As a session musician, he has recorded, toured, and/or performed with, among others, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Diana Ross, Gary U.S. Bonds, Bon Jovi, Willy DeVille, Dave Edmunds, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Darlene Love, Ronnie Spector, Dion, The Allman Brothers Band, Kim Wilson, and Graham Parker.

[1][6][7][8] Manion attended Berklee College of Music after graduating from Lakewood High School in 1970 and as a youth played in several bar bands on the Jersey Shore.

In the early 1980s, Manion was also featured on Van Zandt's solo album, Men Without Women, released under the name Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul.

[12] On 2/1/09 Manion performed and played baritone sax as part of a 5 piece horn section with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band during the halftime show at Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Florida.

[14] During the Born in the U.S.A. Tour, together with The Miami Horns, Richie "La Bamba" Rosenberg (trombone), Mark Pender (trumpet), Mike Spengler (trumpet) and Stan Harrison (tenor sax), Manion also made several guest appearances, most notably at Meadowlands Arena in August 1984; a version of "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" from that date is included on the Live/1975-85 album.