Friends of Tony Orlando and Dawn Message Board
September 1999

Meri
About the Kids
Thursday 30-Sep-1999 12:58:40
   Hey everyone!  Awesome job on the 'site.  Julie  your hard work is greatly appreciated.  I recently had the opportunity to see VH1's Behind-the-music bio on Tony.  I broke out the popcorn and sat down to watch  fully expecting (but hoping not) to catch a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a performer with a lot of  focus on negativity (as many of these shows do).  It's difficult to describe my feeling at the end of that very short hour and the impact Tony's  story had on me.  His rare kind of inner stregnth
and beauty is incredibly inspirational.  I was most touched  though  by his obvious love for  and devotion to  disabled children.  As a pediatric nurse  I see several children each day with varying degrees of physical and mental disabilities.  We tend to look at them as less fortunate or less privileged than we are  and to  focus more on their many needs than what they have to offer as people themselves.   Tony's statement about his little sister's smile when he sang to her and their special way of communicating taught me more than a formal education ever could.  Isn't it amazing that their complete happiness can come from a song a gentle touch  or just a smile.  They are not dominated by our everyday stress  they don't have the ability to be competetive or superficial  and they could care less what they look like.  Hmmm....Maybe we should take lessons!!!
      Thanks Tony  for a beautiful new perspective and Julie  for a great website!!!

  • Julie
    Re: About the Kids
    Thursday 30-Sep-1999 17:48:01
    Hi Meri
    Thank you for the nice letter. I am so glad you are enjoying the site.
    I agree  Tony's VH1-Behind the Music was very special and touching. Some of the parts I liked best in the special were the scenes of Tony and his sister. He had a very special relationship with her and experts seem to be finding out now what Tony knew then  that children with severe disabilities can often be reached through music and singing.
    I also work with children as a child care provider. The children I work with do not have any disabilities  but I have learned to appreciate simple things by observing their pure and simple look at life. What adults see as ordinary  children see as extraordinary. They can find joy in the littlest things and I agree  we should definately take a lesson from them.
    I'm sure Rhonda taught Tony a lot about simple joy  and I would imagine he would be very moved by the fact that people were touched by his special relationship with her.

Krissy

Tony Orlando
Wednesday 29-Sep-1999 19:43:03
There is a song I heard that I think Tony should sing or at least consider singing it.  It's a country song called Don't Laugh At Me.
 It is about people who are different or disabled being made fun of.  It makes me cry every time I hear it.
Tony has such a way of touching people's hearts with his music I thought this would be a great song for him.
The lyrics go:
Don't laugh at me  don't call me names.  Don't get your pleasure from my pain.  In God's eyes we're all the same. Someday we'll all have perfect wings.  Don't laugh at me.
Thank You

  • Susan

    Re: Tony Orlando
    Thursday 30-Sep-1999 21:33:39
    Krissy:  I agree  that would be a great song for Tony to record.  Mark Wills did a great job on the country charts and I'm sure Tony would do a fabulous job on it.  Thanks for thinking of Tony!

Krissy

300 MILES FOR STEPHANIE
Wednesday 29-Sep-1999 19:33:35
 Does anyone know where I can get a copy of 300 miles for Stephanie.  Also is there any way Tony can be emailed personally.  
Thank you for any help.  I am a big fan and sure miss his show.

Alison

Help! I need words for a friend!
Monday 27-Sep-1999 11:30:23
Hi Everyone!  A friend at work really needs the words to "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Around The Old Oak Tree" for a loved one.  It would really mean alot to them.  Do any of you fans know the lyrics in their entirety?  Or do you know of where I can find them?? Any help you could give would be great!  Thanks!

  • Julie
    Re: Help! I need words for a friend!
    Monday 27-Sep-1999 14:16:46
    Hi Alison   Sorry it took me a while to post your message. It's a moderated board so the messages don't show up right away. I hope theselyrics will still help...

    I'm comin' home I've done my time.
    Now I've got to know what is and isn't mine.
    If you received my letter telling you I'd soon be free 
    then you'll know just what to do  if you still want me.
    If you still want me.

    Chorus:
    Oh  tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree
    It's been three long years  do you still want me.
    If I don't see a ribbon roung the old oak tree
    I'll stay on the bus  forget about us  put the blame on me.
    If I don't see a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree.

    Bus driver please look for me.
    'Cause I couldn't bear to see what I might see.
    I'm really still in prison and my love  she holds the key.
    A simple yellow ribbon's what I need to set me free.
    I wrote and told her please.

    Chorus

    Now the whole damn bus is cheering and I can't believe I see...
    A hundred yellow ribbons round the old oak tree.

THE BAD< BAD MR. C

YET ANOTHER TELMA HOPKINS SIGHTING
Saturday 25-Sep-1999 14:15:38
It was a great week for fans of actress/singer Telma Hopkins. Not only is she seen daily on reruns of "Family Matters " that air on TBS and WGN  but Telma was also on an episode of "Chicken Soup for the Soul " and on Wednesday  Black Entertainment Television (BET) aired a classic episode from 1988 of the hit show "Amen " in which Telma was a guest star.
 The episode of "Amen" that featured Telma was one of the funniest shows of the entire series and generated one of the biggest laughs for a sitcom that year. Does anyone remember what happened on the show that led to that big laugh?  Anyway  It was a pleasure seeing talented Ms. Hopkins  a fine comedienne/actress on TV this week.

Julie
Telma spotted again!!
Monday 20-Sep-1999 23:05:34
Telma's 1990 movie  "How To Murder A Millionaire"  aired on the Lifetime cable network today. She played Theresa  a con artist who befriends Urma  a lonely and spoiled millionaire's wife  played by Joan Rivers  for the soul purpose of getting her money. But during the time it takes to pull off the scam  Theresa and Urma discover what true friendship is. It's a funny movie and Telma is great in it.

Pat
Chicken Soup for the Soul
Sunday 19-Sep-1999 23:10:52
Did anyone else catch Telma Hopkins in her role on Chicken Soup for the Soul?  The episode is   entitled "Nightwatch" and also stars Kevin Dillon  Rod Steiger and Nicholle Tom.  A touching story about a man who is dying in the hospital and wants forgiveness from his son before he dies.  Telma plays Marian  the cool and unemotional charge nurse to Tom's sensitive teary-eyed floor nurse.  They both learn a lesson from the dying man's son. 
It is very different to see Telma in a dramatic role.  She should do more!

Robert

movie 300 miles for stephanie
Sunday 19-Sep-1999 21:41:38
In the movie called 300 miles for stephanie  I need to know  what is the name of the church Tony ran to and where is it located?  Also where can I get the movie 300 miles for stephanie.?  I am from Calif.  Very important to me I do thank you for any help !!

  • susan

    Re: movie 300 miles for stephanie
    Tuesday 21-Sep-1999 18:22:24
    Robert: I haven't watched in alittle while  but I believe the church was called San Juan Dios Logas  the Church of Miracles in San Antonio  Texas.  Hope that was some help to you

NEW ENGLAND SHOWS???
Saturday 18-Sep-1999 23:15:28
   Unlike a lot of you lucky people  I have never had the pleasure of seeing Tony perform
live. One of my earliest memories is from when
I was about 2 1/2 years old and had to fight
with my mother every Saturday morning (when Tony
Orland and Dawn reruns aired) to get out of
taking a nap so I could see the show with the
"happy music and the pretty tree with the people
in it"  If anyone has info on upcoming New
England shows  please share.  Thanks!!!

  • Julie
    Re: NEW ENGLAND SHOWS???
    Sunday 19-Sep-1999 10:37:43
    What a fun memory. I like that - "Happy music". You can find a list of tour dates for Tony by visiting the following page on the Friends of Tony Orlando and Dawn Web Site:
    http://members.accessus.net/~alice2/schedule.htm
    Thanks

DEL

PAM'S BIRTHDAY
Saturday 18-Sep-1999 14:57:43
A very Happy Birthday to Pam Vincent!!! We miss you on the east coast. Everyone call a radio station and request a song Pam is on  and dedicate it to her!!!

Lisa Orlich

Tony's performance
Thursday 16-Sep-1999 10:21:55
Hello Everyone
My name is Lisa & I'm going to the November 6th performance of Tony in Cheyenne  Wyoming. If anybody is thinking about going  the tickets are 25.00  and only balcony seats are left.

John
About Tony Orlando
Wednesday 15-Sep-1999 15:05:00
Hello  I was wondering if someone could tell me what Tony Orlando's nationallity is?  I don't quite know  but when I was real young in the 70's I've seen Tony (as a guest host) at a new year's day parade. During the parade  he may have mentioned that he was half Greek and half Puerto Rican and said to everyone on t.v. "Happy New Year" in both languages. Again  I don't quite remember if that was him or not.
Thanks

  • Susan

    Re: About Tony Orlando
    Thursday 16-Sep-1999 14:32:04
    John  you are so right  Tony is half Greek and
    half Puerto Rican. 

  • Dahloan

    Re: About Tony Orlando
    Thursday 16-Sep-1999 17:09:52
    You are right. Tony is half Puerto Rican and half Greek. He often refers to himself as a Greekarican.

  • Lisa
    Re: About Tony Orlando
    Friday 17-Sep-1999 19:59:08
    You are right! Tony is half Puerto Rican & half Greek. His dad was Greek & his mom Puerto Rican.

  • Susan
    Re: About Tony Orlando
    Saturday 13-Nov-1999 17:51:52
    Hi John  Yes you are right  Tony's father (Leo) was Greek and his mom (Ruthie) is Puerto Rican.
    Which makes Tony a Greekarican!! As he says

Wakako
About "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Around The Ole Oak Tree"
Tuesday 14-Sep-1999 01:38:02
Hi! I'm sending this message from far east  Japan!!  I have a question here  if anyone could answer this  please give me a hint.
What is "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Around The Ole Oak Tree" all about??  See  I have a personal Home Page of my own  in which I'm introducing many English pops + rock musics and translating them into Japanese as my hobby.  Right now   I'm thinking of introducing my musical-experiment-history   and I hit upon to "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Around The Ole Oak Tree" as one of my oldest memorable song. In 1973  I was 4 yrs. old  was just about to come to Japan (I am a Japanese  yet I was born and bred up in England 'til I was 4). The song used to be one of my favourite  and now I'm realizing that this song might be one of my essantials of my musical habbits  this song seems so much a precious one to me. That is why I decided to introduce this song on my Home Page. And then  I went through the whole lyric  became guilty that I might have been mis-understanding the meaning of this song. I remember one day my Mom told me that this song was about a soldier who came back from The Vietnam War  but is  that so? In the lyric  there's no such words as Vietnam  nor War    more over  I found a word "prison"  of course I can see this is used as a simile  yet I'm not  sure if this song was really about the Vietnam War anymore!! So  if anyone have any information about this song  could you kindly let me know?  I'm looking foward for any replies!!!  thank you   Wakako

  • Julie
    Re: About "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Around The Ole Oak Tree"
    Tuesday 14-Sep-1999 09:10:24
    Hi Wakako
    Welcome to our board! To answer your question  "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" was a song about a man who was sent to prison for three years. When he was released he sent a letter to his girlfriend/wife(?) that if she still wanted him in her life that she should tie a yellow ribbon around an oak tree. As he passed by  if he saw the ribbon he would get off the bus  but if not  he would stay on and forget their relationship. It turns out that when he passed by the oak tree she had tied 100 ribbons around it. So I guess they lived happily ever after :-).
    The song and the yellow ribbon have now become symbols of freedom. Yellow ribbons are used to welcome soldiers home from war and also as a sign of hope for a safe return when someone is missing. The song and yellow ribbons were used to welcome home the veterans of the Vietnam War. They were also hung when Americans were held hostage in Iran in the early 80s. Most recently I saw yellow ribbons hanging when John F. Kennedy Jr. was missing after his plane crashed.

Wakako
Thank you!!
Wednesday 15-Sep-1999 10:43:40
Hi  Julie!  Thank you so much for your kind information  I really appreciate. I understood the whole meaning that I wanted to know. Now I'm going to translate the song into Japanese and put it on my Home Page!! Thank you again  best regards Wakako

  • DEL
    DELSTAR1@webtv.net
    Re: Thank you!!
    Thursday 16-Sep-1999 21:32:13
    Does anyone have the original Associated Press article about the man on the bus that the song was derived from? If so  maybe you could send it to Julie so everyone can read it.

Julie
Reference to Telma on "Brotherly Love"
Friday 10-Sep-1999 13:33:20
 I don't know if anybody watches the show with the Lawrence brothers called  "Brotherly Love"  but on the episode that aired the other day there was a small reference to Telma's "Gimme A Break" character  Addy Wilson. Joey and Matthew starred in "GAB" with Telma and Nell Carter and apparently "Brotherly Love" was a spin-off of "Gimme A Break"  which I didn't know.   Anyway  Nell Carter's "GAB" character  Nell Harper  came to visit Joey and Matthew and the boys were saying that it was too bad that Addy couldn't make it.   I just thought it was kind of cool and thought I would mention it.

  • DEL

    Re: Reference to Telma on "Brotherly Love"
    Friday 10-Sep-1999 19:27:33
    Thanks for that news Julie!!! Is that show still in first run? If so  maybe we should be watching for "Addy" to visit!!!

  • Julie
    Re: Re: Reference to Telma on "Brotherly Love"
    Friday 10-Sep-1999 21:23:40
    Hi Del    "Brotherly Love" is currently airing on The Disney Channel. I believe the shows are old ones from when it originally aired on NBC  which is the network that carried "Gimme A Break". I never knew that the show was a "GAB" spin-off.
     The reason Nell Harper came to visit was because she found out she had cancer. I don't know if Telma ever appeared on the show but there certainly would've been good reason to have her there since she was Nell's "very best friend". :-) It makes me wonder if they ever went anywhere with that storyline.

DEL

JON ORLANDO MAKING HIS DEBUT IN DECEMBER!!!
Wednesday  8-Sep-1999 23:40:50
That's right! The cool guy who gets everyone all that great Tony merchandise will debut his stand up comedy act opening for Tom Jones  December 12-the exact venue to come. Jon sent Mr. Jones an UNMARKED demo of his routine and was selected to be the opening act. Let's all give Jon our full support and attend his shows when he is nearby.

ROBERT

TONY ORLANDO
Wednesday  8-Sep-1999 20:01:20
I need to know the name of a movie that Tony Orlando starred in. The movie is about a little girl named Stephanie and Tony is a police officer who offers a deal to God if he cures his daughter.  The daughter was given 5 yrs to live but with Tonys offering to God he runs 300 miles to a church in San Antonio  Texas. I have been looking for the name of the movie for awhile.  Please help  Thank you    Robert

  • Julie
    Re: TONY ORLANDO
    Wednesday  8-Sep-1999 21:43:59
    Hi Robert   The name of the movie you are looking for is "300 Miles for Stephanie". It was aired on PAX-TV a while back.  Thanks

dave

Looking For a Song
Monday  6-Sep-1999 11:23:16
For years I have searched for a song I thought Tony Orlando sang around 1960-1962. The words I remember are "When a shy boy like me meets a shy girl like you there isn't much a shy boy can do". So if any one can help me please do so.   Thank you 

Dahloan

Tony Orlando In Atlantic City
Saturday  4-Sep-1999 17:02:57
Wow  I have been a fan/admirer since  1974 and finally got to see Tony Orlando perform in Atlantic City at the Resorts Casino on September first and second. Was he awesome both nights. He sang all of the usual-Yellow Ribbon  Sweet Gypsy Rose  Candida  Knock Three Times  and He Don't Love You. He sang some songs from Smokey Joe's where he appeared on Broadway in June - Rose in Spanish Harlem and Stand By Me. He had his band members sing a couple of songs  and they were awesome! He sang a tribute to the 50's doowop music  Harmonizing Nights! He then did his new year's eve bit  and had the audience singing along. I bet you can guess who was singing the loudest! He then did a tribute to veterans. Only problem with the shows is they were not long enough. He admitted during the second night that he had laryngitis  and only after the show did we find out he was ill. You would have never known from his performance. He still gave it his all. He acknowledged my presence by making sure he shook my hand. Only thing that could have made it any better was meeting Tony  but I have January in Melbourne Florida where I'll be seeing him for that!! At least one part of my dream came true- seeing Tony perform  and was it worth the wait! I also got to meet all of my aol friends from Tony Troopers fan club. Boy  everyone is so awesome. I"ve made friends for life!

  • DEL

    Re: Tony Orlando In Atlantic City
    Tuesday  7-Sep-1999 21:25:05
    Yes Atlantic City was wonderful. I went Thursday  Sunday  and Monday.Tony made a speedy recovery by the weekend and he and the band gave some wonderful shows. Sunday Tony had trouble getting through Candida-but this time from laughter. Two men came dressed in dresses and make up saying that they wanted to be like their heros DAWN!!! Tony got them on stage for Yellow Ribbon as the house roared with laughter. I must say they did not study their heros very well as they did not know our DAWN's classic backup parts or classic "Yellow Ribbon moves". Monday's crowd was also full of fun. It was wonderful visting with Tony  Jon  Dave-who celebrated his birthday Saturday  Billy  Doc  Peter  Kerry  Terry  Jim  Joe  members of the Emeralds  and Johnny. It was especially nice seeing all the Troopers including Denise  Dianne  Arlene  Karen  Joe  Sue  and Dahloan who Tony said he was very sorry to have missed. Can't wait for the next time!!!!!!

  • Pat
    Re: Re: Tony Orlando In Atlantic City
    Wednesday  8-Sep-1999 00:36:22
    Wow Del!  I am laughing now just reading this.  Now they may not have had the moves down  but the one thing missing was whether the outfits were befitting a Dawn imitation? 
    I hope someone captured that comedic scene on film.

Helen

Tony performing the song Atlanta
Thursday  2-Sep-1999 06:52:43
Does anyone remember Tony performing the song Atlanta with both a HAT and cane?  I've seen the TOD show on Good TV where he performs it  but both my mother and I remember him performing it with a hat (he would tip it throughout the song).  If anyone can help us figure this out  it would be great!  Thanks!

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