Columnist Joe Delaney: Orlando celebrates early birthday at Riviera

Joe Delaney

Friday, March 31, 2000 | 9:02 a.m.

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

Tony Orlando is appearing in the Riviera's new Royale Pavilion tonight and Saturday. ... Orlando will be 56 on Monday, a natal date he shares with Wayne Newton, who will be celebrating No. 58. ... Orlando and Newton are in the middle of a lawsuit over a theater they once shared in Branson, Mo., but neither is disposed to discuss it while it is in litigation.

It might also be noted that Newton closed his first extended engagement under his new 10-year contract with the Stardust on Thursday, the day before Orlando started his two-day Riviera stand. ... As a friend to both, we believe it is a matter of coincidence, not planning.

Orlando, born in the tough Chelsea section of New York City, was a streetwise youngster who always wanted to have a career as a singer. ... At age 12 he formed his first musical group, a doo-wop quintet called the Five Gents. ... Music publisher Don Kirshner was his first benefactor.

Orlando, continued

At age 15 Orlando was working for Kirshner, making demonstration records of new songs. ... Bobby Darin, Neil Diamond and Neil Sedaka were among the aspiring songwriter/singers working in Kirshner's crowded office in Manhattan's Brill Building at 1619 Broadway. ... Orlando also sang original songs with Carole King that became best sellers for others, including "Take Good Care of My Baby" and "Will You Love Me Tomorrow."

Epic Records signed Orlando and, at age 16, he had a hit record on the Columbia label, now Sony subsidiary, King's "Halfway to Paradise." ... Along came the Beatles and Rolling Stones in the early 1960s, and Orlando opted to go behind the scenes as a music publisher.

As general professional manager of April/Blackwood Music, another Columbia Records subsidiary, he was responsible for signing James Taylor as a writer and worked closely with Barry Manilow and Laura Nyro, among others.

A new benefactor

Clive Davis, now founder and head of Arista label, then with Columbia, was Orlando's second benefactor. ... He told Orlando, weighing 276 pounds at the time, to shed that extra poundage if he wanted to have a career as a singer. ... Orlando did so ... Benefactors Nos. 3 and 4 were record producers Hank Medress and Dave Appel, who asked Orlando for to do them a favor.

Just for friendship, Orlando agreed to add his voice to a song recorded by two females. ... "Candida" was an instant hit and the un-billed Orlando agreed to do a second song with the duo. ... "Knock Three Times" was an even bigger hit. ... A trimmed-down Orlando went on tour with Dawn.

The result was a five-year run for the trio, which resulted in gold and platinum records, five No. 1 hit singles, and a long-running television show. ... Bobby Vinton was his next benefactor, rejecting a song suggested by Orlando, telling him to record it himself. ... The song: "Tie a Yellow Ribbon."

Orlando, concluded

Dawn -- Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent-Wilson -- went their separate ways in the late 1970s with Hopkins still enjoying a successful television and film career and Vincent-Wilson, happily married. ... Orlando had a strong run on Broadway, starring in the musical, "Barnum," in addition to starring in several made-for-TV films. ... His forte is his ability to persuade an entire showroom audience to participate in a party atmosphere.

Nostalgia trippers, especially, can have a party, tonight and Saturday, in the Riviera's new Royale Pavilion with Orlando, who is nearly peerless when it comes to throwing a party on stage.

Local happenings

Friday special: The annual Joe Williams Music Scholarship Fund Raiser Concert, 7:30 p.m. in CCSN's Nicholas J. Horn Theatre, with performances by Ruth Brown, Roz Ryand and the CCSN All-Star Jazz Band. ... Nevada Jazz Artists presents "21 Strings Attached," with soloists Tom Ferguson, piano; Joe Lano, guitar; and Barry Ross, trombone, 2 p.m. Sunday, Winchester Center.

Marv Koral's All-Stars, featuring trombonist Carl Fontana, packs them in, 5-9 p.m. Sundays at Pierce Street Annex. ... Don Menza's big band is the Monday Riviera attraction. ... Friday's jazz is at Pogo's. ... On Saturday attend the 26th annual UNLVino Wine-Tasting Festival, 3-8 p.m., Bally's Events Center. ... See you next Thursday.