Tony Orlando

Most of us know Tony Orlando’s “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ole Oak Tree,” a song that became an anthem for retiring soldiers and was a number one hit for an entire year. When he returns to The Lyric Theatre, he brings with him an impressive number of hits, from “Candida,” the song that thrust him into the spotlight, to “Knock Three Times,” the top song of 1971, selling more than six million copies. He remains a popular headliner in Las Vegas, Reno and Atlantic City. A well-known record producer and savvy businessman, he was the lead singer for Tony Orlando and Dawn. Their variety show was the first multi-ethnic variety show on television.

The singer was born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis. As a teen, he formed a doo wop group and made demos that reached record producer Don Kirshner. He was hired to write songs with a group that included Carole King, Neil Sedaka, Barry Mann and Bobby Darin. He had his first hit as a singer with “Halfway to Paradise” when he was 17, and he went on to record and produce records as vice president of Columbia/CBS Music. A multiple threat, he continued recording with Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson as lead singer for the group Dawn, and when “Candida” became a hit, he started using the name Tony Orlando and Dawn. The group went on to have 19 other Top 40 hits.

After the group disbanded, Orlando continued as a solo act and has been a regular in Las Vegas and Branson, Missouri. He has headlined around the world and entertained five U.S presidents. He has won three American Music Awards and two People’s Choice Awards as Best Male Entertainer. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

For his Lyric show, Tony Orlando will perform his greatest hits and talk about a career spanning decades and with no end in sight.