Trivia

A problem with drugs, coupled with the deaths of his sister and comedian/friend Freddie Prinze, led to a major emotional breakdown in 1977. He departed from the group "Tony Orlando and Dawn" shortly after.

Grew up in Hell's Kitchen, which was, at one time, the worst slum in New York City.

By 1973, the group Dawn was the second biggest seller of singles in America without the benefit of a major concert tour or appearance on a television show. Their very first live appearance was at Carnegie Hall...after they had already sold nine million records.

A resident of Branson, Missouri since 1993.

In 1990, he bought a theater in Branson, Missouri, naming it Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Music Theater and provided retro kitsch by reuniting for a time with former Dawn members Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson and going on the road. His theater went bankrupt in 1999, but he continues to tour as a solo artist.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6385 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on March 21, 1990.

Of Greek (father) and Puerto Rican (mother) descent.

In 1970, he was presented with a demo of the song "Candida", which had a weak lead vocal on it and was turned down by Bell Records. Asked to re-record the demo, he balked at first but finally agreed only if they didn't use his name. The name Dawn was created (name of an agent's daughter) to promote the song. Joyce Vincent Wilson and Telma Hopkins were hired to provide additional backup vocals. The song was picked up and, within eight weeks, had climbed the Billboard charts. Subsequently, the rights to the name Dawn were bought (other fake groups were trying to steal the name and cash in on the fame). An album was released in November 1970 by the trio (they didn't meet until after its release), which also included "Knock Three Times" (the song sold a million copies in its first month). The rest was history.

He is the lead singer of Tony Orlando & Dawn.

Scored three No. 1 songs on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 charts -- "Knock Three Times" (three weeks, 1971); "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree" (four weeks, 1973); and "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)" (three weeks, 1975). Also, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree" was Billboard's Hot 100 No. 1 song of 1973.

The group was offered their own summer variety television show in 1974 and it clicked with audiences. Their Sonny & Cher-styled show, which mixed song and dance with light slapstick comedy, lasted two seasons from 1974 to 1976.

In 1963, he was employed at April-Blackwood Music and rose to general manager within a few years.

Friends with the late Freddie Prinze.

Longtime friends with Dick Clark, since 1961.

Had done a very energetic performance at the "One Less Tear" cancer benefit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 24, 2002.

Cutting his first song at age 16 (it was a minor hit). In 1961, at age 17, he had consecutive top 40 hits, co-authored by Carole King, "Halfway to Paradise" and "Bless You". They were followed up by "I Can't Stop Talkin' About You" and "The Edge of Tears".

He lost a large amount of weight in the early 1970s.

He was inducted into the 2023 New Jersey Hall of Fame in the Performing Arts & Entertainment category.