Barry Manilow just loves Christmas music. He said so to a nearly-sold out McCallum Theater last night in Palm Desert. He went on to say, "Consider me your skinny, Jewish Santa Claus."

Manilow, who calls Palm Springs home, put smiles on the faces of 25 charities designated to benefit from the string of concerts finishing December 9. He must have been in the ho-ho-holiday spirit last spring when he put thousands of dollars worth of musical instruments into the hands of children in schools across the Coachella Valley, too.

Manilow opened with a medley of "Happy Holidays" and "White Christmas," then told the crowd how good it was to be home for the holidays right before launching into, "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays."

A set of pop songs followed with hits like, "Somewhere in the Night," "This One's for You," and "Looks Like We Made It." He set aside his hand-held mic and sat down at an ebony grand for a version of "Weekend in New England (When Will I Hold You Again)" that made ladies in the audience swoon and stand for an ovation at its conclusion.

With holiday songs mixed between pop standards such as "Mandy" and "Could It Be Magic," Manilow hit every note with effortless clarity and little deviation from the recorded tracks that have made him one of the top selling adult contemporary artists of all time. Audience members got into the spirit waving red and green light sticks as Manilow belted the pop anthem, "I Write the Songs."

Reflecting on the importance of music classes in schools and what an impact they made on him in his youth, Manilow introduced a small orchestra from a local high school who accompanied him to "I Am Your Child."

Later, a group of four young girls followed Santa Claus across the stage where Manilow joined them in singing, "Deck the Halls," "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Feliz Navidad." White confetti fell from the roof as Manilow sang "White Christmas," once again.

A choir from a local college (Riverside Community College, Norco, under the direction of Dina Humble) lined the side aisles to join Manilow with a concert-closing version of "Because It's Christmas (For All the Children)."

Funds collected through the concerts will be distributed to the 25 charities through Manilow's ongoing fundraising organization, The Manilow Fund. Tickets are still available for shows next week and may be purchased online here.

If you're heading out one of next week's Manilow concerts, why not consider an overnighter using the special Gift of Love rate offered by Rancho Las Palmas and dinner at the resort's suberb BluEmber restaurant. Make reservations here.