Melissa Manchester back on the road

In the 1980s, Melissa Manchester was getting to be as familiar in Las Vegas as her friends and collaborators Barry Manilow and Bette Midler.

"We know what the crazy days looked like, and we're very grateful that we're both here and relatively well and still doing this," she says of her friendship with Manilow.

Working smoky showrooms in the era of two shows a night, "I really learned how to work hard," she says. "People thought I was nuts, but I had a good time."

But in the 1990s, "I took a lot of time off to raise my kids because I couldn't understand the landscape of the recording industry, and it sort of made me crazy. So I stepped away for several years."

The singer, who turned 61 last week, still teaches vocal performance at the University of Southern California and writes songs for soundtracks and stage shows such as "Hats!," which played on the Strip in 2008.

"When my kids got old enough, I went back on the road because that's my version of normal," she says. "I keep having these lovely creative adventures."

Sony recently released "Playlist: The Very Best of Melissa Manchester," which collects essential hits such as "Midnight Blue" and "Don't Cry Out Loud." She says it never gets old to hear those songs in public places or covered by other singers.

"It's all an honor, it's very rare. I've never taken any of that for granted. The longer I'm in my career and the deeper I am in my life, the more appreciative I am of those nods to my work."

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.