“Candida” was a hit song in 1970. The group is listed as “Dawn” but no one is sure who the men on the picture sleeve are. The song was first recorded with singer Frankie Paris doing the lead. No one liked his recording so Tony Orlando was asked if he would sing the lead. The backgrounds were already complete so Tony only had to sing along with the prerecording. Tony at first was reluctant as he had recorded songs in the early 1960s but by the end of the 60s he was a producer for Columbia Records. He agreed only because his name wouldn’t be on the record. One of the background singers was Toni Wine who was co-writer of the song.

“Candida” got up #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 2 weeks (Sept. 27 – Oct. 10). On the Cash Top 100 chart it got all the way up to #1 but just for the week of Oct. 4 – 10, 1970.

After another hit by Dawn with “Knock Three Times” it was decided that they needed an actual group. In 1971 Tony was joined by Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson. The group then began being billed as “Dawn featuring Tony Orlando.” In 1973 the name of the group changed to “Tony Orlando and Dawn.”

In 1974 the group was offered a summer replacement show. Tony Orlando and Dawn lasted until December 1976. The group broke up in 1977 but have gotten again through the years for special occasions.