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 and mid 1980s.
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TONY SANDLER TICKETS
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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 at the renowned Café Roma in Alassio on the
Italian Riviera leading him to his U.S. debut.
1964-1983, the Sandler & Young Years
In 1963 Tony Sandler first came to the attention of American audiences in Frederic Apcar's 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 became a U.S. Citizen in 1971.
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.
21st century
Tony Sandler has recorded an original project "Anthology of Flemish Folk and Art Songs" destined for the Library of Congress. This CD was also presented to H.M. Albert II, King of Belgium during the royal visit in New York in 2007.
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.
He produced the TV special "Chevalier, Maurice & Me" for PBS.
In 2006 Tony Sandler produced the Big Band production 'The Great International Songbook', also presented to a Belgian audience in 2006, with musical director Dave Gross.
Huber Entertainment Group signs Sandler
In 2008 Bob Huber, a friend of Tony Sandler, suggested that Tony consider recording an album consisting solely of American standard love songs, particularly those which would be familiar to most people.
Huber felt that recording those type of songs with Tony's voice and charming European accent would appeal to those who were seeking soft touch music for intimate settings. Tony agreed to give it a try and soon thereafter Tony recorded the album "Simply Tony" on the Butterfly Label of
Huber Entertainment Group launched the album and subsequently agreed to a contract with Tony as agent and producer. The album was an immediate success, quickly selling throughout the US and Europe.
Tony Sandler has also worked with the
Land of Lakes Choirboys seasoned group called the Viking Choir which is directed by Francis Stockwell. Tony just taped a television special called "Tony Sandlers Holiday Greetings" with the Viking Choir which was broadcast on PBS in December 2008 and February 2009 and is scheduled to be re-broadcast on most of the PBS affiliate stations during the next two holiday seasons.