By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

Though the song “Tie A Yellow Ribbon `Round The Old Oak Tree” was written nearly 25 years ago, it is familiar to many people, though the artist may not be as familiar to some of the younger generations.

The song was recorded by Tony Orlando. It became his most popular song, as well as a touchstone for people who had friends and family off in a war.

Tony Orlando is coming to the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City this Friday and Saturday, to regale local residents with his classic hits and engaging performance style.

Orlando was born and raised in New York City. Always interested in music, he began hitting the national charts at the age of 16 with the songs “Halfway to Paradise” and “Bless You.” Orlando was the first vocal artist to sign with Epic Records. Later, he decided to route his career to the nonperformance side and became one of the youngest vice presidents for CBS Records, heading its April-Blackwood music label.

Several years later, Orlando's friends convinced him to put his voice on a demo record for a song called “Candida.” The record was released under the name of the record promotion director's daughter, Dawn. A few weeks after the recording, Orlando's friend Hank Meddress called and told him it was a hit. The song continued to climb the charts, eventually hitting number one.

Orlando teamed up with Meddress again to record the song “Knock Three Times.” The song went to number one, was the top song of 1971 and sold over six million copies worldwide. The song remains popular today. It was recently used in the film “Now and Then.”

Orlando gave up his successful career at CBS and jumped full force into pop stardom. He teamed up with Thelma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson, forming Tony Orlando and Dawn, and becoming an international sensation.

Though he already owned two number one hits, Orlando still had not seen the extent of his success. In 1973, he recorded the song “Tie A Yellow Ribbon `Round The Old Oak Tree.” It was the number one song of the year, Orlando's theme song and it grew into an American anthem of hope and homecoming, reunion and renewal.

The hits kept coming for Orlando, as he recorded songs like “Sweet Gypsy Rose,” “He Don't Love You,” “Who's In The Strawberry Patch With Sally,” “Cupid” and “Mornin' Beautiful.”

From there Tony Orlando and Dawn entered the world of television with a weekly variety show on CBS. It was the first multi-ethnic variety show on television and it was wildly successful. Orlando is of Hispanic and Greek origins, while Hopkins and Wilson are African Americans. The show ran for four seasons and welcomed the biggest names in show business, including Jerry Lewis and Jackie Gleason.

Orlando and Lewis have continued a strong friendship since the 1970s. Orlando has appeared on Jerry's Labor Day telethon for 23 years, nine of which he spent as the New York host. They also teamed up for an unforgettable series of shows in Las Vegas in the early 1990s.

Orlando's popularity is still strong. He has won three American Music Awards, a People's Choice Award and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has played for presidents and packed arenas, weaving colorful emotions set to touching music.

Since 1993, Orlando and his family have lived in Branson, Mo. He has performed close to 2,000 shows there and has been named Branson's Entertainer and Vocalist of the Year.

Tony Orlando will perform Friday and Saturday, Aug. 4 and 5. Tickets are $25. Call 770-631-0630 to purchase tickets or for information.

The opening act will be Francisco Vidal, from College Park, Ga. The three-piece acoustic/electric band plays original songs with a few select covers along the way. The band is influenced by the Eagles and the Police and has opened for such acts as Barenaked Ladies, Vigilantes of Love and Edwin McCain.

Back to the Top of the PageBack to the Weekend Home Page