Profile of Tony Orlando on Famous Like Me

Tony Orlando (born April 4, 1944, New York) is an American singer, of Greek and Puerto Rican ancestry, best known for his time with the group Dawn in the early 1970s.

Born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis, he was raised in New York's notorious "Hell's Kitchen" in Manhattan. His best friend was fellow Puerto Rican Freddie Prinze. One of their bonding factors was their common Puerto Rican ancestry.

His musical career started with The Five Gents, a doo-wop group he formed. His first success came when he recorded the hits "Halfway To Paradise" (written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and later covered by Billy Fury) and "Bless You". At about the same time he recorded an answer record to Goffin & King's number one hit "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" (recorded by the Shirelles) under the name Bertell Dache, called "Not Just Tomorrow, But Always." After becoming general manager at Columbia Records, he was tempted back to a recording career when he heard a demo by the band Dawn and joined them as lead singer, scoring a string of number ones with "Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree", "Knock Three Times" and "Candida".

"Tie A Yellow Ribbon..." was a huge hit in 1973. Its story concerned a man just out of prison riding home on a bus. If his wife tied a yellow ribbon around a certain oak tree, it would signal she had forgiven him, and he could return home. Eight years later the symbol of a yellow ribbon tied around a tree (or anything else) was popular as a sign of solidarity with the American hostages in Iran. The symbol of a yellow ribbon continues to indicate support for troops overseas.

Albums

• Bless You (1961)
• Tony Orlando (1978)

Also see

• List of famous Puerto Ricans

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