Manilow’s ‘Music and Passion’ scores Emmy nomination

Friday, July 7, 2006 | 7:24 a.m.

International pop superstar Barry Manilow has been nominated for an Emmy for his PBS special "Barry Manilow: Music and Passion."

The show, a fundraiser for PBS, was taped in November during his 100th performance at the Las Vegas Hilton, where he has been a headliner since February 2005.

His nomination was in the category Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. His competition includes talk and variety show hosts, among them David Letterman and Craig Ferguson.

"It's kind of an odd category," said Manilow, reached by telephone. "I'm the only musical. The rest are talk shows."

He said the disparity doesn't concern him.

"I'm happy I'm even noticed," Manilow said.

The show also was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety or Music Series or Special or Animation. Tom Davis was the audio/music mixer.

Manilow, whose contract with the Hilton was extended for two years, last received an Emmy in 1977 for his ABC show "The Barry Manilow Special," in the category of Best Special of the Year.

He gave credit to director David Mallet for creating the "Music and Passion" special, which used 16 cameras during taping.

Manilow is in the studio working on his next album, "Greatest Songs of the Sixties," a follow-up to his last album, "Greatest Songs of the Fifties."