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Tony Orlando & Steve Dacri, friends for 32 years
(LAS
VEGAS) - The holiday season is in full swing here in Vegas,
stocking are hung, and so are the Chippendale dancers. Christmas
music waifs through the casinos, the dealers and pit bosses
are dressed in little elf outfits, and even the stripper poles
in all the clubs have been dressed to look like candy canes.
The
Bellagio goes all out with decorations, this year with hundreds
of animatronic penguins assembled within the plants and flowers
of their ever-changing display, and let's face it folks, nothing
says "Christmas" quite like robotic penguins.
Just
performed for the final private holiday party of the year,
and believe me, after watching so many people drinking and
carrying on like idiots under the guise of holiday celebrations,
it's a good thing these holidays only come along once a year.
One
of the best parties we attended was at SIN (soon to become
Penthouse Club), for the Sin City Chamber of Commerce holiday
bash for their members and friends. Founders Wayne Bridge
and Loretta have done an outstanding job with the chamber,
and for this party, they had a toy drive that collected hundreds
of toys for needy kids and families in the area that otherwise
would never have a Christmas.
You
can see pictures from the event on the Sin City Chamber of
Commerce web site here. Local businesses should take a look
at all the benefits of membership and join right away, as
they have a full calendar of truly fun events throughout the
year.
Vegas
Inside Tips is now a proud member of SCCC and a sponsor on
their web site as well. We plan to expand our NIGHTLIFE section
as well to highlight the many businesses and the people who
work for them here in Sin City. You can see our progress here.
WILL
THE REAL TONY ORLANDO PLEASE STAND AND WAVE?
Just
spoke with Tony Orlando, our cover subject, on the phone,
catching up on each other. He was in Reno getting ready to
do a show. We talked about how we first met. With so many
phonies in this business, it is rare for a lasting friendship
such as this one.
It
was 1976. Ouch. A very long time ago.
I
was booked for the opening act and emcee for a huge convention,
the Jukebox Awards they were called, and Tony Orlando was
the star of the show. I had never met Tony before, but I was
a huge fan since watching the TV show, even went to see him
perform near my hometown, just outside of Boston. He was magical,
even though it was the night he had his breakdown in front
of the audience.
Fast
forward a few years, and I am on my way to the First Class
lounge for Delta at the Los Angeles airport. I am really excited,
I know I am about to meet Tony.
When
I entered the lounge, there was no sign of him, just a lot
of musicians whom I assumed were a part of his band. Suddenly
the door swung open and in walked Tony with a few others,
and he immediately came over to me and we shook hands, and
he said, "you come and sit with me" and off we went
to the seats in First Class.
He
wanted to know everything about my past, my family, my experiences
in show business. And he wanted to know what my goals were.
We talked a lot about how to achieve goals, and all about
life. It was a great plane ride.
About
half way across the country, Tony said, "Okay, here we
go, follow me."
We
stood up and he walked the entire length of the plane, stopping
to say hello and chat and pose for photos with everyone in
the plane. It was amazing. People were thrilled to see him
and touch him.
He
told me that Bob Hope always did that and he decided it was
a great thing, so he'd been dong it for years.
After
the show, we had dinner together, and he was filled with ideas
and thoughts about where I should go to advance my career.
He loved my act and introduced me to his agent at William
Morris, which really gave me a major boost. They started booking
me as an opening act for lots of big stars, for big money.
Tony even called Mike Douglas and told him to put me on his
popular TV show, which he did.
That
was the first time we met, and by the end of the weekend,
as we flew back to LA, we had really bonded, we both knew
that this was the beginning of a special friendship.
Tony
eventually took me to Atlantic CIty and then Las Vegas as
his opening act, and introduced me to many, many big stars,
like Jerry Lewis and Mohammed Ali. We have remained close,
and he still gives me great advice.
And
I often get mistaken for Tony Orlando, which we both find
so funny. Back in the 70's we had the same hair and mustache,
and I was often mistaken for him. Now, not so much, but it
still happens.
As
a matter of fact, I have mentioned this before, pop star Peter
Noone of Herman's Hermits has a habit of introducing me as
Tony Orlando in the audience of his shows. Sometimes I even
stand and wave. One of these days I'm going to get Joyce and
Telma and bring them along so I can be Tony Orlando and Dawn!
Funny,
I never did get a chance to tell Peter Noone that Tony Orlando
and I were indeed friends. Now he knows, as he tells me he
reads VegasInsideTips every week, right Peter?
Have
a great week...enjoy the holidays, watch for spiked eggnog
and drunken fat men in red suits looking for change, cookies
and milk and clean chimneys. They seem to be everywhere.
Lock you doors. They'll soon be gone.
 See
you next year. We have big things planned for Vegas Inside
Tips, and we will tell you all about our visit to the Sin City Chamber of Commerce (that's Jan and I with the founders Loretta and Wayne), so stick around and tell your friends.
Magically
yours,
Steve
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