Tony Sandler
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Tony Sandler, (Born Lucien Joseph Santelé, in 1933 in Lauwe, near the city of Kortrijk in Belgium) is a singer, entertainer and performer. He is also well known as the Continental half of the Capitol recording singing team Sandler and Young singing duo popular in the 1960s and 1970s.
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[edit] Early life
Tony Sandler began performing as a boy with the French Gregorian choir "Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Boix", who performed for Pope Pius XII.
In 1954 he recorded his first hit "Song of the Sea" while serving with the Belgian Air Force (Korean War). He attracted international audiences in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Britain, and became a stage and television star with dozens of hit records. He also starred in four German/Italian films as well as musical productions.
Tony Sandler then starred and headlined with singing engagements on the Italian Riviera leading him to his U.S. debut.
[edit] 1964-1983, the Sandler & Young Years
In 1963 Tony Sandler first came to the attention of American audiences in the long-running "Casino de Paris" show with French singer Line Renaud and a cast of 100 European artists, at the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas. Also in the show was an American singer, Ralph Young.
It was announced that on November 29, 1963, the cast of Casino de Paris would be arriving in Vegas from Paris with Producer/Director Frederic Apcar in charge of the troup. The production was scheduled to open on December 23rd. Between acts, and to help pass the time in their dressing room, Tony Sandler and Ralph Young experimented with a distinctive contrapuntal singing style that would soon become the basis of their own act.
The new singing entertainment act, Sandler & Young was formed and ready to rapidly achieve worldwide star status. On their very first engagement in one of the many lounges in Las Vegas, they were discovered by comic legend Phil Silvers, who urged film legend and diva Polly Bergen to use Sandler and Young in her show at the renowned Thunderbird Hotel in Las Vegas. The success was instant and in no time Sander & Young became one of the hottest acts in show business
When Sandler & Young were engaged at the Plaza's Hotel world-famous Persian Room in New York in 1966, Capitol Records President Alan Livingstone guaranteed even greater exposure and acclaim by signing them to an exclusive recording contract. This contract with Capitol Records would ultimately result in an astonishing output of "Sandler & Young" albums, with millions sold. The first hit-single "Dominique" became a platinum album and the debut LP album "Side by Side", lasted 19 weeks on Billboards LP Chart. 11 albums with Capitol followed.
Tony Sandler & Ralph Young were already a sellout in the biggest showrooms and most prestigious nightclubs across the nation when television made them stars in every living room. "Sandler & Young" made frequent appearances on the top rated variety shows of Johnny Carson, Ed Sullivan, Red Skelton, Andy Williams, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, Dean Martin, Milton Berle and 'The Hollywood Palace Show", or on celebrity game shows such as "What's My Line"
In the summer of 1969 Tony Sandler and Ralph Young hosted the very popular 'Kraft Music Hall' TV show for a full season on NBC. Appearing with them was a virtual 'Who's Who' of stars from the entertainment world. Soon there after, Tony Sandler becomes an U.S. Citizen in 1971
[edit] 1983-1999, the Producer Host
Tony Sandler produced a series of touring variety shows and broadcasts hosting new talent and popular guest stars. He also co produced and hosted PBS specials filmed in Europe. He produced Big Band shows with a million dollar collection of original scores from renowned big band masters. Produced symphony pops shows and performed as guest stars for benefit gala events in the U.S. and Europe.
[edit] 21st century
He has recorded an original project "Anthology of Flemish Folk and Art Songs" destined for the Library of Congress.
Starred in U.S. tours of multi-million dollar French music-hall production "La Tournée Champs Elysees". Produced and began touring with a two act show 'Chevalier, Maurice & Me', a captivating musical theatre based on the life and music of legendary Maurice Chevalier
Recorded CD "Maurice & Me". Produced a concert production "My Paris", in collaboration with Hollywood's award winning Peter Matz, one of the foremost musical directors/arrangers/composers in every medium of entertainment. "My Paris" premiered in 2003 with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Produced the TV special "Chevalier, Maurice & Me" for PBS Produced the Big Band production 'The Great International Songbook'.
Will be reviving his Chevalier show at Kalliope Stage in Cleveland Heights, Ohio beginning in April 2007.
