Source: http://scootertalk.blogspot.com/2006/07/manilows-man-friday-us-magazine-may-7.html
MANILOW'S MAN FRIDAYUS Magazine - May 7, 1984
Roger Wall bubbles over with enthusiasm. A native of North Carolina, Wall was on his way to becoming a civil engineer when he detoured and became road manager for music biggies Tom Jones, Rita Coolidge, Tanya Tucker and his present employer, Barry Manilow. "I was road-managing for Barry's tour of Mandy," he says. It became a huge success overnight. I wasn't prepared and I quit."
Three years ago, Manilow called him and over lunch they became boss and assistant. Getting the job is luck, says the 35-year-old bachelor. Staying there takes personality, not secretarial skills. "You need the ability to get along with people and make everyone feel comfortable. There's a lot of work to do." And Manilow is a perfectionist, his assistant reports. "Barry wants things done right."
Wall lives in West Los Angeles and maintains an office in chic Beverly Hills, but he can often be found working out of Manilow's Bel Air home. Fringe benefits include going to the best restaurants in the world and flying first class. "For my last birthday, Barry gave me a beautiful watch and took me on a safari to South Africa. You can get spoiled very quickly," he notes.
"Roger Wall," says Manilow, "is my best friend and the best assistant I ever had. He also has enough dirt on me to send me up the river!" he adds teasingly.
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NOTE: Roger left Barry's employ in 1984 not long after this article ran, and went to work for Elizabeth Taylor. Marc Hulett replaced him. In 1991 Roger passed away. He was honored with a plaque on the West Hollywood Memorial Walk benefiting Aid for AIDS. His plaque is located at 8619 Santa Monica Blvd.
On the In A New Light AIDS TV special in 1992, Barry said losing Roger was like losing a brother. May he rest in peace.
Originally posted 7/16/2006 09:00:00 AM
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