They Still Got It

[nfd2004]

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/

 

[nfd2004]

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

 

[nfd2004]

Here are two videos posted from the show.
They were posted by Kelly Murtha, who has a website and she has been posting other videos from that Farwell Finale Show of Tony Orlando.

I will post two of them.

1) Lee Greenwood singing "God Bless the USA".

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLRoZuDkn10

2) Dawn, joins Tony after several years and sing; "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Around The Old Oak Tree"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZXNpsdOON4

 

[memorymaster]

My favorite Tony Orlando recording is "Bless You" although I like all his recordings.

 

[nfd2004]

Two of the famous Motown Groups appeared at the Westbury Music Center on Saturday Evening, March 28th '24.
Yes - after 60 years - "THEY STILL GOT IT"
They are Still performing live shows; The Temptations, and The Four Tops.

Here are two of their biggest hits.

The Temptations - "My Girl" recorded way back in 1964

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFcVAS9WpP0

The Four Tops - "I Can't Help Myself" recorded way back in 1965

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvCzaKMS52U

 

[memorymaster]

I'm probably in the wrong section to post this, (You gents can move it if so deemed necessary) however, Duane Eddy of late 50's and early 60's twangy guitar fame, i.e. Rebel Rouser, Bonnie Came Back, Because They're Young, etc. passed away Tues. 4/30/24 at his home in Nashville, Tn.
The Saxophone in a majority of his recordings was played by Steve Douglas who as a member of the infamous "Wrecking Crew."
Rest In Peace Duane and thanks for the memories.

 

[nfd2004]

Enge was my favorite, saw him many times at Westbury Music Fair during his prime, he did a great show. I think I had a crush on him!, oops, did I say to much....

Well Johnny, Enge just turned 87 years old on May 2nd, '24 and he's STILL OUT THERE performing live shows, singing his famous hits

Check this out.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2UtcfMqq7I

 

[nfd2004]

Saturday night, June 1, '24, I went to see 82 year old Paul Anka at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
Celebrating SEVEN DECADES of music he performed about an hour and a half without taking a break.

Twice he came out, walking through the aisles among the crowd and sang hit songs.

He also sang songs that he wrote for other very popular singers like Tom Jones - "She's a Lady"
Frank Sinatra - "My Way" and "New York, NY". In fact when he wrote "My Way", Frank Sinatra was going to retire but it was such a big hit he decided to stay in the business 10 more years.
Also Sammy Davis Jr., hit song; "I've Gotta Be Me"

Paul Anka told us that he doesn't work because he needs the money
He is still doing live shows because it is his passion in life and he enjoys performing in front of a live audience.

He also said that he eats rights and exercises and watching him perform it shows it works.

He also thank the members of his band and told everyone that he is blessed to have them.

If you get the chance to see him in your area, I highly recommend that.
I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

So here we take you back to Paul Anka's earliest years, about 70 years ago.
Do you remember these hit songs ?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFtoYj2hBlk

Here he is Live on Saturday, June 1, '24 and this is one of the times he walked through the aisle's among the people.

GREAT SHOW and "Yes, He's Still Got It".

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEuXh975xm4

 

[nfd2004]

Saturday night, June 1, '24, I went to see 82 year old Paul Anka at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
Celebrating SEVEN DECADES of music he performed about an hour and a half without taking a break.

Twice he came out, walking through the aisles among the crowd and sang hit songs.

He also sang songs that he wrote for other very popular singers like Tom Jones - "She's a Lady"
Frank Sinatra - "My Way" and "New York, NY". In fact when he wrote "My Way", Frank Sinatra was going to retire but it was such a big hit he decided to stay in the business 10 more years.
Also Sammy Davis Jr., hit song; "I've Gotta Be Me"

Paul Anka told us that he doesn't work because he needs the money
He is still doing live shows because it is his passion in life and he enjoys performing in front of a live audience.

He also said that he eats rights and exercises and watching him perform it shows it works.

He also thank the members of his band and told everyone that he is blessed to have them.

If you get the chance to see him in your area, I highly recommend that.
I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

So here we take you back to Paul Anka's earliest years, about 70 years ago.
Do you remember these hit songs ?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFtoYj2hBlk

Here he is Live on Saturday, June 1, '24 and this is one of the times he walked through the aisle's among the people.

GREAT SHOW and "Yes, He's Still Got It".

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEuXh975xm4

Tune into Paul Anka's 83rd Birthday Celebration on Tuesday, July 30th '24 at 1 PM ET, 10 AM PT, and 7 PM CT, on Paul Anka's You Tube Channel.

You can also be notified when the show begins by clicking on the notification at the upper right corner of this video.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8m90GrbdJQ

 

[memorymaster]

Paul's break came as a 17-year-old when he and his dad came from Canada and visited "Cousin" Bruce Morrow who at the time was on 1010 WINS AM in NYC. The song that Paul wrote, "Diana", was previewed on the air during that visit and the rest is history.

 

[nfd2004]

Paul's break came as a 17-year-old when he and his dad came from Canada and visited "Cousin" Bruce Morrow who at the time was on 1010 WINS AM in NYC. The song that Paul wrote, "Diana", was previewed on the air during that visit and the rest is history.

That is EXACTLY CORRECT "memorymaster" and when I saw him in person June 1, '24 he talked about that.

 

[nfd2004]

This 79 year old singer sang this very popular song in Orlando, Fla in May, 2019, before a live audience. He wrote it back in 1968 - over 50 years ago.

The name of that song is "Delilah" and the singers name is, Tom Jones.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0iHWVlYkDQ

He is now 84 years old and still singing at live concerts.
I'm talking about Tom Jones.

Here he is singing one of his greatest hits - "It's Not Unusual" at the Mohegan Sun arena on September 5, 2024.
This song was released in February, 1965.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXwJmhAsXm0