barry manilow. but i was struck by manilow. he's been here many times. i love barry manilow.ning to him fwrgrowing up the midwest. it actually made sense to me. >> his phrasing, listening back to those songs and what i like about that. as a musician, he got signed to do records. he has such a beautiful, simple delivery. i found his phrasing that was very, very real. our guy this is their songs, the delivery, the way they sing. they just have a connection with people. for me, that was something i found and i put barry in the list i really felt. >> that's why i assume the lyrical content means so much to you. it means a lot to you. >> that magic of the melody and lyric, you can really tap sbo it and touch people's hearts with it. zbh would all of this had happened had you not come. >> i came to this country when i was 12. >> cuba and made it here by 12. i gravitated to wanting to be completely into american entertainment. i was hypnotized by pop, r and b. >> by listening to it. >> i didn't know a word of english, but that's what i wanted. no turning back. >> what do you recall