Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis, 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 lost a large amount of weight in the early nineteen seventies.
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He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6385 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
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In 1970, he was presented with a demo of the song "Candida," which had a weak lead vocal on it and was turned down by Bell Records. Asked to re-record the demo, he balked at first but finally agreed only if they didn't use his name. The name Dawn was created (name of an agent's daughter) to promote the song. Joyce Vincent Wilson and Telma Hopkins were hired to provide additional backup vocals. The song was picked up and, within eight weeks, had climbed the Billboard charts. Subsequently, the rights to the name Dawn were bought (other fake groups were trying to steal the name and cash in on the fame). An album was released in November 1970 by the trio (they didn't meet until after its release), which also included "Knock Three Times" (the song sold a million copies in its first month). The rest was history.
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In 1990, he bought a theater in Branson, Missouri, naming it Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Music Theater and provided retro kitsch by reuniting for a time with former Dawn members Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson and going on the road. His theater went bankrupt in 1999, but he continues to tour as a solo artist.
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Grew up in Hell's Kitchen, which was, at one time, the worst slum in New York City.
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In 1963, he was employed at April-Blackwood Music and rose to general manager within a few years.
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By 1973 the group Dawn was the second biggest seller of singles in America without the benefit of a major concert tour or appearance on a TV show. Their very first live appearance was at Carnegie Hall...after they had already sold nine million records.
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A problems with drugs, coupled with the deaths of his sister and comedian/pal Freddie Prinze, led to a major emotional breakdown in 1977. He left the group "Tony Orlando and Dawn" shortly after.
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Cutting his first song at 16 (it was a minor hit). In 1961 at the age of 17, he had consecutive top 40 hits, co-authored by Carol King, "Halfway To Paradise" and "Bless You". They were followed up by "I Can't Stop Talkin' About You" and "The Edge Of Tears".
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A resident of Branson, Missouri since 1993.
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The group was offered their own summer variety TV series in 1974 and it clicked with audiences. Their Sonny & Cher-styled show, which mixed song and dance with light slapstick comedy, lasted two seasons from 1974 to 1976.
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Did a very energetic performance at the "One Less Tear" cancer benefit in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania on Wednesday July 24, 2002.
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Scored three No. 1 songs on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 charts -- "Knock Three Times" (three weeks, 1971); "Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree" (four weeks, 1973); and "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)" (three weeks, 1975). Also, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree" was Billboard's Hot 100 No. 1 song of 1973.
$4 Million
