DONDINO

DONDINO "Hello World" commercial

2008-04-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

DONDINO AT THE IOWA SPEEDWAY

2008-04-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

Dondino in a Iowa Speedway photo shoot with
photographer Chris MaHarry

Dondino at Iowa Speedway in Pacer Car

Dondino at the Rusty Wallace monument

(Newton, Iowa) Iowa Speedway (Newton, Iowa)

DONDINO in Branson Missouri

2008-03-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

Mayor Lou Schaffer welcomes Dondino to Branson

Dondino and the Dondino dancers at the Grand Palace

DONDINO AND FUN FRIENDS

2008-03-28T14:26:00.001-07:00

DONDINO SETTING UP FOR SHOW AT PRAIRIE MEADOWS RACETRACK AND CASINO

2008-03-28T14:19:00.000-07:00

Bryan (Sound Engineer) and Felix (Lights) prepare sound and lights for Dondino show at Prairie Meadows VIP show.

horn section during rehearsal for Dondino show

Dondino and orchestra backstage before curtain call

AUTHOR HILARY C. GEORGE and DONDINO

2008-03-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

Steve Capp owner and producer of Capp Audio Productions in Norwalk, Iowa, author Hilary C. George, and Dondino, singer entertainer, work together to produce Hilary's first audio book recording session.

(Left to right: Steve Capp/Producer, Chad Jacobson/Engineer, Hilary C. George/Author, Dondino

(Left to right: Dondino, Hilary and Ron George)

MS. SENIOR NEVADA

2008-03-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

Dondino was the first official Musical Host for Ms. Senior Nevada Pageant, Las Vegas, Nevada. Director, Ms. Patti Ogren and Dondino crowned many Ladies from Nevada in one of the most spectacular events in Las Vegas. CEO/Jeannie Hood (right to right, back left) welcomed Queens to the Four Queens Hotel/Casino and the Dondino Show.

AS SEEN ON MARTHA

2008-03-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

Donna Gummelt for Story Store Collection Publishing, co-wrote with Nicholas Sinclair, Dondino wrote and arranged and recorded The Cookie Story theme song, Juan Varela illustrated and translated The Cookie Story.

"As Seen on Martha"
written by: Donna Gummelt
Published by: Publishers Marketing Association

Sitting at the kitchen table, I watched the tiny screen as Matt Laurer reported that a silver SUV containing Martha Stewart had slipped past photographers and into the Alderson Federal Prison Camp, where she would begin serving a five-month sentence.

Since my idea of a gourmet lunch is grilled cheese with the crust cut off and my idea of decorating is putting twinkle lights in an artificial banana tree, the news that America's lifestyle diva was entering federal prison, although interesting, seemed certain to have no impact on my life. How wrong I was.

About a year earlier, after 25 years in the Las Vegas entertainment industry, I had begun to write stories for my niece, stories that she seemed to enjoy very much. One story became two and two became ten and before I knew it, I had a co-writer, Dondino Melchiorre, and an illustrator, Juan Varela, and a small publishing company, Story Store Collection Publishing.

Juan doesn't exactly speak the king's English, but his Spanish is superb (unfortunately, my high school Spanish had disappeared into a black hole along with the date of Magna Carta), and we often found ourselves dancing a tango of jumbled languages and cultures.

From that often frustrating beginning came the idea that would transform our books from just another collection for children-we'd make them bilingual. Story Store Collection Publishing could not only give young readers a head start in acquiring reading skills; we would contribute to their acquisition of a second language as well.

During our first year, we experienced all the pain, joy, and frustration that every self-publishing entrepreneur goes through. Dondino and I wrote; Juan illustrated; and we made calls and wrote to printers, marketing experts, toy manufacturers, investors, family, and friends. But if there is one thing I learned from the experience, it's that the manner in which events unfold can be mostly a matter of serendipity.

My next-door neighbor Jim Sinclair, A Des Moines lawyer, had shown up at my door one evening with a story about cookies that his eight-year-old son, Nick, had written for class. Would you and Dondino like to heart it? he asked. We'd love to!

At first we listened out of neighborliness, but soon we were listening out of sheer pleasure. The Cookie Story told about a little boy and his dog, Lola, who adore cookies so much they begin to see them everywhere. For this cookie-loving pair, television was worst--there were the Nestle Toll House commercials, Cookie Monster, and even "the queen" of cookie making, Martha Stewart.

Until then, we had published only our own work. The idea of publishing Nick's seemed ludicrous, but the more times I read his story, the more convinced I became that it deserved a wider audience than his teacher, his father, and the next-door neighbors. It should be published, and were just the publisher for it.

Three months later I sat at my desk looking at the first prototype of the lavishly illustrated, now bilingual book entitled The Cookie Story by Nicholas Alexander Sinclair, with a little help from his friends. Our wonderful book seemed to provide an angle--eight-year-old author with cookie lust--that would attract attention. But whose? Two words seemed to jump into my head: Martha Stewart. And I knew just where I could reach her.

I pulled out a yellow legal pad and began to write. Surprisingly, the words poured out as I told Martha about Nick and his story and about what he thought of her incarceration, what he thought about her life, and how she was still the Queen of Cookies.

Later that day, I dropped a copy of The Cookie Story in the mail, along with my letter, and by evening I had all but forgotten about it. Martha Stewart probably got a thousand letters a day, more than she could read in a lifetime, and in truth, I couldn't believe I had even written to her. What had I been thinking?

Almost two weeks after that, in a state of shock, I read Martha Stewart's heartfelt response. She and her prison colleagues loved Nick's book, she said, and as soon as she returned to television, she wanted to have Nick bring his book and appear on her show. Although I was thrilled, I also knew that her room in a federal prison and our appearance on the show were probably light-years apart. Still, there was reason to hope.

I soon learned that Martha Stewart is a woman of her word. Shortly after her release and return home, I received a phone call from her personal assistant, who passed me on to one of the producers of "Martha."

And as they say, the rest is history. Nick, his father, his step mom, Dondino , and I flew to New York to watch Nick make his debut on national television. What an incredible interview! Everyone at Martha's show loved him. With sales up and Nick planning his second book (The Flying Cookie), our company's future is beginning to look brighter.

We at Story Store Collection Publishing live by words written by Mahatma Gandhi: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

www.storystorecollectionpublishing.com

DONDINO & THE CARDIAC CROONERS

2008-03-19T18:30:00.001-07:00

(left to right: top row Dr. Jay Patel, Dondino second rowDr. Steve Savaran,Dr. Steve Portz,Dr. Thomas Ahern)

by Marjorie Drew-Las Vegan magazine

"SO LAUGH, but a lovely black tie dinner was held at the Four Queens Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, and the Mistress of Ceremony was the always elegant and exquisite, Patti Ogren, whom you may identify as the Executive Director of Ms. Senior America, Inc. Patti has made dreams come true and pleased the hearts of many women in Nevada, but now in association with Donna Gummelt and Dondino, has created a new sensational group called Dondino and the Cardiac Crooners. This group was formed to please everyone's heart, literally.

The affair was to celebrate the sneak preview of the launching of a new musical video and CD "Listen to My Heart", words by Dondino, Donna Gummelt, and music by Lou Ragland.

All Las Vegas knows Dondino, long time entertainer, and the Cardiac Crooners are real Las Vegas cardiologists. Months ago, Dr. Steve Sarvan, Dr. Steve Portz, Dr. Jay Patel and Dr. Thomas Ahern; Dondino, Motown's Master of Moves, Cholly Atkins, and pianist/conductor Debbie Richards, teamed up with Skip-A-Beat Records for their first release.

With each sale of the CD goes the hopeful desire that "Dondino and the Cardiac Crooners" will be invited to be on the Late Show with David Letterman and that this unique entertainment team will join the fight with the American Heart Association against heart disease and stroke. Through the creation of this experience, the Medical Miracle vocals of these notorious cardiologists were under the direction of Dondino, Dondino and these guys are amazing and talented to think that they created a whole new sound: four are Cardiologists and from Las Vegas and donating their time and efforts to help fight heart disease and stroke. Now who wouldn't want to take a few bucks and buy a tax-deductible piece of entertainment from LAS VEGAS CARDIOLOGISTS? Buy a LISTEN TO MY HEART CD and make that thump-thump of your own heart help thump out heart disease and stroke!

DONDINO LAS VEGAS TELEVISION SHOW

2008-03-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

Dondino's Las Vegas weekly television show

(Las Vegas McCarran's International Airport Show)

DONDINO AND CELEBRITY FRIENDS

2008-03-17T20:23:00.000-07:00

David Anthony Higgins and Dondino

Has recurring role on Fox's "Malcolm in the Middle." Starred as Joe Farrell, Master Coffee Brewer on the ABC hit series Ellen. Best known as part of the sketch comedy trio, The Higgins Boys and Gruber. IN addition to TV, he is a frequent guest star at comedy clugs all over the United States.

Dondino, Senator Richard Bryan/Nevada, Chubby Checker

Las Vegas
Dondino, Senator Richard Bryan/Nevada, Sammy Davis, Jr.

Donna Gummelt, Composer/Pianist Nathaniel Best, Gerald LaVert (deceased) from the vocal group LeVert and the son of Eddie Levert "O'Jays" and Dondino at Dondino's Las Vegas Recording Studio

Emma Samms, Dondino

Starred in General Hospital, Dynasty, The Colby's and many, many movies

Jason Cook and Dondino

Starred as Shawn-Douglas Brady or Shawn D. on "Days of our Lives". Currently working on a

movie in Australia.

Brandon Routh from Norwalk, Iowa. Roles in Odd Man Out, Gilmore Girls, and Undressed before landing Clark Kent/Superman role in Superman Returns. He has recently signed to repeat the role in the next Superman movie

A WCW champion, Hacksaw is known for his running clothesline tackle and his trademark 2x4. Now working for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

Dondino, Grahame Mapp and wife Sue. Grahame is Chairman and Proprietor of Omnilab Media Group, Australia's largest vertically-inegrated media services organization. Their services have expanded into content development, production and distribution of television programing, children's animated series and feature films including The Bank Job

Dondino, Lisa Carponeli and Chris Flanagan, TV 5 ABC anchors, Des Moines, Iowa

Dondino (right)/entertainer and Ed Podolak/ Sportscaster, former Hawkeye football star and All-Pro running back for the Kansas City Chiefs.

(Left to right: Dondino, Bobby Vinton, Gus Rameriz, Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino, back stage after Bobby's performance.

DONDINO'S MEMOIR BOOK COMING SOON! written by Donna Gummelt

2008-03-17T17:36:00.000-07:00

COMING SOON TO YOUR LOCAL BOOK STORES......
JESUS IS COMING TO BRANSON AND SO IS WAYNE!

written by: Donna Gummelt

edited and designed by: Reta Stewart Allen

Only those in the "show-biz" field would have any idea of the excitement,over-exaggerated adoration and sometimes sheer craziness that fans often bestow on entertainers. A couple of examples of the wildness that Dondino and his partner Donna Gummelt experienced are a "love-bit" stalker and a haunted house.

After performing in Las Vegas for 12 years,Dondino and Donna moved his show to what they thought would be the "safer" and more "normal" atmosphere Branson, Missouri. They were in for a surprise. Show business is show business, wherever it happens to be.

Two billboards that welcomed them to town could have been a tip-off. On one side of the road a billboard said "Jesus is Coming to Branson." The billboard across from it read "Wayne (newton) is Coming to Branson!" (Thus the title of the book).

Although they made many good friends in Branson, Dondino and Donna eventually decided it was time to return to Las Vegas, and later on to Iowa.

Dondino has been featured on the MDA Telethon, and even wrote a Variety Club Telethon theme song that has been re-recorded and incorporated into a children's bilingual picture book entitled "My Sunshine Friend," with the proceeds to benefit Variety, Children's Charity of Iowa.

BOOK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Van Harden from the Van and Bonnie Show, WHO Radio, Clear Channel, Des Moines, Iowa wrote: "After hearing an Iowa legend like Dondino for so many years, what a treat it is to hear ABOUT him. Many great things make Iowa what it is. Dondino is certainly one of them!"

Maxine Porter, President of Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters "I sincerely congratulate you for this literary effort. It is important to chronicle musical journeys for posterity, as we have done in 'Drifters 1: Bill Pinkney'.

Bill and I always treasured our friendship with Donna and Dondino, as well as our long standing business relationship, and I wish great success for you.

Dic Youngs KRNT 1350 AM, Des Moines, Iowa, "It has been my honor to know Dondino both as a friend and entertainer. As a friend he is very caring and has given to our community a great deal of his time. As an entertainer he also gives his all. He lights up the stage and has the ability to make every song his own. On a scale of 10, he's a solid 11. I'm very proud to be able to call him my friend."

Barbara Whitten Todd "Donna Wall Gummelt is a very special friend that goes back many, may years. We went to school together in Lubbock, Texas, and were friends during a very important time of our lives, adolescence. We graduated high school together and lived just a few doors apart our freshman year at Texas Tech University. She was a bridesmaid in my wedding in college. It is funny how life will have you go in different directions. Then one day the Lord put in my heart the need to find her, and I began searching for her. After many years wanting to find her, I came upon a website for children's bilingual books and discovered she was co-writing books with her entertainment partner Dondino. I feel lucky to call her my friend and I am so glad she is back in my life."

Ruth Schroeder (Tony Orlando's mom) "When I first met Dondino, many years ago in Las Vegas, I was immediately drawn to him. He was singing "Tie a Yellow Ribbon, of course my favorite song, and he instantly reminded me of my son Mickey (to his fans..Tony Orlando). Next to Tony, Dondino is the best singer I've ever heard. We became friends for life! Dondino became my second son. I will never forget him, and will love him always. He is an incredible singer and performer, but he is also a wonderful person."

DONDINO SINGS AT EL BETH JACOBS SYNAGOGUE

2008-03-17T16:52:00.000-07:00

Dan Hartzer, musical director for the Ralph Zarnow orchestra, invited Dondino to sing at a special anniversary event for the members of the El Beth Jacobs Synagogue, Des Moines, Iowa. Michael Libbie and his wife Georgie were instrumental in bringing over 40 Synagogue members to Dondino's Christmas Show. This had to be a first for members of a Jewish Synagogue to attend a Christmas Show.

The guest were wonderful and Dondino honored them with his Fiddler Medley.

DONDINO AT WHO RADIO

2008-03-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

WHO RADIO-CLEAR CHANNEL
Des Moines, Iowa

Dondino joined Steve Plym as a guest on Steve's radio show at WHO Clear Channel Radio, in Des Moines, Iowa. Steve filled in for Jan Mickelson with his "Retro" show. Special guest on the program where Dondino, Las Vegas entertainer, and Dick Dale from the Lawrence Welk Show.

WHO-AM's Van & Bonnie Show (Van Harden and Bonnie Lucas) with Dondino at the WHO Radio Station in Des Moines.

Van & Bonnie were named medium market personality of the year at the 2007 National Association of Broadcasters'Marconi Radio Awards.

The prestigious awards recognized radio's outstanding personalities and stations in 21 categories.

(Left to right: Dondino, Dick Dale of the Lawrence Welk Show, Don Tietz, at Don Tietz's house in Algona, Iowa)

DONDINO AND DIC YOUNGS

2008-03-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

Dondino and Dic Youngs at Prairie Meadows

*Dic spins the hits at Prairie Meadows every Thursday from 5pm to 9pm in the Finish Line Show Lounge at the Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino, Altoona, Iowa.

Dave Clark Five

The Association As seen on the Des Moines Broadcasting.com site, Dic Youngs has certainly played an important role in the history of Des Moines Broadcasting.

Known as "The Ole'Youngster", Dic was inducted into the Iowa Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

DIC YOUNGS' 40TH ANNIVERSARY

Oldies 93.3 KIOA

February 6, 2006

**Dondino wrote in on behalf of himself and Bill Pinkney, the Original Drifters, to congratulate Dic on his 40 years in Radio!

Born in Grand Island, Nebraska, but moved to Des Moines at the age of 12. Dic joined KSO Radio when he was only 16 years old, after winning a KSO amateur DJ contest. Dic was an instant star at 1460 KSO and he and Hal Moore rocked the teens of Des Moines from the "KSO Fish bowl" Studio in a window at 19th and Ingersoll.

Dic left KSO and worked briefly in Florida. After returning to Des Moines he joined 940 KIOA in 1966 and retired from KIOA on September 30, 2007. He closed his last show by quoting his on air words for over 40 years...... "Thanks for turning me on".

What a sad day for radio listeners!

DONDINO GIVES MEATBALL COOKING LESSONS

2008-03-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

Dondino gave meatball cooking lessons for his secret Italian recipe to Donna's sister, Georgia, while in Houston, Texas for a meeting with his Children Bilingual Book Publishing company.

Georgia had to take the Italian oath not to tell anyone the secret ingredients in Dondino's meatballs!

DONDINO TOURS IOWA

2008-03-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

I O W A

Looking for a vacation that you and your family will remember for the rest of your lives? Don't want to spend half your time trying to calculate Euros or pesos into dollars and the other half asking for directions and wishing you'd stayed awake more often in your high school Spanish class? Want something as American as..well..corn on the cob?

Then look to the heartland of America...look to Iowa.But, first things first. Let's dispense with the obvious. In the summer there's a lot of corn- over 14 million acres of the golden-tasseled stuff, which translates into nearly 2.5 billion bushels. End of the Iowa story, right?

Wrong. That's the Iowa that most Americans think they know. Only there's so much more. There are crystal clear rivers, limestone cliffs, wooded hills, prairies, rocky ravines, pristine lakes, historic trails, and wildlife refuges. There are picture postcard towns, diverse cultures, and an endless array of events and attractions.

So where do we begin? Bring your camera and let's get started. Perhaps you still remember a thin little book about covered bridges, star-crossed lovers, and Madison County. The book some people (not you, of course) read three times, crying even harder with each successive reading, then later dragged their husbands along when the movie came out and those husbands (not yours, of course) claimed they had something in their eyes that was making them water. Those bridges-only you won't just find them in Madison County-they almost traverse the entire alphabet of Iowa counties, starting in Bremer and ending in Webster.

Along the way on your leisurely journey, stop in Audubon to see Albert, the world's largest bull (weighing in at 45 tons), in Brandon for the largest frying pan, in Centerville for the world's largest town square, and in Burlington for the world's crookedest street. At the opposite end of the spectrum lies the world's tiniest church in festina. Of course, if your family is too large, you'll have to enter in shifts since the church only has room for eight.

Want a touch of history? Celebrity? Mystery? Then make time to reminisce about "the day the music died" in Clear Lake, the site of the crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper.

Or play catch on the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, see where Captain James T. Kirk will be born on March 22, 2223 in Riverside, explore the Herbert Hoover Presidential museum, and the home in Winterset where Marion Michael Morrison was born.

Don't remember Marion Morrison? The folks in Winterset sure do. Maybe you know him by another name...John Wayne.

After the old-fashioned county fairs, world-class museums, exhilarating amusement parks, and award-winning wineries, there's one last stop to make-the nationally acclaimed Prairie Meadows Racetrack, Casino, and Events Center.

Relax under the stars and watch one of their free summer concerts, whose past acts have included a range of performers from Pat Benatar to Neil Sedaka to Randy Travis. Or perhaps you are looking for a touch of Vegas.

From turn-of-the-century covered bridges to top-of-the-line entertainment, Iowa provides something for everyone. It is a world where the past, present, and future intertwine to create irreplaceable moments and memories in the lives of all who experience what it has to offer.

DONDINO FILMS IN WASHINGTON DC "LET FREEDOM RING"

2008-03-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

Dondino arriving to America from Italy (center)

Dondino and 150 Nevada Cathedral choir members traveled to Washington DC to sing the original song by Dondino "Let Freedom Ring"

Senator Harry Reid invited Dondino and the Cathedral Choir to sing for the African American Summit and for all the US Senators.

Nevada Congresswoman Shelley Berkley invited Dondino and the Choir to sing for the Congressional Black Caucus. She also hosted a reception luncheon at her home in Washington DC for Dondino and the Cathedral Choir.

Nevada Senator John Ensign assisted Dondino and the Choir with tours to the White House and Capitol.

"Let Freedom Ring" has been nominated in the Library of Congress, of which only 50 songs are selected each year.

Former Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn sent Dondino and the Cathedral Choir a congratulations letter telling them how great the song is and that he expects Let Freedom Ring song to become a big hit.

While in Washington DC a video was taped of Dondino and the Cathedral Choir singing Let Freedom Ring at many of the National Monuments, giving the video a wonderful patriotic emotion.

The video can be seen on Dondino's website http://www.dondinoshow.com/ and on http://www.youtube.com/ (enter the words Dondino)

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley bowing in loving jester to Dondino and the Choir after their performance for the members of the Black Caucus.

Senator John Ensign was instrumental in helping the choir perform for the Senate, as well as special tours of the White House and the Capitol.

(Left to right: Nevada Senator John Ensign, Dondino, Nevada Senator Harry Reid)

Senator Harry Reid was instrumental in scheduling the choir to sing at the Congressional Black Caucus, and attend the opening session of Congress

Dondino and choir members pray before shooting segments of "Let Freedom Ring" at Boulder Church, Boulder, Nevada

DONDINO EXHIBITS CHILDREN BOOKS

2008-03-16T16:04:00.000-07:00

Stan Reynolds, co-founder Variety Telethon Iowa, and past President of Variety International, congratulates Dondino, Donna and Juan, for their book "My Sunshine Friend", a tribute to Variety. Proceeds from the sale of the book will go to benefit Variety, the Children's Charity of Iowa.
Dondino and his partner Donna Gummelt exhibited their bilingual children books at the All Iowa Story in Des Moines, Iowa (http://www.storystorecollectionpublishing.com/)

Hannawalt Elementary School, Des Moines, Iowa(left to right, Manuel, Helen Oliver/Hannawalt Elementary School Principal , Juan Varela and Dondino at Iowa Author's Week)

Story Store Collection Publishing Children'sTelevision Reading Program, hosted by Dondino,story reading segment with Mary Campos, illustration segments with Juan Varela, and the Hola Howdy singers

COMING SOON: JULIE JIGGLE WIGGLE

Dondino and children in Las Vegas recording studio

2008-03-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

Dondino and his musical conductor Debbie Richards, recorded 10 new children songs for Story Store Collection Publishing children bilingual books in a Las Vegas recording studio. Local kids from the Las Vegas area recorded their vocals for all 10 songs.

Dondino with the Heartland Youth Choir and musical director Barbara Sletto, rehearsing for the Chante Youth Choir to sing and record with Dondino for the Christmas book "Is Santa Claus Color Blind?"

Dondino and Heartland Youth Choir prepare to record "Is Santa Claus Color Blind" with Dondino in Des Moines, Iowa

DONDINO at HY-VEE GROCERY STORE with his bilingual book "My Sunshine Friend"

2008-03-16T15:26:00.000-07:00

Hannawalt Elementary School (Left to right: student, Mary Campos and Dondino at during Iowa Author Week celebration)

Dondino entertaining the children with a demonstration of how the music is created for each of the bilingual books for Story Store Collection Publishing

Dondino shows off his bilingual book "My Sunshine Friend" being sold at the Hy-Vee Grocery Store Chains throughout the Midwest. Proceeds from the sale of the book will go to benefit Variety, the Children's Charity. Dondino publishes children's books with his two partners, Donna Gummelt/writer and Juan Varela/illustrator/translator in the name of Story Store Collection Publishing, www.storystorecollectionpublishing.com

DONDINO and BRANDON ROTH (SUPERMAN)

2008-03-16T15:24:00.000-07:00

Dondino and Brandon Roth from Norwalk, Iowa prepare for the 2007 Variety Telethon

DONDINO and TONY HATCH

2008-03-16T14:55:00.000-07:00

Dondino and famous song writer/composer Tony Hatch from England prepare to sing for the 2008 Variety, The Children's Charity Telethon in Des Moines, Iowa. Tony is an English composer, songwriter, pianist, music arranger and producer. In 1963, Philadelphia teen idol Bobby Rydell hit the charts with "Forget Him" written and produced by Tony Hatch, who went on to produce, arrange and write for other American stars such as Keely Smith, Connie Francis and Pat Boone.

After "Valentino", the first Tony Hatch composition to be recorded by Petula Clark, he became her regular producer. They collaborated on a series of French language recordings for Vogue Records. Hatch became one of her regular songwriting partners. DOWNTOWN was re-recorded August 2007 by former Spice Girl Emma Bunton. Tony Hatch and Petula Clark became established as the British equivalent of Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick.

In 2003, a disco remix of the original recording of DOWNTOWN was released in Australia by THE OUTpsiDER, with the blessing of both Hatch and Clark, and became a major hit.

CHRISTMAS WITH DONDINO

2008-03-16T13:44:00.000-07:00

The holidays Italian style! Starring the Las Vegas and international entertainer Dondino and his 15 piece orchestra.

Prairie Meadows celebrated Christmas with the Dondino Dinner Show. Elegant costuming, beautiful set design, and a 15 piece orchestra, combined with Dondino's vocal power and Italian charisma, took each guest on an emotional journey. Dondino's unique rapport, special touch and regard for his fans is felt from the opening song to the finale.

*The event was an incredible show filled with Christmas spirit and many of Dondino friends and fans from the Variety Children's Charity and the El Beth Jacobs Synagogue, Michael and Georgie Libbie of Insight Advertising and Marketing Communications, and the staff from Adventureland Inn. Special guest stars included "Swing Cats" and "Heartland Youth Choir" under the direction of Barbara Sletto.

Dondino Performs at Hilton Hotel/Casino Reno, Nevada

2008-03-16T13:32:00.000-07:00

DONDINO SINGS AT MUSIC UNDER THE STARS

2008-03-16T12:55:00.000-07:00

Dan Hartzer, musical conductor for the Music Under The Stars summer concert program held on the lawn of the new West Capital Terrace, invited Dondino to sing with his orchestra of talented musicians.

Music Under The Stars has just completed it's 61st season of free Sunday evening Music Under The Stars program

DONDINO JUDGES AT PRAIRIE MEADOWS RACE TRACK AND CASINO "BIG KAHUANA" TALENT SEARCH

2008-03-16T12:07:00.000-07:00

Judges for the "BIG KAHUNA" karaoke competition for the March 10th round at the Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino in Altoona, Iowa were; Dondino/Singer-Entertainer, Ann Atkin/VP Operations at Praire Meadows, Jeff Nelson/Director Marketing Prairie Meadows, and MC Big Kahuana Host Steve Berry/Advertising & Creative Prairie Meadows Finals for the "Big Kahuana" karaoke competition is scheduled for April 14, 2008 in the Finish Line Show Lounge.

A $5,000 Grand Prize will be awarded to the Big Kahuna winner.

Variety, the Children's Charity-Iowa

2008-03-16T11:50:00.000-07:00

Dondino at the 2008 Variety Telethon- Live from Adventureland Park and Inn- Altoona, Iowa

Featured in the photo to the left were other guest celebrities at the 2008 telethon; left to right, Michael Danso, Canadian singer/entertainer, Ms. World, Zi Lin Zhang from China, and Dondino, singer/entertainer.

Variety supports charities across Iowa that benefit at-risk youth, disabled and underprivileged children and critically ill children. Through fundraisers and its annual telethon, the children's charity has raised more than $70 million since its Iowa inception more than 60 years ago.

The telethon brought in $3,455,854 this year, which beats the last two years' totals.

Stan Reynolds, vice president of the Variety board and producer of the telethon, said more than half the charity's budget would be raised during the telethon. The banks of phone operators, staple of the telethon world, would bring in about $1 million.

Dondino has been involved in humanitarian aid and civic responsibility most of his entertainment career. He has been featured on the MDA Telethon, and even wrote a Variety Telethon song that has recently been re-recorded and incororated into a children's bilingual picture book entitled "My Sunshine Friend", with the proceeds to benefit Variety, the Children's Charity of Iowa.

DONDINO SINGS AT PRAIRIE MEADOWS BOXING EVENT

2008-03-16T11:05:00.001-07:00

Dondino sang the National Anthem at the Prairie Meadows Event Center on November 29, 2007 for the Boxing Event featuring Ronald Hearns and James Buggs, Jr. Middleweight. Hearns won the decision.

Attending the event were Special Guest boxing champions Thomas "Hitman" Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard.

Dondino and Sugar Ray were together in Las Vegas for another boxing promotion several years ago, and were surprised to see each other in Iowa.

One of the highlights of the night was when Thomas "Hitman" Hearns called Sugar Ray Leonard out for another fight.

The craziest moment was when the arrival of Antwan Robertson in the ring wearing a Superman outfit for his Jr. Bantamweigth match. His ring name is Superman, and he won the bout.

(Left to right: Dolph Pulliam, friend and Dondino at the Prairie Meadows boxing event)

Dolph Pulliam, former American basketball player. He played collegiately at Drake University. He was named to Drake University's All-Century basketball team. He helped lead the Drake men's basketball team to the 1969 Final Four and a third place finish. He is currently the Director of Community Relations and Development at Drake University. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 6th round of the 1969 NBA Draft. He was also drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Draft., friend, and Dondino at the Boxing Event at Prairie Meadows

Dondino on his Las Vegas weekly television show taping with boxer Roger Mayweather, and ESPN Sports Announcer Al Bernstein