Tony Orlando
Encyclopedia
Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis (born April 3, 1944), better known as Tony Orlando, is an American
show business
professional, best known as the lead singer of the group Tony Orlando and Dawn
in the early 1970s. Discovered by producer Don Kirshner
, Orlando had songs on the charts in 1961 when he was 16, "Halfway to Paradise
" and "Bless You". Orlando then became a producer himself, and at an early age was promoted to a vice-president position at CBS Records
, where he was in charge of the April-Blackwood Music division. He sang under the name "Dawn" in the 1970s, and when the songs became hits, he went on tour and the group became "Tony Orlando and Dawn". They had several songs which were major hits including "Candida
", "Knock Three Times
", and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree
". The group hosted a variety program, "The Tony Orlando and Dawn Show" on CBS from 1974 to 1976, and then broke up in 1978. Orlando then continued as a solo singer, performing in Las Vegas and Branson, Missouri
. Orlando has hosted the New York City
portions of the MDA Labor Day Telethon on WWOR-TV
since the 1980s. He quit the show in 2011 in response to Jerry Lewis
' firing from the Muscular Dystrophy Association
.
mother, he spent his earliest years in Manhattan
, New York's then-notorious Hell's Kitchen
. In his teenage years, the family moved to Union City
and later, Hasbrouck Heights
in New Jersey
.
Tony Orlando's musical career started with The Five Gents, a doo-wop
group he formed. His first success came at the age of 16, when he recorded the hits "Bless You and "Halfway To Paradise
" in 1961. He also appeared at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater
with DJ Murray the K
. In 1969 he recorded with the studio group Wind and had a #28 hit that year with "Make Believe" which was released on producer Bo Gentry's Life Records.
Orlando became general manager at Columbia Records
, and his career was focused on the corporate end of the music business, representing music publishers. In the late 1960s, he ran April-Blackwood Music, the publishing arm of CBS music.
", with backup singers including Toni Wine
(who wrote the song) and Linda November
. Concerned about a possible conflict of interest with his April-Blackwood duties, Orlando sang under the condition that his name not be associated with the project, so it was released under the simple name of "Dawn", the middle name of the daughter of Bell records executive Steve Wax.
The song became a hit, and Dawn, with Wine and November again singing backup, recorded another song, "Knock Three Times
", which itself became a #1 hit. Orlando then wanted to go on tour, and asked two other session singers, Telma Hopkins
and Joyce Vincent Wilson
to join for the tour. Orlando then discovered that there were six touring groups using that name, so Dawn became "Dawn featuring Tony Orlando", which changed to Tony Orlando and Dawn
in 1974.
The new group recorded more hits, including "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree
" (1973), and "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)
" (1975). With a successful recording career, Orlando then set his sights on television. As described in The San Francisco Chronicle, "Tony Orlando and Dawn burst out of television sets during the Ford administration, a sunny antidote to the dark cynicism that followed Watergate. He represented simple, traditional values, a conservative return to pure entertainment. He drew a happy face
in the "O" of his autograph. It was not terribly cool, but America loved him." The Tony Orlando and Dawn Show on CBS
became a hit, a summer replacement for the Sonny & Cher
show, and ran for four seasons from 1974 to 1976. It welcomed the biggest names in show business each week as Orlando's guests, including his boyhood idols, Jackie Gleason
and Jerry Lewis
.
At the 1976 Republican National Convention
in Kansas City
, Missouri
, Orlando danced to the tune of "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" with then First Lady
Betty Ford
to divert media attention as Nancy Davis Reagan entered the Kemper Arena
convention hall. Ronald W. Reagan unsuccessfully challenged Gerald R. Ford, Jr., for the presidential nomination that year but came back in 1980 to claim the presidency itself. Ray Barnhart
, a Reagan co-manager from Texas
, criticized Mrs. Ford for having "danced a jig" with Orlando. Barbara Staff
, another Texas co-chairman, called Betty Ford's behavior "a low, cheap shot". It was later confirmed that the Ford campaign slipped the song to the band when Nancy Reagan entered the hall.
, and battled both obesity
and depression. In 1977, due to the death of his sister, and the suicide of Orlando's close friend comedian Freddie Prinze
, Orlando had a breakdown, and retired from singing. He was briefly institutionalized, but returned triumphantly to television with an NBC comeback special. From then, he continued as a solo artist. In the 1980s, he was a dominant force in Las Vegas, headlining various hotels with sold-out audiences.
In 1993 he opened the Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Music Theatre in Branson, Missouri
. Branson played home to the live shows of such stars as Andy Williams, Bobby Vinton, Wayne Newton, Mel Tillis, Glen Campbell, Roy Clark and Ray Stevens. In 1997 Orlando began sharing a theatre with singer Wayne Newton. The partnership ended badly in 1999 when Newton was caught taping Orlando's conversations in the theatre. Orlando sued Newton, and Newton sued Orlando, and the lawsuits were eventually dropped. But the lifelong friends severed their relationship and the two haven't spoken since.
When the deal with Newton ended and the Branson theatre closed its doors, Orlando began successfully touring the country in sold-out concerts, which he does to this day.
's song "Runaround Sue
", who later married Dion. Orlando was then introduced by Jerry Lee Lewis
to his own future wife, Elaine, who had previously dated Buddy Holly
. They had one child, Jon, and were divorced in 1983. In 1989, Orlando became engaged again, to Frannie Amormino. In 2002, he wrote a memoir, Halfway to Paradise.
Orlando lives in Branson with his wife Frannie and daughter Jenny Rose. Orlando's son Jon Orlando, from his first marriage, was a comedian
in 2002, and then became a public relations executive in Los Angeles, California.
episode, "The Head Coach, Dinner and the Morning Mail", character Dan Rydell, uses Tony Orlando as an adlibbed item to cover for a blank teleprompter.
During the "Marge on the Lam
" episode of the animated series The Simpsons
, recurring character
Troy McClure
, while emceeing
a public television marathon, opens with a version of his familiar catchphrase by stating: "Hi, I'm Troy McClure
. You might remember me from such telethons as Out with Gout '88 and Let's Save Tony Orlando's House.", the latter inspiring the title of a song by the Hoboken, New Jersey
indie rock band Yo La Tengo
, which was released on the band's 2000 album And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
.
During the 1984-85 season of the Cosby Show (its first season), he played the part of a man who runs a community center.
Orlando appeared in an episode of MADtv
doing a skit involving a court case, where the defense sings to persuade the jury about their side. He sang for the prosecution, thereby persuading the judge to give the defense jail for life. In another television program, Orlando was featured in "Larry the Cable Guy
's Star Studded Christmas Extravaganza".
He also had a cameo appearance as himself in the 2002 film, Waking Up In Reno
, in which he sang a version of "Knock Three Times".
As a spokesperson, Orlando has appeared in NutriSystem
commercials with Dan Marino
to show how much weight they lost.
Tony is currently filming "I Hate You, Dad", a Happy Madison production.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
show business
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
professional, best known as the lead singer of the group Tony Orlando and Dawn
Tony Orlando and Dawn
Tony Orlando and Dawn was a pop music group that was popular in the 1970s. Their signature hits include "Candida", "Knock Three Times", "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree", and "He Don't Love You ".-History:...
in the early 1970s. Discovered by producer Don Kirshner
Don Kirshner
Don Kirshner , known as "The Man With the Golden Ear", was an American song publisher and rock producer who is best known for managing songwriting talent as well as successful pop groups, such as The Monkees, Kansas and The Archies.-Early life:Don Kirshner was born to Gilbert Kirshner, a tailor,...
, Orlando had songs on the charts in 1961 when he was 16, "Halfway to Paradise
Halfway to Paradise
"Halfway to Paradise" is a popular song, originally recorded in 1961 by Tony Orlando in the United States. It was much more successful in the United Kingdom, recorded by Billy Fury where it reached a peak at number 3 on the UK Charts in 1961. It stayed on the charts for 23 weeks. It became known as...
" and "Bless You". Orlando then became a producer himself, and at an early age was promoted to a vice-president position at CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
, where he was in charge of the April-Blackwood Music division. He sang under the name "Dawn" in the 1970s, and when the songs became hits, he went on tour and the group became "Tony Orlando and Dawn". They had several songs which were major hits including "Candida
Candida (song)
"Candida" was the first single released under the name Dawn, later to become Tony Orlando and Dawn, in August 1970. It was written by Toni Wine and Irwin Levine, produced by Dave Appell with Hank Medress, Phil Margo, Mitch Margo and Jay Siegel of The Tokens, and arranged by Norman Bergen. The...
", "Knock Three Times
Knock Three Times
"Knock Three Times" is a popular song credited to Tony Orlando and Dawn. The actual singers were Tony Orlando, Toni Wine, and Linda November, prior to the creation of "Dawn" with Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson. The song was released as a single in November 1970, paired with Orlando's other...
", and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree
Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree
"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" is a song by Dawn featuring Tony Orlando, written by Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown and produced by Hank Medress and Dave Appell. It was a worldwide hit for the group in 1973....
". The group hosted a variety program, "The Tony Orlando and Dawn Show" on CBS from 1974 to 1976, and then broke up in 1978. Orlando then continued as a solo singer, performing in Las Vegas and Branson, Missouri
Branson, Missouri
Branson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s....
. Orlando has hosted the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
portions of the MDA Labor Day Telethon on WWOR-TV
WWOR-TV
WWOR-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the flagship station of the MyNetworkTV programming service, licensed to Secaucus, New Jersey and serving the Tri-State metropolitan area. WWOR is owned by Fox Television Stations, a division of the News Corporation, and is a sister station to Fox network flagship...
since the 1980s. He quit the show in 2011 in response to Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
' firing from the Muscular Dystrophy Association
Muscular Dystrophy Association
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is an American organization which combats muscular dystrophy and diseases of the nervous system and muscular system in general by funding research, providing medical and community services, and educating health professionals and the general public...
.
Early years
Born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis to a Greek father and a Puerto RicanPuerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
mother, he spent his earliest years in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York's then-notorious Hell's Kitchen
Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
Hell's Kitchen, also known as Clinton and Midtown West, is a neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City between 34th Street and 59th Street, from 8th Avenue to the Hudson River....
. In his teenage years, the family moved to Union City
Union City, New Jersey
Union City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. According to the 2010 United States Census the city had a total population of 66,455. All of the city is on land, an area of...
and later, Hasbrouck Heights
Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey
Hasbrouck Heights is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 11,842. An inner-ring suburb of New York City, Hasbrouck Heights is located approximately northwest of Midtown Manhattan and west of Upper Manhattan.Hasbrouck Heights was...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Tony Orlando's musical career started with The Five Gents, a doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
group he formed. His first success came at the age of 16, when he recorded the hits "Bless You and "Halfway To Paradise
Halfway to Paradise
"Halfway to Paradise" is a popular song, originally recorded in 1961 by Tony Orlando in the United States. It was much more successful in the United Kingdom, recorded by Billy Fury where it reached a peak at number 3 on the UK Charts in 1961. It stayed on the charts for 23 weeks. It became known as...
" in 1961. He also appeared at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater
Brooklyn Paramount Theater
The Paramount Theatre is a former movie palace located at 1 University Plaza at the intersection of Flatbush and DeKalb Avenues in downtown Brooklyn, New York. Originally opened in 1928, the building has been owned by Long Island University since 1962...
with DJ Murray the K
Murray the K
Murray Kaufman , professionally known as Murray the K, was an influential rock and roll impresario and disc jockey of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s...
. In 1969 he recorded with the studio group Wind and had a #28 hit that year with "Make Believe" which was released on producer Bo Gentry's Life Records.
Orlando became general manager at Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, and his career was focused on the corporate end of the music business, representing music publishers. In the late 1960s, he ran April-Blackwood Music, the publishing arm of CBS music.
Tony Orlando and Dawn
Orlando was tempted back to a recording career when he was asked to record a demo record of "CandidaCandida (song)
"Candida" was the first single released under the name Dawn, later to become Tony Orlando and Dawn, in August 1970. It was written by Toni Wine and Irwin Levine, produced by Dave Appell with Hank Medress, Phil Margo, Mitch Margo and Jay Siegel of The Tokens, and arranged by Norman Bergen. The...
", with backup singers including Toni Wine
Toni Wine
Toni Wine is an American pop music songwriter, who wrote songs for such artists as The Mindbenders , Tony Orlando and Dawn , Elvis Presley, and Checkmates Ltd. in the late 1960s and 1970s...
(who wrote the song) and Linda November
Linda November
Linda Ellen November is an American singer who sang tens of thousands of commercial jingles. She was the voice of the singing cat in the Meow Mix commercials, sang the jingle "Galaxy Glue" in the 1981 film The Incredible Shrinking Woman, the "Coke and a Smile" jingle in the classic Mean Joe Greene...
. Concerned about a possible conflict of interest with his April-Blackwood duties, Orlando sang under the condition that his name not be associated with the project, so it was released under the simple name of "Dawn", the middle name of the daughter of Bell records executive Steve Wax.
The song became a hit, and Dawn, with Wine and November again singing backup, recorded another song, "Knock Three Times
Knock Three Times
"Knock Three Times" is a popular song credited to Tony Orlando and Dawn. The actual singers were Tony Orlando, Toni Wine, and Linda November, prior to the creation of "Dawn" with Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson. The song was released as a single in November 1970, paired with Orlando's other...
", which itself became a #1 hit. Orlando then wanted to go on tour, and asked two other session singers, Telma Hopkins
Telma Hopkins
Telma Louise Hopkins is an American singer and television actress. A member of the 1970s pop group Tony Orlando and Dawn, she later starred in several television sitcoms, including Bosom Buddies, Gimme a Break!, Family Matters, Getting By, and Half & Half...
and Joyce Vincent Wilson
Joyce Vincent Wilson
Joyce Vincent Wilson is an American singer, most famous for being one-third of the group Tony Orlando and Dawn...
to join for the tour. Orlando then discovered that there were six touring groups using that name, so Dawn became "Dawn featuring Tony Orlando", which changed to Tony Orlando and Dawn
Tony Orlando and Dawn
Tony Orlando and Dawn was a pop music group that was popular in the 1970s. Their signature hits include "Candida", "Knock Three Times", "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree", and "He Don't Love You ".-History:...
in 1974.
The new group recorded more hits, including "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree
Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree
"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" is a song by Dawn featuring Tony Orlando, written by Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown and produced by Hank Medress and Dave Appell. It was a worldwide hit for the group in 1973....
" (1973), and "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)
He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)
"He Don't Love You " is the title of a popular song sung by Tony Orlando and Dawn that was a number-one song in the United States during the year 1975. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart on May 3, 1975, and remained there for three weeks.The song also went to #1 on the U.S...
" (1975). With a successful recording career, Orlando then set his sights on television. As described in The San Francisco Chronicle, "Tony Orlando and Dawn burst out of television sets during the Ford administration, a sunny antidote to the dark cynicism that followed Watergate. He represented simple, traditional values, a conservative return to pure entertainment. He drew a happy face
Smiley
A smiley, smiley face, or happy face, is a stylized representation of a smiling human face, commonly occurring in popular culture. It is commonly represented as a yellow circle with two black dots representing eyes and a black arc representing the mouth...
in the "O" of his autograph. It was not terribly cool, but America loved him." The Tony Orlando and Dawn Show on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
became a hit, a summer replacement for the Sonny & Cher
Sonny & Cher
Sonny & Cher were an American pop music duo, actors, singers and entertainers made up of husband-and-wife team Sonny and Cher Bono in the 1960s and 1970s. The couple started their career in the mid-1960s as R&B backing singers for record producer Phil Spector....
show, and ran for four seasons from 1974 to 1976. It welcomed the biggest names in show business each week as Orlando's guests, including his boyhood idols, Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor and musician. He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, especially by his character Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners, a situation-comedy television series. His most noted film roles were as Minnesota Fats in the drama film The...
and Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
.
At the 1976 Republican National Convention
1976 Republican National Convention
The 1976 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States met at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, from August 16 to August 19, 1976. The convention nominated incumbent Gerald Ford for President, but only after narrowly defeating a strong challenge from former California...
in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, Orlando danced to the tune of "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" with then First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
Betty Ford
Betty Ford
Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren Ford , better known as Betty Ford, was First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977 during the presidency of her husband Gerald Ford...
to divert media attention as Nancy Davis Reagan entered the Kemper Arena
Kemper Arena
Kemper Arena is a 19,500 seat indoor arena, in Kansas City, Missouri.It is named for R. Crosby Kemper Sr., a member of the powerful Kemper financial clan and who donated $3.2 million, from his estate for the arena...
convention hall. Ronald W. Reagan unsuccessfully challenged Gerald R. Ford, Jr., for the presidential nomination that year but came back in 1980 to claim the presidency itself. Ray Barnhart
Ray Barnhart
Ray Anderson Barnhart is a retired businessman and Republican politician, formerly from Pasadena in Harris County, Texas.From 1981–1987, Barnhart was director of the Federal Highway Administration under U.S. President Ronald W. Reagan...
, a Reagan co-manager from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, criticized Mrs. Ford for having "danced a jig" with Orlando. Barbara Staff
Barbara Staff
Barbara Ruth Wright Staff is a retired Republican political activist from Plano, Texas. She was co-chairman of her state's 1976 Ronald Reagan presidential primary campaign.-Background:...
, another Texas co-chairman, called Betty Ford's behavior "a low, cheap shot". It was later confirmed that the Ford campaign slipped the song to the band when Nancy Reagan entered the hall.
Solo work
Along with the fame, Orlando had personal battles in the 1970s. He was briefly addicted to cocaineCocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, and battled both obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
and depression. In 1977, due to the death of his sister, and the suicide of Orlando's close friend comedian Freddie Prinze
Freddie Prinze
Freddie Prinze was an American actor and stand-up comedian. He was known as the star of Chico and the Man. He is the father of actor Freddie Prinze, Jr.-Early life:...
, Orlando had a breakdown, and retired from singing. He was briefly institutionalized, but returned triumphantly to television with an NBC comeback special. From then, he continued as a solo artist. In the 1980s, he was a dominant force in Las Vegas, headlining various hotels with sold-out audiences.
In 1993 he opened the Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Music Theatre in Branson, Missouri
Branson, Missouri
Branson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s....
. Branson played home to the live shows of such stars as Andy Williams, Bobby Vinton, Wayne Newton, Mel Tillis, Glen Campbell, Roy Clark and Ray Stevens. In 1997 Orlando began sharing a theatre with singer Wayne Newton. The partnership ended badly in 1999 when Newton was caught taping Orlando's conversations in the theatre. Orlando sued Newton, and Newton sued Orlando, and the lawsuits were eventually dropped. But the lifelong friends severed their relationship and the two haven't spoken since.
When the deal with Newton ended and the Branson theatre closed its doors, Orlando began successfully touring the country in sold-out concerts, which he does to this day.
Personal
As a teenager, Orlando dated a woman who was the namesake for DionDion DiMucci
Dion Francis DiMucci , better known as Dion, is an American singer-songwriter whose work has incorporated elements of doo-wop, pop oldies music, rock and R&B styles....
's song "Runaround Sue
Runaround Sue
"Runaround Sue" is a pop song, originally a US No. 1 hit for the singer Dion during 1961. The song ranked No. 342 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".-Original recording:...
", who later married Dion. Orlando was then introduced by Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
to his own future wife, Elaine, who had previously dated Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
. They had one child, Jon, and were divorced in 1983. In 1989, Orlando became engaged again, to Frannie Amormino. In 2002, he wrote a memoir, Halfway to Paradise.
Orlando lives in Branson with his wife Frannie and daughter Jenny Rose. Orlando's son Jon Orlando, from his first marriage, was a comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
in 2002, and then became a public relations executive in Los Angeles, California.
Albums
- Bless You (1961)
- Make Believe (1969) (with 'Wind')
- To Be With You (1976)
- Livin' for the Music (1977)
- Tony Orlando (1978)
- I Got Rhythm (1979)
Solo hit singles
- "Halfway To Paradise" (1961) US #39
- "Bless You" (1961) US #15, UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#5 - "Happy Times (Are Here To Stay)" (1961) US #82
- "Chills" (1962) #109
- "Shirley" (1963) #133
- "I'll Be There" (1963) #124
- "I Was A Boy" (1969) #109
- "Make Believe" (1969) US #28 (with 'Wind')
- "Don't Let Go" (1978) AC #48
- "Sweets For My Sweet" (1979) US #54; AC #20
In popular culture
In the Sports NightSports Night
Sports Night is an American television series about a fictional sports news show also called Sports Night. It focuses on the friendships, pitfalls, and ethical issues the creative talent of the program face while trying to produce a good show under constant network pressure...
episode, "The Head Coach, Dinner and the Morning Mail", character Dan Rydell, uses Tony Orlando as an adlibbed item to cover for a blank teleprompter.
During the "Marge on the Lam
Marge on the Lam
"Marge on the Lam" is the sixth episode of The Simpsons fifth season, which originally aired on November 4, 1993 on Fox. When Marge invites her neighbor, Ruth Powers to attend the ballet with her, the two become friends and begin to go out, making Homer jealous as he wants Marge to spend time with...
" episode of the animated series The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, recurring character
Recurring character
A recurring character is a fictional character, usually in a prime time TV series, who appears from time to time during the series' run. Recurring characters often play major roles in an episode, sometimes being the main focus...
Troy McClure
Troy McClure
Troy McClure is a fictional character in the American animated sitcom The Simpsons. He was voiced by Phil Hartman and first appears in the second season episode "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment". McClure is a washed-up actor, usually shown doing low-level work, such as hosting infomercials...
, while emceeing
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
a public television marathon, opens with a version of his familiar catchphrase by stating: "Hi, I'm Troy McClure
Troy McClure
Troy McClure is a fictional character in the American animated sitcom The Simpsons. He was voiced by Phil Hartman and first appears in the second season episode "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment". McClure is a washed-up actor, usually shown doing low-level work, such as hosting infomercials...
. You might remember me from such telethons as Out with Gout '88 and Let's Save Tony Orlando's House.", the latter inspiring the title of a song by the Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
indie rock band Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo, sometimes abbreviated as YLT, is an American alternative rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984. Since 1992, the lineup has consisted of Ira Kaplan , Georgia Hubley , and James McNew .Despite achieving limited mainstream success, Yo La Tengo has been called "the quintessential...
, which was released on the band's 2000 album And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out is the ninth studio album by Yo La Tengo, an alternative rock music group from Hoboken, New Jersey. The album was released in February 2000 by Matador Records...
.
During the 1984-85 season of the Cosby Show (its first season), he played the part of a man who runs a community center.
Orlando appeared in an episode of MADtv
MADtv
MADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licensed the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise had no connection with the humor magazine outside the animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first...
doing a skit involving a court case, where the defense sings to persuade the jury about their side. He sang for the prosecution, thereby persuading the judge to give the defense jail for life. In another television program, Orlando was featured in "Larry the Cable Guy
Larry the Cable Guy
Daniel Lawrence Whitney , better known by his stage name and character Larry the Cable Guy, is an American comedian, actor, and former radio personality....
's Star Studded Christmas Extravaganza".
He also had a cameo appearance as himself in the 2002 film, Waking Up In Reno
Waking Up in Reno
Waking Up in Reno is a 2002 American comedy drama film directed by Jordan Brady. The screenplay by Brent Briscoe and Mark Fauser focuses on two redneck couples taking a road trip from Little Rock to Reno to see a monster truck rally.-Plot:...
, in which he sang a version of "Knock Three Times".
As a spokesperson, Orlando has appeared in NutriSystem
Nutrisystems Diet
Nutrisystem, headquartered in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, is a commercial provider of weight loss products and services. Initially, the company offered weight loss counseling and products in brick and mortar centers. In 1999, the company moved to a direct-to-consumer business model, selling its...
commercials with Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
to show how much weight they lost.
Tony is currently filming "I Hate You, Dad", a Happy Madison production.