Tony Orlando facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tony Orlando
Orlando in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis
Born	(1944-04-03) April 3, 1944 (age 81) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Pop/Rock
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter producer actor
Years active	1958–present
Associated acts	The Five Gents Wind Tony Orlando and Dawn

Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis (born April 3, 1944), known as Tony Orlando, is an American pop and rock singer, songwriter, and music producer. He has had a long career in music, starting in 1958. He is most famous for his work with the group Tony Orlando and Dawn.

In 1993, Tony Orlando opened his own music theater in Branson, Missouri. He stopped performing there in 2013 but continued to do many live shows, especially in Las Vegas, Nevada. When his song "Candida" became a number-one hit around the world, the group started using his name. First, they were called "Dawn featuring Tony Orlando," and later, "Tony Orlando and Dawn."

The group had many other popular songs, including "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree." This song was the best-selling hit of 1973 and is one of the biggest selling singles ever. Tony Orlando and Dawn also had a popular TV show called The Tony Orlando and Dawn Show on CBS from 1974 to 1976. The group broke up in 1977, and since then, Tony Orlando has performed as a solo artist.

Orlando stopped touring and performing concerts in 2024, after 64 years. He now plans to focus on movies, Broadway shows, creating new music online, and writing his next book.

Early life

Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis was born on April 3, 1944. His father was Greek, and his mother was Puerto Rican. He spent his first few years in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, a neighborhood in New York City. When he was a teenager, his family moved to Union City, New Jersey, and later to Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.

Musical career

Starting out in music

Tony Orlando's music career began in 1959 when he was 15 years old. He formed a doo-wop group called The Five Gents. They recorded demo tapes, which are like sample recordings. A music publisher and producer named Don Kirshner noticed him. Kirshner hired Tony to write songs in an office near New York's famous Brill Building. Other famous songwriters like Carole King and Neil Sedaka also worked there. Even "Tom and Jerry," who later became Simon and Garfunkel, were part of that group.

Kirshner also hired Tony Orlando to record songs as a solo artist. Tony had his first big success at age 16 with the hits "Bless You" and "Halfway To Paradise." These songs became popular in North America and the UK. He also performed at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater. Tony had other songs that almost made the top 100 charts, like "Chills" in 1962 and "Shirley" in 1963. In 1962, a doo-wop version of the song "Beautiful Dreamer" was released for Orlando. Even the Beatles liked this song and included it in their shows.

Tony Orlando continued as a solo artist and also became a producer. He also became a successful music executive in the late 1960s. This meant he helped manage and guide other artists' careers. He worked for CBS Music, where he signed and produced music for artists like Barry Manilow. He also worked with famous bands like The Yardbirds and Grateful Dead. In 1969, he recorded with a studio group called Wind and had a hit song called "Make Believe."

At one point, Tony was mostly working as a music executive. He sang lead vocals on a song called "Candida" as a favor for two producer friends. He didn't want his name on the song in case it wasn't successful. So, the producers used the name "Dawn" for the group.

Tony Orlando and Dawn

Performing in 1974 alongside Telma Hopkins

Dancing with First Lady Betty Ford after a state dinner in 1976

Tony Orlando recorded "Candida" with backup singers like Toni Wine and Linda November. He didn't want his name on the project because of his job at another music company. So, the song was released simply under the name "Dawn."

"Candida" became a huge hit all over the world in 1970. It reached number one in five countries and was in the top ten in many others, including number three in the United States. Dawn, with the same backup singers, recorded another song called "Knock Three Times," which also became a number one hit.

Tony Orlando then wanted to go on tour. He asked two other singers, Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson, to join the group for the tour. Tony found out that six other groups were using the name "Dawn." So, the group changed its name to "Dawn featuring Tony Orlando," and then to Tony Orlando and Dawn in 1973.

The new group recorded more hit songs, including "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" (1973) and "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)" (1975). Tony Orlando then decided to try television. The Tony Orlando and Dawn show on CBS became very popular. It was a summer replacement for the Sonny & Cher show and ran for three seasons from 1974 to 1976. The show featured many famous guests, including Tony's childhood heroes, Jackie Gleason and Jerry Lewis.

In 2015, Tony Orlando was honored with the Art Gilmore Career Achievement Award. Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson were there to celebrate with him.

Later career

After the group broke up, Tony Orlando continued as a solo artist. He had two more hit singles: the dance song "Don't Let Go" in 1978 and "Sweets for My Sweet" in 1979. In the 1980s, he became a very popular performer in Las Vegas, selling out shows at many hotels.

Tony Orlando has also been mentioned in popular culture. The American indie rock band Yo La Tengo even wrote a song called "Let's Save Tony Orlando's House."

Tony Orlando continued to perform as a solo singer, touring and regularly performing in Las Vegas and Branson, Missouri. He also hosted parts of the MDA Labor Day Telethon in New York City for many years. In 2020, Tony Orlando started hosting a Saturday night oldies music show for WABC Radio. He officially retired from touring in 2024, after 64 years of performing on the road. Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson joined him on stage for his final performances. He now plans to focus on movies, Broadway, creating new music, and writing his next book.

Acting career

Orlando (left) and Freddie Prinze in Chico and the Man (1976)

Tony Orlando's first TV acting role was in 1976 on the series Chico and the Man. He played a character named "Tomas Garcia."

In 1981, Tony Orlando starred in a TV movie called 300 Miles For Stephanie. He played a police officer who walks over 300 miles to a special place to ask for help to cure his sick daughter.

In May 1981, Tony Orlando performed on Broadway in the main role of the musical Barnum.

In 2003, Tony Orlando had a recurring voice role in the children's animated series Oswald. He was the voice of a character named "Sammy Starfish."

Orlando also appeared in a sketch on MADtv and in "Larry the Cable Guy's Star Studded Christmas Extravaganza." In 2012, he was in the movie That's My Boy, which starred Adam Sandler.

Supporting veterans

Tony Orlando has been a strong supporter of U.S. military veterans for a long time. His song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" has become a special song for service members.

He is on the board of directors for the Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation. He is also the honorary chairman of Snowball Express, an organization that helps the children of military heroes who have passed away.

Tony hosts the yearly Congressional Medal of Honor dinner in Dallas. He has also been the host for the Secretary of Defense Freedom Awards at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C..

Personal life

Tony Orlando met his first wife, Elaine, through Jerry Lee Lewis. Tony and Elaine got married in 1965 and had one child, Jon. They divorced in 1984. Five years later, Tony got engaged to Francine Amormino, and they married on April 29, 1990. They are still married and have one child together.

In 2002, Tony Orlando wrote a book about his life called Halfway to Paradise.

Tony Orlando received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990. This is a special honor for people who have achieved great things in entertainment.

Awards

Tony Orlando has won many awards for his entertainment career. He has won the Casino Entertainer of the Year Award and the Best All Around Entertainer – Las Vegas four times. Before that, he won it three times in Atlantic City. He also received The Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

He was given The Bob Hope Award for excellence in entertainment from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. This award recognized his efforts to help United States veterans. Because of his work for American veterans, he was named Honorary Chairman at the 40th Anniversary of the NAM-POW's Homecoming Celebration in 2014.

Discography

Albums

• Bless You and 11 Other Great Hits (1961)
• Make Believe (1969) (with 'Wind')
• Before Dawn (1973)
• Tony Orlando (1978)
• I Got Rhythm (1979)
• Livin' for the Music (1980)
• Halfway to Paradise: The Complete Epic Masters 1961–1964 (2006)
• Bless You (2014)

Solo singles

• "Pullin' Together" (1980)

See also

In Spanish: Tony Orlando para niños

• List of Puerto Ricans
• Tony Orlando and Dawn
• Tony Orlando and Dawn (TV series)