Tune Tuesday

Happy 77th Birthday to actress and singer Telma Hopkins!

As an actress, Telma is known for appearing on Bosom Buddies, Gimme a Break!, Family Matters and the short lived Getting By. She first gained notoriety as a member of Tony Orlando and Dawn and starred on the CBS variety show of the same name from 1974-1976.

She started her career as a background singer in Detroit. She appeared on Freda Payne’s “Band of Gold” and on Isaac Hayes’ “Theme From Shaft” and worked with artists like The Four Tops and Marvin Gaye. She and Joyce Vincent Wilson were picked to join Tony Orlando as “Dawn.”

The group had chart success and number one songs with “Candida,” “Knock Three Times,” and “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ole Oak Tree.” This won Favorite Pop/Rock Single at the first annual American Music Awards in 1974. The song also got two Grammy nominations: Song of the Year and Best Pop Group Performance. When the trio performed the song at the ceremony in March 1974, they got the attention of Fred Silverman at CBS, who gave them a summer variety series called Tony Orlando and Dawn, which began airing in July. They stayed on the air for three seasons, during which time the group charted more hits.

Happy Birthday Telma!