Song:Knock Three Times
Album:The Definitive Collection
Tony Orlando & Dawn was one of the most successful groups of the early 70s. Knock Three Times was one of their early hits. That's pretty good for a group that started out as a studio concoction. Tony Orlando was born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis Apr. 3, 1944 in New York City. By 1969, he had been around the music business for a while without much success. He had a couple of minor hits with his group Wind. So he quit singing and took a job with CBS Records publishing arm April-Blackwood Music. He was asked by producer Hank Medress to record a demo for Candida with Sharon Greane, Linda November, Jay Siegel and Toni Wine. Toni co-wrote the song. Bell Records wanted to release the record but Orlando didn't want his name on it because he thought it might affect his job. So the group was called Dawn and Candida reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. So now Orlando wants to record another song while the iron is hot. And Knock Three Times topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. The problem was Bell wanted Dawn to tour and the singers on the record had no intention of touring. So Orlando got Motown backup singers Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent to join and they became Tony Orlando & Dawn. The group went on to have several hits including the 1973 number one hit Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree. Knock Three Times was written by Russell Brown & Irwin Levine and they wrote several other Dawn hits. And Billy "Crash" Craddock had a top five country music hit with the song in 1971. Tony Orlando & Dawn went on to a lot of success including their own variety show. They split up in 1977. You can get all their hits on this budget comp. Tony Orlando had his own theater in Branson, MO for a while but it closed and he still tours. Joyce Vincent went back to session singing. Telma Hopkins turned to acting and has starred in several sitcoms. Here's the video for Knock Three Times by Tony Orlando & Dawn.
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