No entertainer can move and excite an audience like Tony Orlando.

One of America's most endearing and enduring stars, Tony and

America recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of his recording

of Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree.

Tony brings to the stage a warmth and exhilarating energy that

electrifies an audience. From million selling records (five number

one�hits), a popular television variety series, movies and Broadway, "Barnum" and "Smokey

Joe's Cafe" Tony Orlando has conquered every facet of show

business.

Orlando, born and raised in New York City, began hitting the

national charts at the age of 16 with "Halfway to Paradise" and "Bless

You" as the first vocal artist to sign with Epic Records.

He later routed his musical career to the non-performance side

and became one of the youngest vice-presidents for CBS Records,

heading their April-Blackwood music label.

Through no plans of his own, he was coaxed into putting his

voice on a demo record for a song titled "Candida" for

his friends Hank Medress and Dave Appell at Bell Records. The

record was released under the name of the record promotion director's

daughter, Dawn.

"I think it is really the rule of show business that every

big break you get, you back into it without knowing it at the

time. A few weeks after recording Candida. I had forgotten all

about it. And then Hank Medress calls me and says, 'Hey man,

we've got a hit.' The crazy thing was, the song kept climbing

the charts till it hit number one," said Orlando.

Hoping lightning would strike again, Medress had Orlando record "Knock

Three Times." The song not only became number one, it was

the top song of 1971, selling over six million copiesworldwide.

The immense popularity of the song is still evident today. Tony's

recording of the song was featured in the hit movie Now and Then.

Realizing it was probably safe to give up his successful career

at CBS Records, Tony decided to jump full force into what was

already a meteoric rise to the top. Along with Telma Hopkins

and Joyce Vincent Wilson, Tony Orlando and Dawn became an international

sensation.

Amazingly enough, Tony hadn't even begun to scratch the surface

of his stardom. In 1973, he recorded Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round

The Ole Oak Tree. The song was number one for the year, became

Orlando's theme song and grew into an American anthem of hope

and homecoming, reunion and renewal.

The yellow ribbon has welcomed home POWs from Laos, Cambodia

and Vietnam, the hostages from Iran and the troops from Desert

Storm. Veterans are honored each Veterans Day, November 11th,

in Branson with the Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Salute to Veterans.

This is a specially produced extravaganza which is free to veterans

and their families. As part of this salute to Vets, Tony presents

the Yellow Ribbon Medal of Freedom. Past recipients have included

Bob Hope, former POW Major Stephen Long, BoxCar Willie and Connie

Stevens. In 1999 the Eisenhower family, represented by Mary Eisenhower,

granddaughter to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, received the

Yellow Ribbon Medal of Freedom.

A string of hits continued including "Sweet Gypsy Rose," "He

Don't Love You," "Who's In The Strawberry Patch With

Sally," "Cupid," "Steppin' Out," and "Mornin'

Beautiful."

Orlando then set his sights on television which resulted in

his highly rated weekly variety series on CBS. Breaking new ground,

it was the first multi-ethnic variety show on television. Orlando,

of Hispanic and Greek origins, and Hopkins and Wilson, African

Americans, were an instant hit. The show, which ran for four

seasons from (1974 - 1976), welcomed the biggest names in show

business each week as Tony's guests, including his boyhood idols,

Jackie Gleason and Jerry Lewis.

The friendship forged by Orlando and Lewis was a strong one.

Tony has guested on Jerry's Labor Day Telethon for 25 years,

nine of those as the New York host. Orlando and Lewis also teamed

for an unforgettable series of shows in the early 1990's, taking

the stage at the Las Vegas Hilton and Riviera hotels. Only two

other entertainers share the distinction of performing with Lewis:

Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Like a painter, Tony is an artist who steps onto a stage as

if it were a blank canvas. Each show he weaves colorful emotions

set to music touching the deepest part of a person's heart. He

is a popular headliner in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Reno, Biloxi

and Laughlin. And, he maintains a touring schedule with appearances

performing arts centers around the country.

Orlando remains one of America's best loved personalities. He

has been a recipient of three American Music Awards and a People's

Choice Award. For outstanding achievements to the entertainment

industry, Tony was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

in 1990.

He has played to packed arenas and for five Presidents. His

universal appeal has bridged many a generation gap. Tony was

one of the first entertainers to be featured as a subject of

VH1's Behind the Music in 1998. The episode continues to be aired

and received one of the network's highest ratings for the series.

Since 1993, Orlando has been a resident of Branson, Missouri,

where he has performed more than 2,000 shows. His current performing

home in Branson is The Osmond Family Theatre. Tony has been named

Branson's Entertainer and Vocalist of the Year.

In addition to Branson, Tony has written and produced musical

productions to critical acclaim. In 1998 he created and starred

in the show Jukebox Dreams where he took the audience on a doo-wop

serenade showing the power of one man's dreams. The show premiered

at Harrah's in Atlantic City and later toured to some of the

top venues in the country. This winter Tony has a special production

set to go for the Christmas season, entitled Santa & Me.

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