Veteran entertainer Barry Manilow has pledged to "do more" to help teachers and staff at a Missouri high school continue their recovery after the building was destroyed by tornadoes in 2011.

The singer donated $300,000 (£187,500)-worth of instruments to the music department at Joplin High School via his non-profit organisation, the Manilow Music Project, and he was reunited with the student marching band and their director Rick Castor via video-calling service Skype during an interview with U.S. talk show host Katie Couric, which aired on Wednesday (23Jan13).

Publicly thanking the star for his help and support, Castor said, "It's been wonderful, we've had a great season the last two years. We've had a lot of support from all over the world, especially Barry Manilow... He's an amazing person and we really appreciate it."

The Mandy hitmaker was so moved by the internet meet-up, he vowed to step up his aid efforts for the school.

He told Couric, "It was very gratifying and I wish I could do more, and I will. It's good to see everyone and I'm so glad that it (his efforts) worked."

During the show, Manilow was also serenaded with a rendition of his popular track Copacabana on the trumpet.