TONY ORLANDO
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 one hits), 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 nonperformance side and became one of the youngest vice-presidents for CBS Records, heading their April-Blackwood music label.
Through no plans of his own, Tony 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.