Tony Orlando
Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis (born April 3, 1944) is an American pop/rock[1] singer, songwriter, and music executive whose career spans over seven decades. He is best known for his work as part of Tony Orlando and Dawn.
Tony Orlando
Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis
April 3, 1944
New York City, U.S.
- Singer
- songwriter
- producer
- actor
1958–2024
In 1993, he opened the Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Music Theatre in Branson, Missouri. He ended his act there in 2013 and has since continued to perform many live shows as a headliner, mostly in Las Vegas, Nevada.[2]
Early life[edit]
Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis was born on April 3, 1944, the son of a Greek father and a Puerto Rican mother. He spent his earliest years in Chelsea, Manhattan on West 21st St]], New York City.[3] In his teenage years, the family moved to Union City, New Jersey, and later Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.[4]
Late 1970s struggles and solo work[edit]
Along with the fame, Orlando had personal battles in the 1970s. He was briefly addicted to cocaine, and battled both obesity and depression. In 1977, due to the death of his sister and the suicide of Orlando's close friend, comedian Freddie Prinze, Orlando had a breakdown and retired from singing.[22][23] He was briefly institutionalized, but returned to television with an NBC comeback special. From then, he continued as a solo artist, charting with two singles – the dance hit "Don't Let Go" in 1978 and "Sweets for My Sweet" in 1979. In the 1980s, he was a dominant force in Las Vegas, headlining various hotels with sold-out audiences.[24]
Orlando continued primarily as a solo singer, performing on tour and regularly in Las Vegas and Branson, Missouri.[25] He hosted the New York City portions of the MDA Labor Day Telethon on WWOR-TV since the 1980s but quit in 2011 in response to Jerry Lewis' firing from the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He has won the Casino Entertainer of the Year Award, the Best All Around Entertainer – Las Vegas four times, and, prior to that, three times in Atlantic City, the Jukebox Artist of the Year Award from the Amusement and Music Owners Association of New York, The Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and has also been bestowed with The Bob Hope Award for excellence in entertainment from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in honor of his efforts on behalf of United States veterans. His work on behalf of American veterans led to his being named Honorary Chairman at the 40th Anniversary at the NAM-POW's Homecoming Celebration at the Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library in 2014.[3]
In 2020, Orlando began hosting a Saturday night oldies program for WABC Radio as the New York City station partially restored its music format.[26]
Support for veterans[edit]
Orlando is a longtime advocate for U.S. military veterans and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" has become an anthem for service members.[28][29][30]
Orlando serves on the board of directors for the Eisenhower Foundation, as well as honorary chairman of Snowball Express, an organization that serves the children of fallen military heroes.[3]
He hosts the annual Congressional Medal of Honor dinner in Dallas. He has served as the master of ceremonies at the Secretary of Defense Freedom Awards at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.[21][31]
Personal life[edit]
Orlando was introduced by Jerry Lee Lewis to his future wife, Elaine, who had previously dated Buddy Holly. Tony and Elaine married in 1965, and had one child, Jon; they divorced in 1984. Five years later, Orlando was engaged to Francine Amormino, whom he married on April 29, 1990.[3][23] The couple remained married as of 2021; they have one child.[6][32]
On February 27, 2013, his mother, Ruth Schroeder of Hollister, Missouri, died in Branson, Missouri[33] of a diabetic stroke.[34]
In 2002, he wrote a memoir, Halfway to Paradise with Patsi Bale Cox.[35][36]
Orlando was interviewed on The 700 Club explaining that he was raised Catholic and was "brought up with the Lord as my Savior"; but after a self-destructive period following his professional success with Dawn, he became a born-again Christian in 1978.[37]
In 1990, Orlando received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6385 Hollywood Blvd.[38]
Albums
Solo singles