Barry Manilow married his long-time manager Garry Kief in a secret ceremony last year, it has been revealed.

The Copacabana singer, 71, wed at his Palm Springs home in California in the presence of around 50 guests, the National Enquirer reports.

'It was a total surprise,' a friend tells the publication.

A source told People that the small group had only been told they were attending a luncheon.

People quotes a source close to the entertainer who said that Barry and Garry 'are committed to one another and have been for a very long time.'

'They have a great relationship. Garry has always been there for Barry.' 

So far, there's been no official word from Barry or his representatives on the subject. 

While the long-time partners now both wear wedding bands, the National Enquirer reports that no paperwork has been filed to formalize the marriage.

Apparently, the star who has millions of female fans around the world, was worried that if they made their union official, word would leak out about his sexuality and that his fans wouldn't approve of him being gay.

According to the National Enquirer, the Could It Be Magic crooner's longtime friend and Palm Springs neighbour Suzanne Somers was the best man at the ceremony and Marc Hulett, who's been Barry’s assistant since the 1980s, oversaw the proceedings after he registered online to become a minister.

The tabloid reports that Gary was once married to a woman with whom he has a daughter but that he and Barry have been together for more than 30 years.

Brooklyn native Barry, whose birth name was Barry Alan Pincus, was also once married to a woman.

In his 1987 autobiography Sweet Life, he makes a fleeting reference to falling in love with his high school sweetheart.

Her name was Susan Deixler and they married in a civil ceremony followed by a Jewish wedding in front of a Rabbi.

But less than a year later, Barry, who was 21, apparently decided he was too young to be tied down and moved out of their apartment and out of the marriage in order to focus on his music career.

Susan responded by seeking an annulment of their marriage, which legally meant it had never happened.