Last Updated on September 29, 2023 by Admin
Tony Orlando Biography
Tony Orlando is an American singer, songwriter, producer, music executive, and actor. He is also known for the group Tony Orlando and Dawn and their 1970s hits.
Disclaimer Message
Thank you for visiting our website, if you find any misinformation or inaccuracy, or you would wish to send any material for corrections feel free to contact our editorial team via radarfoxinc@gmail.com
Tony OrlandoTony recorded through the 1960s with only moderate chart success. He had three Top 40 hits, two in 1961 and another in 1969 as the lead singer for the studio group Wind.
While he was recording through the 1960s, Tony also became a producer and a successful music executive with Columbia Records and Columbia/CBS music.
Tony Orlando Age
He was born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis on April 3, 1944 in New York City, New York, U.S. He is 79 years old.
Tony Orlando Family
Orlando was born to a Greek father Leo Cassivitis and a Puerto Rican mother Ruth Schroeder . He spent his early years in Hell’s Kitchen, New York.
The family moved to Union City, New Jersey in his teenage years, and later Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. On February 27, 2013, his mother died in Branson, Missouri of a diabetic stroke.
Tony Orlando Wife – Tony Orlando Divorce
Tony was introduced by Jerry Lee Lewis to his future wife, Elaine. Elaine had previously dated Buddy Holly. The couple got married in 1965, and had one child, Jon. They later divorced in 1984.
Five years later, he was engaged to Francine Amormino, whom he married in 1991. They remained married as of 2014, they have one child.
Tony Orlando Daughter – Tony Orlando Children
Orlando has a son, Jon Orlando from his first marriage to Elaine. Jon was a comedian from 1993 to 2002 and is currently the vice president of business development for MEDL Mobile in Fountain Valley, California.
He also has a daughter, Jenny Rose with Francine. Jenny lives with her parents in Branson, Missouri.
Tony Orlando & Dawn
The American pop music group was popular in the 1970s. While he was working as a music executive, Orlando received “Candida”. It was a song other producers and singers had turned down. Originally, he could not lend his name to the song, since he was working for April-Blackwood. Recording under his name would be a professional conflict of interest.
After Hank Medress the producer insisted Orlando dub his voice over the male vocals on the original track, Bell Records released the single as being performed by the band “Dawn”. This was to protect Orlando’s position.
Dawn is the middle name of the daughter of Bell records executive Steve Wax. The backup singers included Toni Wine and Linda November.
The song became a hit, and Dawn, with Wine and November again singing the backup, recorded another song. They recorded “Knock Three Times”, which itself became a number one hit. Tony then wanted to go on tour, and he asked two other session singers, Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson to join for the tour. He then discovered that there were six touring groups using that name, so he changed Dawn to became “Dawn featuring Tony Orlando”, it later changed to Tony Orlando and Dawn in 1973. The group has recorded more hits ever since.
Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters honored Orlando with their Art Gilmore Career Achievement Award at a celebrity luncheon on October 12, 2015 with Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson present.
Tony Orlando Television
His first TV appearance was in 1976 on the series Chico and the Man as “Tomas Garcia”.
He starred in the 1981 TV movie 300 Miles For Stephanie. He played a police officer who promises to walk over 300 miles to a sanctuary in order to obtain God’s help to cure his gravely ill daughter, stephanie.
In May 1981, Tony appeared on Broadway in the title role of Barnum, replacing Jim Dale, who was on a three-week vacation.
During the 1984–85 season of the Cosby Show, he played Tony Castillo, who runs a community center. He then had a cameo appearance as himself in the 2002 film Waking Up In Reno, in which he sang a version of “Knock Three Times”.
Tony had a recurring role in the children’s animated series Oswald in 2003, where he did the voice of “Sammy Starfish”.
He also appeared in an episode of MADtv doing a skit involving a court case, This is where the defense sings to persuade the jury about their side. Orlando sang for the prosecution, persuading the judge to give the defense jail for life. He was featured in “Larry the Cable Guy’s Star Studded Christmas Extravaganza” in another television program. Tony then appeared in That’s My Boy as Steve Spirou in 2012, a Happy Madison production starring Adam Sandler.
Tony Orlando Net Worth
The former lead singer has a net worth of $4 million.
Tony Orlando Tour – Tony Orlando Now
Tony is currently on Tony and the dawn reunion tour.
Tony Orlando Concert
- Saturday 24 November 2018
Choctaw Casino Hotel – Pocola Center Stage, Pocola, OK, US - Friday 30 November 2018
Sycuan Casino – Live & Up Close, El Cajon, CA, US - Thursday 06 December 2018
The Colosseum, Caesar’s Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada - Tuesday 11 December 2018
Arcada Theatre, St Charles, IL, US - Thursday 20 December 2018
South Point Showroom at South Point Hotel Casino and Spa, Las Vegas, NV, US - Friday 21 December 2018
South Point Showroom at South Point Hotel Casino and Spa, Las Vegas, NV, US - Saturday 22 December 2018
South Point Showroom at South Point Hotel Casino and Spa, Las Vegas, NV, US - Sunday 23 December 2018
South Point Showroom at South Point Hotel Casino and Spa, Las Vegas, NV, US
Tony Orlando Songs
- “Halfway to Paradise” (1961)
- “Bless You” (1961)
- “Happy Times (Are Here To Stay)” (1961)
- “Chills” (1962)
- “At the Edge of Tears” (1962)
- “Shirley” (1963)
- “I’ll Be There” (1963)
- “What Am I Gonna Do” (1963)
- “Tell Me What Can I Do” (1964)
- “To Wait For Love” (1964)
- “I Was A Boy” (1969)
- “Make Believe” (1969)
- “I’ll Hold Out My Hand”(1969)
- “Don’t Let Go” (1978)
- “Sweets For My Sweet” (1979)
Tony Orlando And Dawn Songs
Dawn
- 1970 “Candida”
- 1971 “Knock Three Times”
- 1971 “I Play and Sing”
- 1971 “Summer Sand”
Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando
- 1971 “What Are You Doing Sunday”
- 1971 “Juanita (I Didn’t Mean to Love You so Good)”
- 1972 “Runaway/Happy Together”
- 1972 “Vaya con Dios”
- 1972 “You’re a Lady”
- 1973 “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree”
- 1973 “Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose”
Tony Orlando And Dawn
- 1973 “Who’s in the Strawberry Patch with Sally”
- 1974 “It Only Hurts When I Try to Smile” 1974 “Steppin’ Out (I’m Gonna Boogie Tonight)”
- 1974 “Look in My Eyes Pretty Woman”
- 1975 “Gimme a Good Old Mammy Song”
- 1975 “He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You)” 1975 “Mornin’ Beautiful”
- 1975 “You’re All I Need to Get
- 1975 “Skybird”
- 1976 “Cupid”
- 1976 “Midnight Love Affair”
- 1976 “Spanish Harlem Rosita and Me”
- 1977 “Sing”
- 1977 “You’re All I Need to Get By”