Dion DiMucci
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Dion Francis DiMucci (b July 18, 1939), better known as Dion, is an American singer-songwriter born to an Italian-American family in the Bronx borough of New York City. He is now widely recognized as one of the top singers of his era, blending the best elements of doo-wop, pop, and R&B styles.
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[edit] Early years
As a child, Dion used to accompany his father, a vaudeville entertainer, on tour, and developed a love of country music – particularly Hank Williams – and the blues and doo-wop stars he heard in local bars and on the radio. His singing abilities were honed on the street corners of Cartona Avenue, where he rounded up other local singers inventing acapella licks, and in local clubs.
In early 1957 he auditioned for Bob and Gene Schwartz, who had just formed Mohawk Records. They recorded him with a vocal group, The Timberlanes, and released a single "The Chosen Few", arranged by Hugo Montenegro, which became a minor regional hit.
[edit] With the Belmonts, 1957-1960
See main article Dion and the Belmonts
Schwartz also signed up Dion's friends, The Belmonts, named after the northern Bronx neighborhood Belmont. Their breakthrough together came in early 1958, when "I Wonder Why" made # 22 on the national US charts, followed up with "No One Knows" and "Don’t Pity Me" which were also chart hits.
This success won Dion and the Belmonts a place on the "Winter Dance Party" tour with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. On 2 February 1959, after playing at Clear Lake, Iowa, Dion decided that he could not afford the $36 cost of a flight to the next venue [1]. The plane crashed, and Holly and the other stars were killed.
In March 1959, Dion and the Belmonts’ next single, "A Teenager In Love", was released, making # 5 in the US pop charts and # 28 in the UK. Their biggest hit, "Where or When", was released in November 1959, and reached #3 on the US charts. However, in early 1960, Dion checked in to hospital for heroin addiction, a problem he had had since his mid-teens. Further single releases for the group that year were less successful, there were musical and financial differences between Dion and members of the Belmonts, and in October 1960 Dion decided to quit for a solo career.
[edit] Solo stardom, 1960-1964
By the end of 1960, Dion had recorded and released his first solo album, Alone With Dion, and the single "Lonely Teenager", which rose to # 12 in the US charts. Follow-ups "Havin’ Fun" and "Kissin’ Game" had less success, and the signs were that Dion would drift onto the cabaret circuit. However, he then recorded, with new vocal group the Del-Satins, an up-tempo number co-written with Ernie Maresca. The record, "Runaround Sue", stormed up the charts, reaching # 1 in the US charts in September 1961, and # 11 in the UK, where he also toured.
For the next single, the record company promoted the A-side, "The Majestic", but it was the B-side, Maresca’s song "The Wanderer", which received the radio plays and again rose swiftly up the charts, reaching # 2 in the US charts in December 1961 and # 10 in the UK. As a classic oldie, it made the UK top twenty again in 1976.
By the end of 1961, Dion was a major star, with a worldwide touring schedule, and he followed up with a string of hit singles – "Lovers Who Wander" (# 3), "Little Diane" (# 8), "Love Came To Me" (# 10) and "Ruby Baby" (# 2) all making the top ten in 1962. Several of these were written or co-written by Dion. He also had successful albums with Runaround Sue and Lovers Who Wander.
At the end of 1962, Dion moved from Laurie to Columbia Records, the first rock and roll artist ever signed to that label. Although the first single, Leiber and Stoller’s "Ruby Baby", was a big hit, reaching # 2, several follow-ups were less so, although "Donna the Prima Donna" and "Drip Drop" both reached # 6 in the charts in late 1963. Nevertheless, problems with his addiction and changing public tastes did cause him to enter a period of commercial decline.
[edit] Changing fortunes, 1964-1968
Following a European tour, Dion returned to the USA and was introduced to classic blues music by Columbia’s John Hammond. To the consternation of his management, he began recording more blues-oriented material, including Willie Dixon’s "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Spoonful", but these releases – some produced by Tom Wilson, with Al Kooper on keyboards - were not commercially successful.
In 1966, Dion briefly reunited with the Belmonts for the album Together Again on ABC Records. Again, this bombed, despite one classic self-penned song, "My Girl The Month Of May". Although by this stage Dion’s career appeared to be nearing an end, he retained enough credibility to be, along with Bob Dylan, the only pop artist featured on the album cover of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967.
In April 1968, Dion had a powerful religious experience. After getting clean from drug use, he approached Laurie Records for a new contract, and they agreed on condition that he record the song "Abraham, Martin and John", written by Dick Holler (also the writer of The Royal Guardsmen’s "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron") in response to the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F Kennedy during the summer of 1968. The success of this song – later recorded by many others including Marvin Gaye – which reached # 4 in the US charts, resuscitated Dion’s career.
[edit] The mature period, 1968-1986
For the next few years, Dion’s music became radically different, moving to more contemplative and mature material. He released several albums essentially as a singer-songwriter, to critical acclaim but moderate sales, moving to the Warner Brothers label in 1969.
There followed a one-off live reunion show with the Belmonts at Madison Square Garden in 1972, released on album. This was followed in 1975 by the album Born To Be With You, eccentrically produced by Phil Spector. The album was a commercial failure, but has been subsequently praised by such artists as Jason Pierce of Spiritualized and Pete Townshend of The Who.
In 1978 Dion released an album drawing on many of his teenage influences, Return of the Wanderer, another critical success and commercial failure. In December 1979 he experienced a life-changing religious experience, documented in this article [1]. Thereafter, his recordings for several years were in a contemporary Christian music vein, in which he released a number of albums on the Dayspring label reflecting his religious convictions.
[edit] Recent work
In 1987 Dion agreed to do a concert of his old hits at Radio City Music Hall in New York. This helped free him to celebrate both his past and his future, and led to a series of special appearances, including a fundraiser for homeless medical relief. There he shared the stage with fans such as Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon and Lou Reed, all of whom cited Dion as one of their prime influences.
In 1988 Dion's autobiography (co-authored by Davin Seay) titled The Wanderer: Dion's Story was published. In the following year, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the induction speech being given by Lou Reed.
In 1989 he returned to secular rock music with the album Yo Frankie, and since then has released several albums with contemporary rock artists. His Déjà Nu album in 2000 found him covering Bruce Springsteen, a major follower over the years.
In January 2006 he released Bronx in Blue, an album of blues and country standards, which was critically acclaimed and nominated for a Grammy. As a practicing Catholic, Dion pursues prison ministry and reaches out to men going through addiction recovery.
[edit] Albums (non-compilation) [2]
- 1959: Presenting Dion & The Belmonts
- 1960: Wish Upon A Star With Dion & The Belmonts
- 1961: Alone With Dion
- 1961: Runaround Sue
- 1962: Lovers Who Wander
- 1962: Love Came To Me
- 1963: Ruby Baby
- 1963: Dion Sings To Sandy
- 1963: Donna The Prima Donna
- 1967: Dion & The Belmonts - Together Again
- 1968: Dion
- 1969: Wonder Where I'm Bound
- 1970: Sit Down Old Friend
- 1971: You're Not Alone
- 1971: Sanctuary
- 1972: Suite For Late Summer
- 1973: Dion & The Belmonts - Reunion, Live At Madison Square Garden
- 1975: Born To Be With You
- 1976: Streetheart
- 1978: Return Of The Wanderer
- 1980: Inside Job
- 1981: Only Jesus
- 1984: I Put Away My Idols
- 1984: Seasons
- 1985: Kingdom In The Streets
- 1986: Velvet & Steel
- 1989: Yo Frankie
- 1990: Fire In The Night (recorded 1979)
- 1992: Dream On Fire
- 1993: Rock'n'Roll Christmas
- 2000: Déjà Nu
- 2003: New Masters
- 2005: Live New York City
- 2006: Bronx In Blue
[edit] Singles [3]
| Year | Single | US label | US Billboard Chart | UK Singles Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1957 | Dion and the Timberlakes "The Chosen Few" / "Out In Colorado" |
Mohawk 105 | - | - |
| Oct 1957 | Dion and the Belmonts "We Went Away" / "Tag Along" |
Mohawk 107 | - | - |
| Apr 1958 | "I Wonder Why" / "Teen Angel" | Laurie 3013 | 22 | - |
| Aug 1958 | "No One Knows" / "I Can't Go On (Rosalie)" | Laurie 3015 | 19 | - |
| Dec 1958 | "Don't Pity Me" / "Just You" | Laurie 3021 | 40 | - |
| Mar 1959 | "A Teenager In Love" / "I've Cried Before" | Laurie 3027 | 5 | 28 |
| Aug 1959 | "Every Little Thing I Do" / "A Lover's Prayer" | Laurie 3035 | 48 | - |
| Nov 1959 | "Where Or When" / "That's My Desire" | Laurie 3044 | 3 | - |
| Apr 1960 | "When You Wish Upon A Star" / "Wonderful Girl" | Laurie 3052 | 30 | - |
| Jun 1960 | "In The Still Of The Night" / "A Funny Feeling" | Laurie 3059 | 38 | - |
| Sep 1960 | Dion "Lonely Teenager" / "Little Miss Blue" |
Laurie 3070 | 12 | 47 |
| Jan 1961 | "Havin’ Fun" / "Northeast End of the Corner" | Laurie 3081 | 42 | - |
| Apr 1961 | "Kissin’ Game" / "Heaven Help Me" | Laurie 3090 | 82 | - |
| Jun 1961 | "Somebody Nobody Wants" / "Could Somebody Take My Place Tonight" | Laurie 3101 | 103 | - |
| Aug 1961 | "Runaround Sue" / "Runaway Girl" | Laurie 3110 | 1 | 11 |
| Nov 1961 | "The Wanderer" / "The Majestic" | Laurie 3115 | 2 | 10 (also 16, 1976) |
| Mar 1962 | "Lovers Who Wander" / "(I Was) Born To Cry" | Laurie 3123 | 3 | - |
| Jun 1962 | "Little Diane" / "Lost For Sure" | Laurie 3134 | 30 | - |
| Sep 1962 | "Love Came To Me” / "Little Girl" | Laurie 3145 | 10 | - |
| Dec 1962 | "Ruby Baby" / "He’ll Only Hurt You" | Columbia 42662 | 2 | - |
| Feb 1963 | "Sandy" / "Faith" | Laurie 3153 | 21 | - |
| Apr 1963 | "This Little Girl" / "The Loneliest Man In The World" | Columbia 42776 | 21 | - |
| May 1963 | "Come Go With Me" / "King Without A Queen" | Laurie 3171 | 48 | - |
| Jun 1963 | "Be Careful Of Stones That You Throw" / "I Can’t Believe" | Columbia 42810 | 31 | - |
| Jul 1963 | "Lonely World" / "Tag Along" | Laurie 3187 | 101 | - |
| Aug 1963 | "Donna The Prima Donna" / "You’re Mine" | Columbia 42852 | 6 | - |
| Oct 1963 | "Drip Drop" / "No One’s Waiting For Me" | Columbia 42917 | 6 | - |
| Jan 1964 | "After The Dance” / "Then I’ll Be Tired Of You" | Laurie 3225 | - | - |
| Feb 1964 | "I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man" / "The Road I’m On" | Columbia 42977 | 113 | - |
| Mar 1964 | "Shout" / "Little Girl" | Laurie 3240 | 108 | - |
| Jul 1964 | "Johnny B. Goode" / "Chicago Blues" | Columbia 43096 | 71 | - |
| Jan 1965 | "Unloved, Unwanted Me" / "Sweet Sweet Baby" | Columbia 43213 | - | - |
| May 1965 | "Spoonful" / "Kickin’ Child" | Columbia 43293 | - | - |
| May 1965 | "(I Was) Born To Cry" / "I Got The Blues" | Laurie 3303 | - | - |
| Oct 1965 | "You Move Me Babe" / "Tomorrow Won’t Bring The Rain" | Columbia 42423 | - | - |
| Feb 1966 | "Time In My Heart For You" / "Wake Up Baby" | Columbia 43483 | - | - |
| Jun 1966 | "Two Ton Feather” / "So Much Younger" | Columbia 43692 | - | - |
| Oct 1966 | Dion and the Belmonts "My Girl The Month Of May" / "Berimbau" |
ABC 10868 | - | - |
| Jan 1967 | "Movin’ Man" / "For Bobbie" | ABC 10896 | - | - |
| Sep 1968 | Dion "Abraham, Martin and John" / "Daddy Rollin’" |
Laurie 3464 | 4 | - |
| Dec 1968 | "Purple Haze" / "The Dolphins" | Laurie 3478 | 63 | - |
| Feb 1969 | "I Can’t Help But Wonder Where I’m Bound" / "Southern Train" | Columbia 44719 | - | - |
| Mar 1969 | "From Both Sides Now" / "Sun Fun Song" | Laurie 3495 | 91 | - |
| Jun 1969 | "He Looks A Lot Like Me" / "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" | Laurie 3504 | - | - |
| Dec 1969 | "Natural Man" / "If We Only Have Love" | Warner Bros. 7356 | - | - |
| May 1970 | "Your Own Backyard" / "Sit Down Old Friend" | Warner Bros. 7401 | 75 | - |
| Mar 1971 | "Close To It All" / "Let It Be" | Warner Bros. 7469 | - | - |
| Jun 1971 | "Sunniland” / "Josie" | Warner Bros. 7491 | - | - |
| Nov 1971 | "Sanctuary" / "Brand New Morning" | Warner Bros. 7537 | 103 | - |
| Nov 1972 | "Running Close Behind You" / "Seagull" | Warner Bros. 7663 | - | - |
| Apr 1973 | "Doctor Rock And Roll" / "Sunshine Lady" | Warner Bros. 7704 | - | - |
| Jan 1974 | "New York City Song" / "Richer Than A Rich Man" | Warner Bros. 7793 | - | - |
| Oct 1975 | "Make The Woman Love Me" / "Running Close Behind You" | Warner/Spector 403 | - | - |
| Mar 1976 | "Born To Be With You" / "Running Close Behind You" | Big Tree/Spector 16063 | - | - |
| Jul 1976 | "Hey, My Love" / "Lover Boy Supreme" | Warner Bros. 8234 | - | - |
| Oct 1976 | "The Way You Do The Things You Do" / "Lover Boy Supreme" | Warner Bros. 8258 | - | - |
| Nov 1976 | "The Queen Of ‘59”” / "Oh, The Night" | Warner Bros. 8293 | - | - |
| Jun 1977 | "Young Virgin Eyes" / "Oh, The Night" | Warner Bros. 8406 | - | - |
| 1978 | "Midtown American Main Street Gang" / "Guitar Queen" | Lifesong 45039 | - | - |
| 1978 | "Lookin’ For The Heart Of Saturday Night" / "You’ve Awakened Something In Me" | Lifesong 45048 | - | - |
| 1978 | "(I Used To Be A) Brooklyn Dodger" / "Street Heart Theme" | Lifesong 45058 | - | - |
| 1980 | "Fire In The Night" / "Street Mama" | Lifesong 45082 | - | - |
| Jul 1989 | "And The Night Stood Still” / "Tower Of Love" | Arista 9797 | - | - |
