They Still Got It

Joined
Jun 22, 2007
Messages
5,538
After 60 years in the music business, singer Tony Orlando is retiring.
Now 79 years old, born in New York City, he will be celebrating his 80th birthday on April 4, 2024
His last live performance will take place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Ct on Friday night, March 22, '24 starting at 7:30 pm.

Some of his famous hits included:
"Knock Three Times" - from 1970
"Candida" - from 1970
"He Don't Love You" - from 1975

And of course this very popular one he made in 1973.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms_Yc5UwOx8

For Tony Orlando, this was the song that started it all.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw2eitx9Ly0

And it will end on Friday night, March 22, 2024 at the Mohegan Sun Arena
A local newspaper has a story about it.

www.theday.com/local-features/20240320/one-last-yellow-ribbon/
 
Joined
Jun 22, 2007
Messages
5,538
I was very fortunate to attend the final performance of Tony Orlando, on Friday night, March 22, 2024 and WHAT A SHOW IT WAS.
Never did I expect it to be like it was.
The Show was called: "Tony Orlando - The Finale".

As the show began, on the two large screens, many long time popular singers thanked Tony for his music and talent.
Two of the five or six individuals that I remember were; Marie Osmond and Deana Martin (Dean Martin's daughter).

Then a surprise guest appeared
It was Cousin Brucie from those - "77-WABC" radio days.
Cousin Brucie told the story of when he first met a very young and nervous teenage kid 63 years ago at Palisades Park in NJ.
His name, Tony Orlando, and it would be his first time singing in front of a live audience.
They became good friends after that.

Tony walked out and thanked Cousin Brucie for all he had done for him
Tony also mentioned about Cousin Brucies Saturday Night Rock & Roll podcast

Then what none of us expected - Tony Orlando wanted to THANK OUR US MILITARY VETERANS FOR SERVING OUR COUNTRY.
He started with asking any World War II veterans to please stand if they could
One did and the camera focused over to him.

Then the same for any Korean Veterans, Vietnam Veterans, Afghan Veterans, and as Tony Thanked them, the crowd cheered each time.
Then Tony asked for a Moment of Silence for those Military Veterans who were NOT ABLE TO COME HOME.
What a GREAT TRIBUTE IT WAS TO OUR VETERANS.

THEN - ANOTHER SPECIAL GUEST.
Mr Lee Greenwood who also wished Tony All The Best
Of course Lee Greenwood being best known for his song, "God Bless The USA"
So he sang it for all of us.
The crowd cheered and gave him a standing ovation.

Next Tony told us that sitting in the audience was another good friend of his.
It was the lead singer of the once very popular group called; "The Tokens".
Mr Jay Siegel came out and walked on stage.
He also wanted to Thank Tony and congratulate him.
It was way back in December, 1961 when Jay and his group's famous hit; "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" became a number 1 hit.
Jay sang that song for us hitting all those high notes.
He's Still Got It

That wasn't all.
The audience also saw Ron Dante, lead singer of the Archies, who is now 78 years old come out to visit Tony.
Ron sang his once very popular song of 1969 - "Sugar, Sugar".

Tony then told us how he was friends with the late Elvis Presley
Tony was new to the business and Elvis was kind of a mentor to him.
Then he said that Elvis wife, Pricilla Presley, was in the audience and the lights and camera turned towards here as the crowd cheered again.

Tony then introduced us to his wife and two grown children.
He also introduced us to the band, including his brother who plays the piano at his shows, and his drummer who had been with him for 42 years.

Well about an hour or so had passed and it was time for Tony to sing.
He then asked, his two former back up ladies known as "Dawn" (Telma Hopkins and Joyce Wilson) to came out on the stage.
Tony Orlando and Dawn had a very popular "prime time" weekly show on CBS when they first started out.
But they hadn't been with him in many years as they were raising their own family and couldn't travel.

Well together they sang their most popular hits starting with "Tie A Yellow Ribbon".

What a GREAT Farwell Finale it was.

Tony will be 80 years old on April 4th '24
 
Top