Tony Orlando Shares Exclusive Stories on Candida, Cher, Elvis, Tommy Lasorda & More (Wise Kracks Ep. 67)

This week on Wise Kracks you’re in for something special, an in-depth and uncensored conversation with Tony Orlando.

Singer, songwriter, producer, music executive, and actor, Jon’s father Tony has been in the entertainment business for six decades. Today he showed us he’s got the stories to prove it.

Don Kirshner, Bobby Darin, Sonny & Cher, Elvis Presley, Ethel Kennedy, Jackie Gleason, Adam Sandler, and Lionel Richie are just a few of the legendary characters that make an appearance.

Never before have Jon and his father sat down on camera for an interview like this.

Bill Krackomberger, a lifelong film and music aficionado, finds himself in the front row for a fascinating firsthand account of Tony’s career and the many unbelievable turns of fate that marked the journey.

Wise Kracks takes a break from its regular scheduled sports programming to offer up an interview you can’t see anywhere else.

The Tony Orlando

Over his career, Tony Orlando has racked up five gold singles, three gold albums, two platinum albums, and a long line of hits including Knock Three Times, Candida, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose, He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You) and Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree which was one of the highest-selling singles of all time and ranked as Billboard Magazine’s #1 song of 1973.

Those stats are available in lots of places but it’s the never-before-told stories that make this interview truly special.

Like how a sudden case of the common cold sidelined Cher and gave Tony one of the biggest breaks of his life.

Jon Orlando: Batting Coach to the Stars

Sports plays such a big part in Jon Orlando’s life in large part due to how central it was to his relationship with his father. The two were going to Dodgers game from the time Jon was a boy and baseball provided the backdrop for some of their most lasting memories.

They sat so close to the team that Jon would go buy Tommy Lasorda peanuts during the game.

At a Dodgers game when Jon was 14 he commented to Tony that he had a tip for Pedro Guerrero that would help him hit better. Tony called the slugger over after the game and Jon, a self-described shy kid at the time, shared his advice.

The next game Jon and Tony were back at the stadium, watching Guerrero step up to bat. He pointed at Jon and called out that he’d give his tip a try. Guerrero hit a home run and Tony ended the story by saying that Guerrero shouted Jon out as he crossed home plate.

Guerrero went on to hit 14 home runs that June, a record that would stand until Sammy Sosa broke it years later.

Watching this week’s show, it’s obvious Jon and Tony have spent a lifetime talking baseball and that it’s one of the things they’ve bonded over most.

Join Us Next Week for Special Guest Julian Edlow

Make sure to subscribe to WSN on YouTube for next week’s show featuring Julian Edlow, host of the Unreasonable Odds Podcast and content specialist at DraftKings.

Wise Kracks will also be debuting a new segment that sees Jon make weekly bets live on the show with Krack providing expert commentary and critique. Follow along to get betting advice, sports analysis, and insider sports gambling info.