Big date for Manilow, manager
BARRY MANILOW has not married his longtime manager, Garry Kief . Not yet, anyway.
On Thursday, it was widely reported that the “Mandy” singer (below) had wed Kief in a private ceremony last year.
But Confidenti@l has learned the pair are planning to tie the knot this summer, and what “sources” for various tabloids are finally catching wind of was a “commitment ceremony” in Palm Springs, Calif.
“It was not a legal marriage,” scoffs a source close to the singer. “It was a commitment ceremony. They never got a marriage license or filed papers. A friend got a certificate online and performed the ceremony. Legally, it’s not worth the paper it’s written on!”
Emmy winner Manilow, 71, has been romantically involved with the 66-year-old Kief (above r.) for nearly 30 years, we’re told. Our insider says that it’s because of Kief that the pair’s relationship has been kept out of headlines for so long.
“Garry’s biggest fear in Hollywood is people think he only has the job because he’s sleeping with the boss,” we’re told. “Barry has wanted to come out for years, but Garry is very private about his personal life. He’s an ex-Marine, (formerly) married with a daughter, and his parents never approved — although they both worked for Barry at one point!”
Manilow was dealing with health issues that jolted the couple into realizing it was time to tie the knot, said our spy. They’ll finally do just that after taking care of a little business.
“Barry had some heart issues that scared the hell out of him,” according to our source. But now he’s healthy enough to embark on a tour that will end in his hometown of Brooklyn on June 17, which is his 72nd birthday. And Manilow is ready to say “I do” in a proper ceremony.
“He’s got nothing to WIREIMAGE lose now by coming out,” we’re told.
Manilow and his groom-to-be got a chuckle out of Wednesday’s news that they had already
SPLASH NEWS married. “LOL … so how was YOUR day?” Kief tweeted after news of the “wedding” broke.
The commitment ceremony was a family affair where Kief’s daughter Kristen gave her dad away in an informal service also attended by his brother Rob . It’s no wonder Manilow got Kristen’s approval — she runs the “Copacabana” singer’s fan club.
Manilow’s representative had no comment.