{{taxobox |name = Oak |image = Quercus robur.jpg |image_caption = Foliage and acorns of ''Quercus robur'' |regnum = Plantae |unranked_divisio = Angiosperms |unranked_classis = Eudicots |unranked_ordo = Rosids |ordo = Fagales |familia = Fagaceae |genus = ''Quercus'' |genus_authority = L. |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = See List of ''Quercus'' species |}}

An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree"), of which about 600 species exist on earth. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably ''Lithocarpus''. The genus is native to the northern hemisphere, and includes deciduous and evergreen species extending from cold latitudes to tropical Asia and the Americas.

Oaks have spirally arranged leaves, with a lobed margin in many species; some have serrated leaves or entire leaves with a smooth margin. The flowers are catkins, produced in spring. The fruit is a nut called an acorn, borne in a cup-like structure known as a cupule; each acorn contains one seed (rarely two or three) and takes 6–18 months to mature, depending on species. The live oaks are distinguished for being evergreen, but are not actually a distinct group and instead are dispersed across the genus.

Classification

Oak trees are ''flowering plants''. The genus is divided into two subgenera and a number of sections:

Subgenus ''Quercus''

The Subgenus ''Quercus'' is divided into the following sections:

Sect. ''Quercus'' (synonyms ''Lepidobalanus'' and ''Leucobalanus''), the white oaks of Europe, Asia and North America. Styles are short; acorns mature in 6 months and taste sweet or slightly bitter; the inside of an acorn shell is hairless. The leaves mostly lack a bristle on their lobe tips, which are usually rounded.

Sect. ''Mesobalanus'', Hungarian oak and its relatives of Europe and Asia. Styles long; acorns mature in about 6 months and taste bitter; the inside of this acorn's shell is hairless. The section ''Mesobalanus'' is closely related to section ''Quercus'' and sometimes included in it.

Sect. ''Cerris'', the Turkey oak and its relatives of Europe and Asia. Styles long; acorns mature in 18 months and taste very bitter. The inside of the acorn's shell is hairless. Its leaves typically have sharp lobe tips, with bristles at the lobe tip.

Sect. ''Protobalanus'', the Canyon live oak and its relatives, in southwest United States and northwest Mexico. Styles short, acorns mature in 18 months and taste very bitter. The inside of the acorn shell appears woolly. Leaves typically have sharp lobe tips, with bristles at the lobe tip.

Sect. ''Lobatae'' (synonym ''Erythrobalanus''), the red oaks of North America, Central America and northern South America. Styles long; acorns mature in 18 months and taste very bitter. The inside of the acorn shell appears woolly. The actual nut is encased in a thin, clinging, papery skin. Leaves typically have sharp lobe tips, with spiny bristles at the lobe.

Subgenus ''Cyclobalanopsis''

The ring-cupped oaks of eastern and southeastern Asia. Evergreen trees growing 10–40 m tall. They are distinct from subgenus ''Quercus'' in that they have acorns with distinctive cups bearing concrescent rings of scales; they commonly also have densely clustered acorns, though this does not apply to all of the species. The ''Flora of China'' treats ''Cyclobalanopsis'' as a distinct genus, but most taxonomists consider it a subgenus of ''Quercus''. It contains about 150 species. Species of ''Cyclbalanopsis'' are common in the evergreen subtropical laurel forests which extend from southern Japan, southern Korea, and Taiwan across southern China and northern Indochina to the eastern Himalayas, in association with trees of genus ''Castanopsis'' and the laurel family (Lauraceae).

Hybridisation

Interspecific hybridisation is quite common among oaks, but usually between species within the same section only, and most common in the white oak group (subgenus ''Quercus'', section ''Quercus''; see List of ''Quercus'' species). Inter-section hybrids, except between species of sections ''Quercus'' and ''Mesobalanus'', are unknown. Recent systematic studies appear to confirm a high tendency of ''Quercus'' species to hybridize because of a combination of factors. White oaks are unable to discriminate against pollination by other species in the same section. Because they are wind pollinated and they have weak internal barriers to hybridisation, hybridization produces functional seeds and fertile hybrid offspring. Ecological stresses, especially near habitat margins, can also cause a breakdown of mate recognition as well as a reduction of male function (pollen quantity and quality) in one parent species.

Frequent hybridisation among oaks has consequences for oak populations around the world; most notably, hybridization has produced large populations of hybrids with copious amounts of introgression, and the evolution of new species. Frequent hybridisation and high levels of introgression have caused different species in the same populations to share up to 50% of their genetic information. Having high rates of hybridisation and introgression produces genetic data that often does not differentiate between two clearly morphologically distinct species, but instead differentiates populations. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain how oak species are able to remain morphologically and ecologically distinct with such high levels of gene flow, but the problem is still largely a mystery to botanists.

The Fagaceae, or oak family, is a very slowly evolving clade compared to other angiosperms, and the hybridisation patterns in ''Quercus'' pose a great challenge to the concept of a species. A species is often defined as a group of “actually or potentially interbreeding populations which are reproductively isolated from other such groups.” By this definition, many species of ''Quercus'' would be lumped together according to their geographic and ecological habitat, despite clear distinctions in morphology and, to a large extent, genetic data.

Uses

Oak wood has a density of about 0.75 g/cm³, great strength and hardness, and is very resistant to insect and fungal attack because of its high tannin content. It also has very attractive grain markings, particularly when quartersawn. Wide, quarter-sawn boards of oak have been prized since the Middle Ages for use in interior paneling of prestigious buildings such as the debating chamber of the House of Commons in London, England, and in the construction of fine furniture. Oak wood, from ''Quercus robur'' and ''Quercus petraea'', was used in Europe for the construction of ships, especially naval men of war, until the 19th century, and was the principal timber used in the construction of European timber-framed buildings. Today oak wood is still commonly used for furniture making and flooring, timber frame buildings, and for veneer production. Barrels in which red wines, sherry, and spirits such as brandy, Scotch whisky and Bourbon whiskey are aged are made from European and American oak. The use of oak in wine can add many different dimensions to wine based on the type and style of the oak. Oak barrels, which may be charred before use, contribute to the colour, taste, and aroma of the contents, imparting a desirable oaky vanillin flavour to these drinks. The great dilemma for wine producers is to choose between French and American oakwoods. French oaks (''Quercus robur'', ''Q. petraea'') give the wine greater refinement and are chosen for the best wines since they increase the price compared to those aged in American oak wood. American oak contributes greater texture and resistance to ageing, but produces more violent wine bouquets. Oak wood chips are used for smoking fish, meat, cheeses and other foods.

Japanese oak is used in the making of professional drums from manufacturer Yamaha Drums. The higher density of oak gives the drum a brighter and louder tone compared to traditional drum materials such as maple and birch.

The bark of ''Quercus suber'', or Cork oak, is used to produce wine stoppers (corks). This species grows in the Mediterranean Sea region, with Portugal, Spain, Algeria and Morocco producing most of the world's supply. Of the North American oaks, the Northern red oak ''Quercus rubra'' is the most prized of the red oak group for lumber, all of which is marketed as red oak regardless of the species of origin. It is not good for outdoor use due to its open capillaries. One can blow air through an end grain piece 10 inches long to make bubbles come out in a glass of water. These openings give fungus easy access when the finish deteriorates. The standard for the lumber of the white oak group – all of which is marketed as white oak – is the White Oak ''Quercus alba''. White Oak is often used to make wine barrels. The wood of the deciduous Pedunculate Oak ''Quercus robur'' and Sessile Oak ''Quercus petraea'' accounts for most of the European oak production, but evergreen species, such as Holm oak ''Quercus ilex'', and Cork oak ''Quercus suber'' also produce valuable timber.

The bark of the White Oak is dried and used in medical preparations. Oak bark is also rich in tannin, and is used by tanners for tanning leather.

In Korea, oak bark (Goolpy) is used for traditional roof construction.

Acorns are used for making flour or roasted for acorn coffee.

Oak galls were used for centuries as the main ingredient in manuscript ink, harvested at a specific time of year.

Biodiversity and ecology

Oaks are keystone species in a wide range of habitats from Mediterranean semi-desert to subtropical rainforest. For example, oak trees are important components of hardwood forests, and certain species are particularly known to grow in associations with members of the Ericaceae in oak-heath forests. A number of kinds of truffles, including the two well known varieties, the black Périgord truffle and the white Piedmont truffle, have symbiotic relationships with oak trees.

Many species of oaks are under threat of extinction in the wild, largely due to land use changes, livestock grazing and unsustainable harvesting. For example, over the past 200 years, large areas of oak forest in the highlands of Mexico, Central America and the northern Andes have been cleared for coffee plantations and cattle ranching. There is a continuing threat to these forests from exploitation for timber, fuelwood and charcoal . In the USA, entire oak ecosystems have declined due to a combination of factors still imperfectly known, but thought to include fire suppression, increased consumption of acorns by growing mammal populations, herbivory of seedlings, and introduced pests . In a recent survey, 78 wild oak species have been identified as being in danger of extinction, from a global total of over 500 species . The proportion under threat may be much higher in reality, as there is insufficient information about over 300 species, making it is near impossible to form any judgement of their status.

Diseases and pests

Sudden Oak Death (''Phytophthora ramorum'') is a water mould that can kill oaks within just a few weeks. Oak Wilt, caused by the fungus ''Ceratocystis fagacearum'' (a fungus closely related to Dutch Elm Disease), is also a lethal disease of some oaks, particularly the red oaks (the white oaks can be infected but generally live longer). Other dangers include wood-boring beetles, as well as root rot in older trees which may not be apparent on the outside, often being discovered only when the trees come down in a strong gale. Oak apples are galls on oaks made by the gall wasp. The female kermes scale causes galls to grow on kermes oak. Oaks are used as food plants by the larvae of Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species such as the Gypsy Moth, ''Lymantria dispar'', which can defoliate oak and other broadleaved tree species in North America.

A considerable number of galls are found on oak leaves, buds, flowers, roots, etc. Examples are Oak artichoke gall, Oak Marble gall, Oak apple gall, Knopper gall, and Spangle gall.

A number of species of fungus cause powdery mildew on oak species. In Europe the species ''Erysiphe alphitoides'' is the most common cause.

A new and as yet little understood disease of mature oaks, Acute oak decline, has been reported in parts of the UK since 2009.

Additionally, the Oak Processionary Moth (''Thaumetopoea processionea'') has become a serious threat in the UK since 2006. It defoliates the trees, and is hazardous to human health.

Toxicity

The leaves and acorns of the oak tree are poisonous to cattle, horses, sheep, and goats in large amounts due to the toxin tannic acid, and cause kidney damage and gastroenteritis. Additionally, once livestock have a taste for the leaves and acorns, they may seek them out. Symptoms of poisoning include lack of appetite, depression, constipation, diarrhea (which may contain blood), blood in urine, and colic. The exception to livestock and oak toxicity is the domestic pig, which may be fed entirely on acorns in the right conditions, and has traditionally been pastured in oak woodlands (such as the Spanish ''dehesa'' and the English system of pannage) for hundreds of years. Acorns are also edible to humans in processed form, after leaching of the tanins. They are a staple part of the forage consumed by wildlife, including squirrels and jays.

Cultural significance

National symbol

The oak is a common symbol of strength and endurance and has been chosen as the national tree of many countries. Already an ancient Germanic symbol (in the form of the Donar Oak, for instance), certainly since the early nineteenth century, it stands for the nation of Germany. In 2004 the Arbor Day Foundation held a vote for the official National Tree of the United States of America. In November 2004, Congress passed legislation designating the oak as America's National Tree.

Other countries have also designated the oak as their national tree including England, Estonia, France, Germany, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the United States, Basque Country, Wales, Galicia, Bulgaria, and Serbia.

Oaks as regional and state symbols

The oak is the emblem of County Londonderry in Northern Ireland, as a vast amount of the county was covered in forests of the tree until relatively recently. The name of the county comes from the city of Derry, which originally in Irish was known as ''Doire'' meaning ''oak''.

The Irish County Kildare derives its name from the town of Kildare which originally in Irish was ''Cill Dara'' meaning the Church of the Oak or Oak Church.

Iowa designated the oak as its official state tree in 1961; and the White Oak is the state tree of Connecticut, Illinois and Maryland. The Northern Red Oak is the provincial tree of Prince Edward Island, as well as the state tree of New Jersey. The Live Oak is the state tree of Georgia, USA.

Military use

Oak leaves are traditionally an important part of German Army regalia. They also symbolize rank in the United States Armed Forces. A gold oak leaf indicates an O-4 (Major or Lt. Commander), whereas a silver oak leaf indicates an O-5 (Lt. Colonel or Commander). Arrangements of oak leaves, acorns and sprigs indicate different branches of the United States Navy Staff corps officers. Oak leaves are embroidered onto the covers (hats) worn by field grade officers and flag officers in the United States armed services.

If a service member earns multiple awards of the same medal, then instead of wearing a ribbon or medal for each award, he or she wears one metal representation of an "oak leaf cluster" attached to the appropriate ribbon for each subsequent award.

Political use

The oak tree is used as a symbol by a number of political parties. It is the symbol of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom, and formerly of the Progressive Democrats in Ireland. In the cultural arena, the oakleaf is the symbol of the National Trust (UK) and The Royal Oak Foundation.

Religious

In Baltic mythology, the oak is the sacred tree of Latvian Pērkons, Lithuanian Perkūnas and Prussian Perkūns. Pērkons is the god of thunder and one of the most important deities in the Baltic pantheon.

In Celtic mythology, it is the tree of doors, believed to be a gateway between worlds, or a place where portals could be erected.

In Norse mythology, the oak was sacred to the thunder god, Thor. Some scholars speculate that the reason for this is that the oak – the largest tree in northern Europe – was the one most often struck by lightning. Thor's Oak was a sacred tree of the Germanic Chatti tribe. According to legend, the Christianisation of the heathen tribes by Saint Boniface was marked by the oak's being replaced by the fir (whose triangular shape symbolizes the Trinity) as a "sacred" tree.

In the Bible, the oak tree at Shechem is the site where Jacob buries the foreign gods of his people (Gen. 35:4) . In addition, Joshua erects a stone under an oak tree as the first covenant of the Lord (Josh. 24.25-7). In Isaiah 61, the prophet refers to the Israelites as "Oaks of Righteousness".

In Slavonic mythology, the oak was the most important tree of the god Perun.

Historical

Several individual oak trees, such as the Royal Oak in Britain and the Charter Oak in the United States, are of great historical or cultural importance; for a list of important oaks, see Individual oak trees.

"The Proscribed Royalist, 1651", a famous painting by John Everett Millais, depicted a Royalist fleeing from Cromwell's forces and hidden in an oak. Millais painted the picture in Hayes, Kent, from a local oak tree that became known as the Millais Oak.

Approximately 50km west of Toronto, Canada is the town of Oakville, ON, famous for its history as a shipbuilding port on Lake Ontario.

The city of Raleigh, N.C., is known as "The City of Oaks."

The Jurupa Oak tree — a clonal colony of ''Quercus palmeria'' or Palmer’s Oak found in Riverside County, California — is believed to be the world's oldest organism at 13,000 years.

Historical note on Linnaean species

Linnaeus described only five species of oak from eastern North America, based on general leaf form. These were White oak, ''Quercus alba''; Chestnut oak, ''Q. montana''; Red oak, ''Q. rubra''; Willow oak ''Q. phellos''; and Water oak, ''Q. nigra''. Because he was dealing with confusing leaf forms, the ''Q. prinus'' and ''Q. rubra'' specimens actually included mixed foliage of more than one species. For that reason, some taxonomists in the past proposed different names for these two species (''Q. montana'' and ''Q. borealis'', respectively), but the original Linnaean names have now been lectotypified by removing some of the specimens in Linnaeus' herbarium.

See also

List of plants poisonous to equines

Thousand Oaks, California

Foloi oak forest

Notes

Bibliography

Byfield, Liz (1990) ''An oak tree'', Collins book bus, London : Collins Educational, ISBN 0-00-313526-8

Philips, Roger. Trees of North America and Europe, Random House, Inc., New York ISBN 0-394-50259-0, 1979.

Logan, William B. (2005) ''Oak : the frame of civilization'', New York ; London : W.W. Norton, ISBN 0-393-04773-3

Paterson, R.T. (1993) ''Use of trees by livestock'', 5: ''Quercus'', Chatham : Natural Resources Institute, ISBN 0-85954-365-X

Royston, Angela (2000) ''Life cycle of an oak tree'', Heinemann first library, Oxford : Heinemann Library, ISBN 0-431-08391-6

Savage, Stephen (1994) ''Oak tree'', Observing nature series, Hove : Wayland, ISBN 0-7502-1196-2

Tansley, Arthur G., Sir (1952) ''Oaks and oak woods'', Field study books, London : Methuen.

Żukow-Karczewski, Marek. ''Dąb - król polskich drzew'' (Oak - the king of the Polish trees), "AURA" (A Monthly for the protection and shaping of human environment), 9/88.

External links

''Flora of China'' – ''Cyclobalanopsis''

Flora Europaea: ''Quercus''

Oaks from Bialowieza Forest

Common Oaks of Florida

Oaks of the world

The Global Trees Campaign The Red List of Oaks and Global Survey of Threatened Quercus

Janka Hardness Scale for Oak - The Janka Hardness Scale for all Exotic and Domestic species

Category:Articles with inconsistent citation formats

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name	Tony Orlando
background	solo_singer
birth name	Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis
birth date	April 03, 1944
occupation	Singer
associated acts	The Five Gents, Wind, Tony Orlando and Dawn
notable instruments	}}

Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis (born April 3, 1944) better known as Tony Orlando is an American show business professional, best known as the lead singer of the group Tony Orlando and Dawn in the early 1970s. Discovered by producer Don Kirshner, Orlando had songs on the charts in 1961 when he was 16, "Halfway to Paradise" and "Bless You". Orlando then became a producer himself, and at an early age was promoted to a vice-president position at CBS Records, where he was in charge of the April-Blackwood Music division. He sang under the name "Dawn" in the 1970s, and when the songs became hits, he went on tour and the group became "Tony Orlando and Dawn". They had several songs which were major hits including "Candida", "Knock Three Times", and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree". The group hosted a variety program, "The Tony Orlando and Dawn Show" on CBS from 1974 to 1976, and then broke up in 1978. Orlando then continued as a solo singer, performing in Las Vegas and Branson, Missouri. Orlando has hosted the New York City portions of the MDA Labor Day Telethon on WWOR-TV since the 1980s.

Biography

Early years

Born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis to a Greek father and a Puerto Rican mother, he spent his earliest years in Manhattan, New York's then-notorious Hell's Kitchen. In his teenage years, the family moved to Union City and later, Hasbrouck Heights in New Jersey.

Tony Orlando's musical career started with The Five Gents, a doo-wop group he formed. His first success came at the age of 16, when he recorded the hits "Bless You and "Halfway To Paradise" in 1961. He also appeared at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater with DJ Murray the K. In 1969 he recorded with the studio group Wind and had a #28 hit that year with "Make Believe" which was released on producer Bo Gentry's Life Records.

Orlando became general manager at Columbia Records, and his career was focused on the corporate end of the music business, representing music publishers. In the late 1960s, he ran April-Blackwood Music, the publishing arm of CBS music.

Tony Orlando and Dawn

Orlando was tempted back to a recording career when he was asked to record a demo record of "Candida", with backup singers including Toni Wine (who wrote the song) and Linda November. Concerned about a possible conflict of interest with his April-Blackwood duties, Orlando sang under the condition that his name not be associated with the project, so it was released under the simple name of "Dawn", the middle name of the daughter of Bell records executive Steve Wax.

The song became a hit, and Dawn, with Wine and November again singing backup, recorded another song, "Knock Three Times", which itself became a #1 hit. Orlando then wanted to go on tour, and asked two other session singers, Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson to join for the tour. Orlando then discovered that there were six touring groups using that name, so Dawn became "Dawn featuring Tony Orlando", which changed to Tony Orlando and Dawn in 1974.

The new group recorded more hits, including "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" (1973), and "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)" (1975). With a successful recording career, Orlando then set his sights on television. As described in ''The San Francisco Chronicle'', "Tony Orlando and Dawn burst out of television sets during the Ford administration, a sunny antidote to the dark cynicism that followed Watergate. He represented simple, traditional values, a conservative return to pure entertainment. He drew a happy face in the "O" of his autograph. It was not terribly cool, but America loved him." ''The Tony Orlando and Dawn Show'' on CBS became a hit, a summer replacement for the ''Sonny & Cher'' show, and ran for four seasons from 1974 to 1976. It welcomed the biggest names in show business each week as Orlando's guests, including his boyhood idols, Jackie Gleason and Jerry Lewis.

At the 1976 Republican National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, Orlando danced to the tune of "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" with then First Lady Betty Ford to divert media attention as Nancy Davis Reagan entered the Kemper Arena convention hall. Ronald W. Reagan unsuccessfully challenged Gerald R. Ford, Jr., for the presidential nomination that year but came back in 1980 to claim the presidency itself. Ray Barnhart, a Reagan co-manager from Texas, criticized Mrs. Ford for having "danced a jig" with Orlando. Barbara Staff, another Texas co-chairman, called Betty Ford's behavior "a low, cheap shot". It was later confirmed that the Ford campaign slipped the song to the band when Nancy Reagan entered the hall.

Solo work

Along with the fame, Orlando had personal battles in the 1970s. He was briefly addicted to cocaine, and battled both obesity and depression. In 1977, due to the death of his sister, and the suicide of Orlando's close friend comedian Freddie Prinze, Orlando had a breakdown, and retired from singing. He was briefly institutionalized, but returned triumphantly to television with an NBC comeback special. From then, he continued as a solo artist. In the 1980s, he was a dominant force in Las Vegas, headlining various hotels with sold-out audiences.

In 1993 he opened the Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Music Theatre in Branson, Missouri. Branson played home to the live shows of such stars as Andy Williams, Bobby Vinton, Wayne Newton, Mel Tillis, Glen Campbell, Roy Clark and Ray Stevens. In 1997 Orlando began sharing a theatre with singer Wayne Newton. The partnership ended badly in 1999 when Newton was caught taping Orlando's conversations in the theatre. Orlando sued Newton, and Newton sued Orlando, and the lawsuits were eventually dropped. But the lifelong friends severed their relationship and the two haven't spoken since.

When the deal with Newton ended and the Branson theatre closed its doors, Orlando began successfully touring the country in sold-out concerts, which he does to this day.

Personal

As a teenager, Orlando dated a woman who was the namesake for Dion's song "Runaround Sue", who later married Dion. Orlando was then introduced by Jerry Lee Lewis to his own future wife, Elaine, who had previously dated Buddy Holly. They had one child, Jon, and were divorced in 1983. In 1989, Orlando became engaged again, to Frannie Amormino. In 2002, he wrote a memoir, ''Halfway to Paradise''.

Orlando lives in Branson with his wife Frannie and daughter Jenny Rose. Orlando's son Jon Orlando, from his first marriage, was a comedian in 2002, and then became a public relations executive in Los Angeles, California.

Discography

Albums

''Bless You'' (1961)

''Make Believe'' (1969) (with 'Wind')

''To Be With You'' (1976)

''Livin' for the Music'' (1977)

''Tony Orlando'' (1978)

''I Got Rhythm'' (1979)

Solo hit singles

"Halfway To Paradise" (1961) US #39

"Bless You" (1961) US #15, UK #5

"Happy Times (Are Here To Stay)" (1961) US #82

"Chills" (1962) #109

"Shirley" (1963) #133

"I'll Be There" (1963) #124

"I Was A Boy" (1969) #109

"Make Believe" (1969) US #28 (with 'Wind')

"Don't Let Go" (1978) AC #48

"Sweets For My Sweet" (1979) US #54; AC #20

In popular culture

In the Sports Night episode, "The Head Coach, Dinner and the Morning Mail", character Dan Rydell, uses Tony Orlando as an adlibbed item to cover for a blank teleprompter.

During the "Marge on the Lam" episode of the animated series ''The Simpsons'', recurring character Troy McClure, while emceeing a public television marathon, opens with a version of his familiar catchphrase by stating: "Hi, I'm Troy McClure. You might remember me from such telethons as ''Out with Gout '88'' and ''Let's Save Tony Orlando's House.''", the latter inspiring the title of a song by the Hoboken, New Jersey indie rock band Yo La Tengo, which was released on the band's 2000 album ''And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out''.

During the 1984-85 season of the Cosby Show (its first season), he played the part of a man who runs a community center.

Orlando appeared in an episode of ''MADtv'' doing a skit involving a court case, where the defense sings to persuade the jury about their side. He sang for the prosecution, thereby persuading the judge to give the defense jail for life. In another television program, Orlando was featured in "Larry the Cable Guy's Star Studded Christmas Extravaganza".

He also had a cameo appearance as himself in the 2002 film, ''Waking Up In Reno'', in which he sang a version of "Knock Three Times".

As a spokesperson, Orlando has appeared in NutriSystem commercials with Dan Marino to show how much weight they lost.

Tony is currently filming "I Hate You, Dad", a Happy Madison production.

See also

List of famous Puerto Ricans

References

External links

Radio Transcript of Tony Orlando, December 2002

Interviews & Articles

Friends-of-Toad

Bio of Tony Orlando

Classicbands.com

Official site

Category:1944 births Category:Living people Category:American male singers Category:American people of Greek descent Category:American television actors Category:American television personalities Category:Bell Records artists Category:American people of Puerto Rican descent Category:Hispanic and Latino American people Category:Tony Orlando and Dawn members

de:Tony Orlando simple:Tony Orlando sv:Tony Orlando