Tony Orlando

Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis, born on April 3, 1944, is an iconic American pop and rock singer, songwriter, and music executive whose illustrious career has spanned nearly seven decades. He is widely recognized for his contributions as part of the celebrated group Tony Orlando and Dawn, which produced numerous chart-topping hits.

In 1993, Orlando expanded his artistic endeavors by opening the Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Music Theatre in Branson, Missouri. He captivated audiences there until 2013, after which he continued to shine as a headliner in live performances, primarily in Las Vegas, Nevada. His rise to fame was marked by the international success of his song 'Candida,' which led to the evolution of his group's name from 'Dawn featuring Tony Orlando' to the now-familiar 'Tony Orlando and Dawn.'

The group achieved remarkable success with nineteen additional top forty tracks, including the legendary 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree,' which became the top-selling hit of nineteen seventy-three and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time. Their popularity was further solidified by the hit variety show, The Tony Orlando and Dawn Show, which aired on CBS from nineteen seventy-four to nineteen seventy-six.

After the group's breakup in nineteen seventy-seven, Orlando continued to perform under his own name. He made a notable appearance in nineteen eighty-five as Tony Castillo on The Cosby Show, showcasing his versatility as an actor. In twenty twenty-four, after sixty-four years of performing, he announced his retirement from touring, choosing instead to focus on film, Broadway, streaming projects, and writing his next book.