New England Venue Hosting Retiring Tony Orlando’s Final Concert

The sun is setting on one of the more successful entertainment careers lasting over six decades. Tony Orlando is retiring and will present the final concert of his long career at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The concert will be Orlando's 65th performance at the venue over the past 23 years. Mohegan Sun added Orlando's name to its Walk of Fame in 2010.

Orlando, who will be 80 years old on April 3, will perform for the last time on March 22.

Born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis in New York City on April 3, 1944, Orlando grew up in New York and New Jersey. He began performing in 1959 with the doo-wop group The Five Gents. That led to jobs writing songs and as a solo performer.

Tony Orlando worked his way up the ladder, becoming a successful music producer and working with record labels, including Columbia Records and CBS Music.

Orlando's first international recording success came with the song "Candida," released in July 1970. Orlando recorded the song anonymously as Dawn as a favor to some producer friends.

Following the success of "Candida," Dawn became Tony Orlando and Dawn with Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson. Dawn released 19 Top 40 hits – including "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" – hosted a hit TV variety show, and toured the world.

Dawn broke up in 1977, and Orlando continued to tour as a solo act.

By the mid-1970s, Orlando began using drugs following the suicide of close friend, actor/comedian Freddie Prinze.

On July 22, 1977, while performing at the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset, Massachusetts, Tony Orlando suffered a breakdown and walked off the stage.

Following a brief retirement and treatment, Orlando returned to the stage, first with Dawn and then as a solo performer.

In a statement announcing his retirement, Orlando was reported to say, "I'm so honored that my last concert will be at my favorite venue on Earth, Mohegan Sun Arena."