Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 03/20/24

Dawn of a new day. His music career began in 1959 when, at the age of 15, he formed a doo-wop group called The Five Gents. While the group didn’t last, their demo drew the attention of famed music producer Don Kirshner who hired him to write songs in a small New York City office along with co-workers that, among others, included Carole King, Neil Sedaka, Neil Diamond and Paul Simon (a setting that became the basis of the Carole King musical Beautiful). That was just the beginning of a career that would go on for six decades, include several hit songs, a groundbreaking seventies variety show and an emotional bonding with America’s military veterans and others who have endured painful separation from loved ones (notably the American Embassy personnel taken hostage by Iran in 1978) via his signature song Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree.

Now, almost 65 years later, the kid from New York’s Hell’s Kitchen is on his final concert tour set to end this Friday at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. Though he’s putting his concert days behind him, one thing Tony Orlando is not doing is retiring.

JWK: How does it feel to be on your final tour – and why did you make the decision now?

Tony Orlando: Well, you know, 64 years in this business is a blessing. I would have been happy with 64 weeks! I don’t know if you realize what it is to travel today – but it’s off-the-charts crazy. You go to an airport and (there are) five hour delays, then they cancel the flight, then they move it to the next day and you can miss an engagement. The airfares are all through the top. It’s like I tell my friends, I can still hit the ball. I just can’t run those bases. It’s just too much to tour anymore.

I just felt like it’s time for the change. I’ve wanted very badly to exercise my creative muscles in different areas such as my writing – writing for film, writing for Broadway. I’ve even wanted to write a novel in my lifetime. This is the time. I want to spend time with those creative juices. I just felt it was the right time. It was just one of those things where you just know and say “Okay, now’s the time.”

JWK: So, there may be a novel in your future?

TO: There might be a lot of stuff. Whatever my heart’s creative muscle says to go lift, I’m gonna lift. I’ve been touring since I was 16 years old. I’m 79. It’s just time. I’m really following the footsteps of Elton John, Kenny Loggins, Bill Medley and so many of my buddies who are saying the same thing. I just think they’re right.

JWK: How’d you first get into the music industry?

TO: Oh, boy. I started in 1961. I had a hit record called Halfway to Paradise. It was written by Carole King and her husband Gerry Goffin. We worked together. It was her first hit record. It was my first hit record. We were just teenagers working with a great entrepreneur in Don Kirshner. I followed that up with another writing team that went into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. We had thing together called Bless You which was in 1962. Then after that, it was the British invasion. I went to work for Clive Davis. I ran the music division for him for the publishing companies. The rest followed suit.

JWK: You, Carole King and people like Neil Sedaka all worked at creating music for Don Kirshner. That period is what Carole King’s Broadway musical Beautiful is based on, correct?    

TO: That’s true. It is based on that.

JWK: What was that experience like – working in that environment?

TO: It was an office full of kids. We were just kids. It was myself, Carole, Gerry, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil (and) Neil Sedaka. The Grammys just paid tribute to (Carol)…as one of the great lyricists of all time. We were all just kids. The environment was a bunch of kids with a dream. We all wanted to have our hit records. Paul Simon, Neil Diamond – all of us – were in the same building. Not the Brill Building, like most people think. It was 1650 Broadway on 32nd Street which was across the street from the Brill Building – but the Brill Building gets the credit for it…Donny was 26-year-old entrepreneur who signed us and paid us fifty dollars a week sit in a cubicle, write songs, hope and dream. God blessed us all. We all did very well. We give thanks to Donny for that (opportunity).

JWK: Was it fun?

TO: This business is all about fun.

JWK: As you alluded to earlier, from there you went on to become a music executive for a while. What was that like?

TO: It was a pretty good run. I signed Barry Manilow. I represented James Taylor‘s music (as well as) Blood, Sweat & Tears and Laura Nyro – and worked for the great legendary Clive Davis. It was an experience I’ll never forget.

JWK: When did you really breakout and become a star yourself?

TO: My (first) hit records were even before working for Clive Davis. Tony Orlando and Dawn came ten years later (when) I had Candida, Knock Three Times, Tie a Yellow Ribbon. You know, you’ve done your homework.

JWK: Tie a Yellow Ribbon became an anthem for MIAs and POW’s and during the Iranian hostage crisis. What was it like to have that phenomenon?

TO: I’ll tell you what. You put my shoes on. What do you think it would be like?

JWK: It would be pretty amazing

TO: (laughs) You already have the answer.

JWK: It also kind of opened the door for a lifelong relationship between you and military veterans, right?

TO: Yes.

JWK: I would guess that’s something you’re very proud of.

TO: I’ve been working for the military for 50 years. (thanks to Tie a Yellow Ribbon). When the POWs came home, I was there to welcome them with Bob Hope at the Cotton Bowl. Ever since meeting them that day, it changed my life and I’ve dedicated much of my life to working with veterans. It’s been probably the most satisfying thing of my career – to be able to give back to my country and work with these people who have put their lives on the line for us.

Note: Tony talks about his iconic hit CBS variety show Tony Orlando and Dawn, the death of his friend Freddie Prinze and the years that followed when our conversation continues on Friday.
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John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.