No entertainer can move and excite an audience like Tony Orlando.
One of America's most endearing and enduring stars, Tony and
America recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of his recording
of Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree.
Tony brings to the stage a warmth and exhilarating energy that
electrifies an audience. From million selling records (five number
oneÊhits), a popular television variety series, movies and Broadway, “Barnum” and “Smokey
Joe's Cafe” Tony Orlando has conquered every facet of show
business.
Orlando, born and raised in New York City, began hitting the
national charts at the age of 16 with “Halfway to Paradise” and “Bless
You” as the first vocal artist to sign with Epic Records.
He later routed his musical career to the non-performance side
and became one of the youngest vice-presidents for CBS Records,
heading their April-Blackwood music label.
Through no plans of his own, he was coaxed into putting his
voice on a demo record for a song titled “Candida” for
his friends Hank Medress and Dave Appell at Bell Records. The
record was released under the name of the record promotion director's
daughter, Dawn.
"I think it is really the rule of show business that every
big break you get, you back into it without knowing it at the
time. A few weeks after recording Candida. I had forgotten all
about it. And then Hank Medress calls me and says, 'Hey man,
we've got a hit.' The crazy thing was, the song kept climbing
the charts till it hit number one," said Orlando.
Hoping lightning would strike again, Medress had Orlando record “Knock
Three Times.” The song not only became number one, it was
the top song of 1971, selling over six million copiesworldwide.
The immense popularity of the song is still evident today. Tony's
recording of the song was featured in the hit movie Now and Then.
Realizing it was probably safe to give up his successful career
at CBS Records, Tony decided to jump full force into what was
already a meteoric rise to the top. Along with Telma Hopkins
and Joyce Vincent Wilson, Tony Orlando and Dawn became an international
sensation.
Amazingly enough, Tony hadn't even begun to scratch the surface
of his stardom. In 1973, he recorded Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round
The Ole Oak Tree. The song was number one for the year, became
Orlando's theme song and grew into an American anthem of hope
and homecoming, reunion and renewal.
The yellow ribbon has welcomed home POWs from Laos, Cambodia
and Vietnam, the hostages from Iran and the troops from Desert
Storm. Veterans are honored each Veterans Day, November 11th,
in Branson with the Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Salute to Veterans.
This is a specially produced extravaganza which is free to veterans
and their families. As part of this salute to Vets, Tony presents
the Yellow Ribbon Medal of Freedom. Past recipients have included
Bob Hope, former POW Major Stephen Long, BoxCar Willie and Connie
Stevens. In 1999 the Eisenhower family, represented by Mary Eisenhower,
granddaughter to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, received the
Yellow Ribbon Medal of Freedom.
A string of hits continued including “Sweet Gypsy Rose,” “He
Don't Love You,” “Who's In The Strawberry Patch With
Sally,” “Cupid,” “Steppin' Out,“ and “Mornin'
Beautiful.”
Orlando then set his sights on television which resulted in
his highly rated weekly variety series on CBS. Breaking new ground,
it was the first multi-ethnic variety show on television. Orlando,
of Hispanic and Greek origins, and Hopkins and Wilson, African
Americans, were an instant hit. The show, which ran for four
seasons from (1974 - 1976), welcomed the biggest names in show
business each week as Tony's guests, including his boyhood idols,
Jackie Gleason and Jerry Lewis.
The friendship forged by Orlando and Lewis was a strong one.
Tony has guested on Jerry's Labor Day Telethon for 25 years,
nine of those as the New York host. Orlando and Lewis also teamed
for an unforgettable series of shows in the early 1990's, taking
the stage at the Las Vegas Hilton and Riviera hotels. Only two
other entertainers share the distinction of performing with Lewis:
Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Like a painter, Tony is an artist who steps onto a stage as
if it were a blank canvas. Each show he weaves colorful emotions
set to music touching the deepest part of a person's heart. He
is a popular headliner in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Reno, Biloxi
and Laughlin. And, he maintains a touring schedule with appearances
performing arts centers around the country.
Orlando remains one of America's best loved personalities. He
has been a recipient of three American Music Awards and a People's
Choice Award. For outstanding achievements to the entertainment
industry, Tony was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
in 1990.
He has played to packed arenas and for five Presidents. His
universal appeal has bridged many a generation gap. Tony was
one of the first entertainers to be featured as a subject of
VH1's Behind the Music in 1998. The episode continues to be aired
and received one of the network's highest ratings for the series.
Since 1993, Orlando has been a resident of Branson, Missouri,
where he has performed more than 2,000 shows. His current performing
home in Branson is The Osmond Family Theatre. Tony has been named
Branson's Entertainer and Vocalist of the Year.
In addition to Branson, Tony has written and produced musical
productions to critical acclaim. In 1998 he created and starred
in the show Jukebox Dreams where he took the audience on a doo-wop
serenade showing the power of one man's dreams. The show premiered
at Harrah's in Atlantic City and later toured to some of the
top venues in the country. This winter Tony has a special production
set to go for the Christmas season, entitled Santa & Me.
