For Barry Manilow, it all started when he chose to pursue his dream of working in the entertainment industry.

After his mother Edna and stepfather Willie Murphy saved up $800 for him to buy a piano over the course of five years, he developed an interest in music. Barry went on to have a prosperous career spanning several decades, so it turned out to be money well spent.

Before attending the New York College of Music, Barry enrolled at the City College of New York. Afterwards, he attended the Juilliard School to study musical theater before beginning a log clerk job at CBS.