Columnist Joe Delaney: Orlando has always had an ‘ear’ for good music

Joe Delaney

Friday, Aug. 13, 1999 | 9:19 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@vegas.com

Tony Orlando was a New York City street kid who spent a lot of time up on the tenement roof at night dreaming of someday seeing his name in lights on a marquee. ... Saturday evening at 8, after being away too long, Orlando will give one of his patented party-styled performances in the Flamingo-Hilton's Sunset Ballroom.

Orlando's early days in the music business were spent as a 250-pound teenager managing a music publishing firm for Columbia Records, now Sony. ... James Taylor was just one of the many upcoming songwriter-singers that Tony signed as both an artist and songwriter.

Clive Davis, later founder and president of Arista Records, was CEO at Columbia at the time. ... Davis called young Tony in and suggested he slim down as a matter of good health and his own self-esteem. ... Orlando got the message and took off the excess poundage.

The big break

Orlando was building a reputation for having "good ears," being able to recognize songs and artists with good potential. ... Another music publisher, a good friend, asked Tony's opinion on two new songs on a demonstration disk by a female duo called Dawn. ... The songs were strong, but the demo record seemed to be lacking something.

Tony suggested the publisher add a male vocal lead to the arrangement. ... His friend asked Tony to do it. ... He did. ... The two songs were "Candida" and "Knock Three Times." ... The result was released on a small record label using just the name Dawn as the artist.

Both sides became hits. ... It was a matter of time before the record industry would discover that Orlando, still with Columbia, was the male lead voice. ... When Tony told Clive Davis what was happening, Davis wished him well, and the record billing became Tony Orlando and Dawn.

Onward and upward

The record and the act were a hit, and Orlando began developing his in-person audience involvement technique. ... Then lightning struck in the form of a new release entitled "Tie A Yellow Ribbon ('Round The Old Oak Tree)." ... It was a mega-hit in 1970 and again 10 years later for the freed hostages returning from Iran. ... Las Vegas beckoned.

Orlando and Dawn alternated with Kenny Rogers and his First Edition and the late Redd Foxx in the original Hilton lounge. ... Foxx did more business nightly than the two new hit acts combined. ... Dawn departed, with Telma Hopkins enjoying success on TV sitcoms and Joyce Vincent opting to settle down to family life.

As a solo act, Orlando became a successful Las Vegas headliner with long runs at the Riviera, LV Hilton's main showroom, and Bally's. ... While at the Hilton, Tony took time to star on Broadway in "Barnum," winning critical acclaim and incorporating its hit numbers into his LV shows.

Orlando today

Tony felt that 1999 was a good year to go back on the road. ... He is fresh from a second successful Broadway run in "Smokey Joe's Cafe," following in the footsteps of Lou Rawls and Gladys Knight. ... A VH1 "Behind the Music" special is credited with having Tony and his music reaching a new generation just as Tony Bennett and, later, Tom Jones were able to do on MTV's "Unplugged" series.

A master showman and onstage personality, Tony Orlando could use a new hit single, a revised Golden Oldie, or perhaps it's time for an updated revival of "Mack, The Knife." ... It's been a long time since the Bobby Darin version, and Tony does include it in his act as a Darin tribute.

Friday addenda

Comedian Cork Proctor and his wife, Carolyn, will leave for Suriname in South America for a 27-month stint with the Peace Corps. ... Cork most recently handled lounge entertainment for the Orleans, and Carolyn is a successful publisher-writer. ... We're proud of the Proctors and wish them the very best in their new endeavors.

Something different: The new Market City Caffe is offering a Sunday Brunch Menu Special, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring the virtuoso violin stylings of Bill Jean. ... Worth the trip, wherever you live.

Debbie Reynolds, one of our favorite performers, is appearing at the Orleans through Sunday. ... She is a very special longtime Las Vegas headliner and contributor. ... Saturday night, pack a picnic lunch, take a blanket and enjoy "Picnic Pops a la Boston," 7:30 p.m., with the LV Pops Orchestra in Hills Park at Summerlin. ... See you next Thursday.