Tony Orlando was born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis on April 3, 1944.[1] Orlando 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 recording through the 1960s, he also became a producer and a successful music executive with Columbia Records and April/Blackwood music.[2][3]
While working as a music executive, Orlando received "Candida", a song other producers and singers had turned down. Originally, Orlando could not lend his name to the song, as he was working for April-Blackwood and recording under his name would be a professional conflict of interest. After producer Hank Medress 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" to protect Orlando's position. On the American Top 40 radio episode for the week ending October 3, 1970, host Casey Kasem stated that the lead singer of Dawn was Frankie Spinelli; obviously this alias was used to further obscure Tony Orlando's true identity as the lead singer on Candida.
The background singers on the track were Cynthia Weil, Linda November, Jay Siegel, and Toni Wine, who co-wrote the song. Phil Margo played drums on the original session, and the arranger was Norman Bergen. After the single hit No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 (No.1 on the Cashbox Top 100), Orlando wanted to perform again. The ensemble recorded the 1970 album Candida, which included the namesake song and the No. 1 hit song "Knock Three Times".[4] On the American Top 40 radio episode for the week ending January 23, 1971, Kasem identified Dawn as an eight-member group from Philadelphia, far from the truth about the musicians on the record.
Bell Records was desperate to have a real-life act to promote Dawn's records. Orlando asked former Motown/Stax backing vocalists Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson, whom he had hired to work as background vocalists while producing Barry Manilow in the late 1960s, to become Dawn.[3] The threesome then went on the road in 1971, on the success of "Candida" and "Knock Three Times". After a tour of Europe, Hopkins and Vincent assumed background vocal duties in the studio, first recording on the late 1971 album Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando. The first single with their voices in the background was "Runaway/Happy Together" in 1972.
The group (now billed as 'Dawn featuring Tony Orlando') released another single in 1973, and it became their next No. 1 single — "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree." In terms of sales, this single was the most successful in the group's career, starting a string of eleven consecutive Hot 100 appearances by the group.[5]
On The Carol Burnett Show in 1975, Harvey Korman, Carol Burnett, and Vicki Lawrence did a spoof of Tony Orlando and Dawn, as Tony Tallahassee and Dusk, singing "Wrap Your Jammies Round the Old White Pine".[6] At the end of the number, they were kicked off the stage by the real Tony Orlando and Dawn. Earlier, Lawrence's "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" had immediately preceded Dawn's "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" at the top position of the Hot 100 in April 1973.
CBS gave the group a television variety show (entitled Tony Orlando and Dawn) from the summer of 1974, after The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour ended its run, until December 1976. The show was in the same vein as its predecessor (with sketches featuring sarcastic back-and-forth banter between Orlando, Hopkins and Vincent, similar to the sarcastic dialogue between Sonny and Cher) and became a Top 20 hit.
With a new record label (Elektra), the group continued their string of hit singles during the show's run, hitting #1 on both the Hot 100 and the adult contemporary charts with "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)" (a reworking of Jerry Butler's "He Will Break Your Heart"), from the album of the same name, and "Mornin' Beautiful" (#14). In 1975 "You're All I Need to Get By", followed in 1976 by "Cupid", both from their final original album To Be with You, became the group's last two Top 40 singles on the Hot 100.[7] "Sing" reached No. 7 on the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1977. The group went their separate ways later that year and would have only one more single, 1991's "With Ev'ry Yellow Ribbon (That's Why We Tie 'Em)".
Later career
They re-formed in 1988 for a five-week tour that wound up lasting into 1993, with Pamela Vincent stepping in whenever Hopkins was fulfilling her acting/television obligations.
Orlando is still a popular appearance performer on tour regularly with the Lefty Brothers and Toni Wine. Hopkins made a very successful acting career for herself in series such as Bosom Buddies, Gimme a Break, Family Matters, Half and Half, and Are We There Yet. The Vincent Sisters continue a prolific career as session singers. A DVD compilation from the variety series was released in 2005 along with the group's catalog of albums on CD. Tony Orlando & Dawn released A Christmas Reunion that same year. Publicity events for those releases marked the first time Hopkins, and both Vincent Sisters appeared onstage together. Toni Wine also participated in those shows. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2008.[citation needed]
Tony Orlando and Dawn occasionally reunites for television and benefit performances. In 2009, Joyce Vincent joined Scherrie Payne and Lynda Laurence's Former Ladies of the Supremes' group. She continues to tour and perform to audiences all over the world. Tony Orlando, Telma Hopkins, and Joyce Vincent reunited again in 2015 for the sold-out "Tony Orlando and Dawn: To Be with You Again" tour and appeared at Chiller Theatre in Parsippany, NJ, and again for a successful Christmas tour in late-2018.
^Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of No. 1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 127.
^Knopper, Steve. "Tony Orlando still hasn't needed that backup career option, despite his mother's advice". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
^ ab"Knock 3 times if you want Tony Orlando". mercurynews.com. February 16, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
^"Linda November and Artie Schroeck (contains clips of singing)" (audio). Ronnie Allen Show. December 2009. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
^Casey Kasem noted the then-developing trend of Dawn's long song titles on both the September 15, 1973, and December 15, 1973, editions of American Top 40.
^"Tony Orlando and Dawn: The Ultimate Collection (R2 Home Video-2006)". Retrieved July 26, 2018.
^Joel Whitburn (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955–2002. Menomenee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 526. ISBN0-89820-155-1.
tony, orlando, dawn, series, series, american, music, group, that, popular, 1970s, composed, singer, tony, orlando, backing, vocal, group, dawn, telma, hopkins, joyce, vincent, wilson, their, signature, hits, include, candida, knock, three, times, yellow, ribb. For the TV series see Tony Orlando and Dawn TV series Tony Orlando and Dawn is an American pop music group that was popular in the 1970s composed of singer Tony Orlando and the backing vocal group Dawn Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson Their signature hits include Candida Knock Three Times Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose and He Don t Love You Like I Love You Tony Orlando and DawnTelma Hopkins Tony Orlando and Joyce Vincent Wilson at the premiere of their television show 1974Background informationAlso known asDawnDawn featuring Tony OrlandoOriginNew York City U S GenresPopYears active1970 1977 1988 1993 2005 2015 2016 2018 presentLabelsBell ElektraMembersTony OrlandoTelma HopkinsJoyce Vincent Contents 1 Early history 2 Period of group s variety show 3 Later career 4 Discography 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly history EditTony Orlando was born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis on April 3 1944 1 Orlando 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 recording through the 1960s he also became a producer and a successful music executive with Columbia Records and April Blackwood music 2 3 While working as a music executive Orlando received Candida a song other producers and singers had turned down Originally Orlando could not lend his name to the song as he was working for April Blackwood and recording under his name would be a professional conflict of interest After producer Hank Medress 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 to protect Orlando s position On the American Top 40 radio episode for the week ending October 3 1970 host Casey Kasem stated that the lead singer of Dawn was Frankie Spinelli obviously this alias was used to further obscure Tony Orlando s true identity as the lead singer on Candida The background singers on the track were Cynthia Weil Linda November Jay Siegel and Toni Wine who co wrote the song Phil Margo played drums on the original session and the arranger was Norman Bergen After the single hit No 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 No 1 on the Cashbox Top 100 Orlando wanted to perform again The ensemble recorded the 1970 album Candida which included the namesake song and the No 1 hit song Knock Three Times 4 On the American Top 40 radio episode for the week ending January 23 1971 Kasem identified Dawn as an eight member group from Philadelphia far from the truth about the musicians on the record Bell Records was desperate to have a real life act to promote Dawn s records Orlando asked former Motown Stax backing vocalists Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson whom he had hired to work as background vocalists while producing Barry Manilow in the late 1960s to become Dawn 3 The threesome then went on the road in 1971 on the success of Candida and Knock Three Times After a tour of Europe Hopkins and Vincent assumed background vocal duties in the studio first recording on the late 1971 album Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando The first single with their voices in the background was Runaway Happy Together in 1972 The group now billed as Dawn featuring Tony Orlando released another single in 1973 and it became their next No 1 single Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree In terms of sales this single was the most successful in the group s career starting a string of eleven consecutive Hot 100 appearances by the group 5 On The Carol Burnett Show in 1975 Harvey Korman Carol Burnett and Vicki Lawrence did a spoof of Tony Orlando and Dawn as Tony Tallahassee and Dusk singing Wrap Your Jammies Round the Old White Pine 6 At the end of the number they were kicked off the stage by the real Tony Orlando and Dawn Earlier Lawrence s The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia had immediately preceded Dawn s Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree at the top position of the Hot 100 in April 1973 Period of group s variety show EditMain article Tony Orlando and Dawn TV series The group s next single Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose from their concept album Dawn s New Ragtime Follies went to No 3 on the Hot 100 followed by Top 40 hits Who s In The Strawberry Patch With Sally the first single with recording credit Tony Orlando amp Dawn No 27 Steppin Out Gonna Boogie Tonight No 7 and with some disco influence Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter s Look in My Eyes Pretty Woman from the trio s 1974 album Prime Time No 11 CBS gave the group a television variety show entitled Tony Orlando and Dawn from the summer of 1974 after The Sonny amp Cher Comedy Hour ended its run until December 1976 The show was in the same vein as its predecessor with sketches featuring sarcastic back and forth banter between Orlando Hopkins and Vincent similar to the sarcastic dialogue between Sonny and Cher and became a Top 20 hit With a new record label Elektra the group continued their string of hit singles during the show s run hitting 1 on both the Hot 100 and the adult contemporary charts with He Don t Love You Like I Love You a reworking of Jerry Butler s He Will Break Your Heart from the album of the same name and Mornin Beautiful 14 In 1975 You re All I Need to Get By followed in 1976 by Cupid both from their final original album To Be with You became the group s last two Top 40 singles on the Hot 100 7 Sing reached No 7 on the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1977 The group went their separate ways later that year and would have only one more single 1991 s With Ev ry Yellow Ribbon That s Why We Tie Em Later career EditThey re formed in 1988 for a five week tour that wound up lasting into 1993 with Pamela Vincent stepping in whenever Hopkins was fulfilling her acting television obligations Orlando is still a popular appearance performer on tour regularly with the Lefty Brothers and Toni Wine Hopkins made a very successful acting career for herself in series such as Bosom Buddies Gimme a Break Family Matters Half and Half and Are We There Yet The Vincent Sisters continue a prolific career as session singers A DVD compilation from the variety series was released in 2005 along with the group s catalog of albums on CD Tony Orlando amp Dawn released A Christmas Reunion that same year Publicity events for those releases marked the first time Hopkins and both Vincent Sisters appeared onstage together Toni Wine also participated in those shows The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2008 citation needed Tony Orlando and Dawn occasionally reunites for television and benefit performances In 2009 Joyce Vincent joined Scherrie Payne and Lynda Laurence s Former Ladies of the Supremes group She continues to tour and perform to audiences all over the world Tony Orlando Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent reunited again in 2015 for the sold out Tony Orlando and Dawn To Be with You Again tour and appeared at Chiller Theatre in Parsippany NJ and again for a successful Christmas tour in late 2018 Discography EditMain article Tony Orlando and Dawn discography Candida 1970 Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando 1971 Tuneweaving 1973 Dawn s New Ragtime Follies 1973 Prime Time 1974 He Don t Love You Like I Love You 1975 Skybird 1975 To Be With You 1976 Christmas Reunion 2005 See also EditTony Orlando and Dawn TV series References Edit Hyatt Wesley 1999 The Billboard Book of No 1 Adult Contemporary Hits Billboard Publications page 127 Knopper Steve Tony Orlando still hasn t needed that backup career option despite his mother s advice chicagotribune com Retrieved March 23 2018 a b Knock 3 times if you want Tony Orlando mercurynews com February 16 2012 Retrieved March 23 2018 Linda November and Artie Schroeck contains clips of singing audio Ronnie Allen Show December 2009 Retrieved June 15 2011 Casey Kasem noted the then developing trend of Dawn s long song titles on both the September 15 1973 and December 15 1973 editions of American Top 40 Tony Orlando and Dawn The Ultimate Collection R2 Home Video 2006 Retrieved July 26 2018 Joel Whitburn 2003 Top Pop Singles 1955 2002 Menomenee Falls Wisconsin Record Research Inc p 526 ISBN 0 89820 155 1 External links EditTony Orlando and Dawn at IMDb Classicbands com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tony Orlando and Dawn amp oldid 1134699953, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
