deeply thankful to the Manilow Foundation for giving our students such a precious gift. We are thrilled that Mr. Manilow will be performing in Baton Rouge and celebrate his passion for music education.”

The Manilow Music Project (MMP) is part of The Manilow Fund for Health and Hope.  It was formed as a grass roots organization to assist local charities and programs.  Its primary focus is to provide musical instruments to high schools and middle schools and to provide music scholarships at universities throughout the US, Canada, and the UK. More information on the Manilow Music Project can be found at http://www.manilowmusicproject.org/.

Tickets are available online at Manilow.com or Ticketmaster.com, in person at the Baton Rouge River Center Box Office, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

With worldwide record sales exceeding 80 million, Barry Manilow’s unparalleled career encompasses virtually every arena of entertainment, including performing, writing, composing, arranging, and producing. A Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Manilow has produced, arranged, and released more than 40 albums during the course of his career.  He has also written and produced songs for Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Dionne Warwick, and many more.  He has been honored with a Grammy, two Emmys, a Tony Award, an Oscar nomination, and a top selling autobiography.