Dion DiMucci
Dion (born July 18, 1939 in the Bronx , New York ; full name Dion Francis DiMucci ) is an American pop, rock 'n' roll, and blues singer and songwriter who made his greatest in the 1950s and 1960s Had successes. The Rolling Stone named him in 2008 to rank 63 of the top 100 singers of all time .
Life
Childhood and youth
Dion was born in the Bronx , New York . He was baptized in Mount Carmel Church , where he also received communion . When he was 12, his uncle gave him a used guitar as a gift and he became interested in blues and country music . He was particularly fond of Hank Williams and Jimmy Reed , who not only inspired him, but without whom - according to his own words - he might never have discovered his musical talent. As a teenager, he started performing in local bars.
Around the same time that Dion was exposed to the music of Hank Williams and Jimmy Reed, he was exposed to drugs. He first started using heroin when he was nearly fifteen. As a result, he slipped into an addiction that he was only able to overcome at the age of 30. Jack, the father of his wife Susan, who he had also met as a teenager, played a major role in overcoming his addiction. (By the way, Dion's No. 1 hit "Runaround Sue" has nothing to do with his wife.)
Also as a teenager, Dion joined the Fordham Daggers and later the Baldies, street gangs in the Bronx. The film The Wanderers , based on the novel of the same name by Richard Price , portrays the life of the gangs in the Bronx very aptly. Parallels to Dion's youth are not accidental - the book and film titles are named after Dion's best known hit, The Wanderer , and Price has dedicated his novel to Dion, among others.
1950s
Dion recorded his first record in 1957 for Mohawk Records (No. 105) - "The Chosen Few" / "Out in Colorado". It was published under the name Dion and the Timberlanes . It was noteworthy that Dion never met the Timberlanes personally. The song was completely recorded under the direction of Hugo Montenegro , but without lead vocals. The lead voice came from Dion. Bob and Gene Schwartz , the owners of Mohawk Records, gave Dion the opportunity to do so after he sang "Wonderful Girl" to them, which apparently made a good impression.
But Mohawk Records was looking for a group and not a single singer. So Dion brought his neighborhood friends - Carlo Mastrangelo , Fred Milano, and Angelo D'Aleo - who began recording music under the name Dion and the Belmonts . The first joint single was "Tag Along" / "We Went Away" (Mohawk No. 107). Shortly after the release of the single, the Mohawk owners separated: Irv Spice kept Mohawk and Gene and Bob Schwartz founded the record label Laurie Records with Alan Sussell . The name The Belmonts is derived from Belmont Avenue. In April 1958 they had their breakthrough with "I Wonder Why", the first single ever released on Laurie Records. Her biggest hit was "A Teenager in Love," written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman , which peaked at number five on the Billboard charts. Dion became the most successful exponent of the doo-wop style.
In 1959 he was with Buddy Holly , Ritchie Valens , The Big Bopper (aka JP Richardson) and others on the winter dance party tour in the dead of winter . Since the heating on the tour bus was not working properly and kept lying down, Buddy Holly arranged a charter flight in Clear Lake , Iowa to Fargo , North Dakota , to get to Moorhead, Minnesota faster . The aircraft of the type Beechcraft Bonanza had four places. One for the pilot, one for Buddy Holly. Jiles Perry "The Big Bopper" Richardson, who presumably caught the flu on the cold tour bus, asked Waylon Jennings to be on the plane. In turn, Ritchie Valens, who had never flown in a small plane, asked Tommy Allsup if he could have his seat; the latter then let a coin toss decide, from which Valens emerged as the winner. Dion DiMucci originally wanted to fly, too, but the price of 36 dollars per person - the equivalent of a month's rent for his parents' apartment - was too high for him, and he decided on the tour bus. The plane crashed on the night of February 3, 1959, shortly after taking off from Mason City , Iowa, in bad weather in a field. All four occupants of the machine were killed. This day went down in music history in 1971 through Don McLean 's "American Pie" as " The Day the Music Died" .
1960s
In the same year Dion separated from the Belmonts due to musical differences. While the Belmonts preferred soft harmonies, Dion felt more committed to rock 'n' roll. From 1960 he tried his hand at being a solo artist and in the same year quickly had hits again such as "Lonely Teenager" and in 1961 "The Wanderer" and "Runaround Sue", written by or with Ernie Maresca .
In September 1962 Dion moved from Laurie Records to Columbia Records and in 1963 continued his hit series with the Maresca song "Donna the Prima Donna" and the Drifters classic "Ruby Baby" ( Leiber / Stoller ). He was the first rock 'n' roll singer Columbia Records signed. The contract ran for five years and brought Dion a guaranteed US $ 100,000 per year regardless of any publications. His style evolved from the Belmonts' Doo Wop to more "adult" R&B and blues.
He has appeared in three films ( Ten Girls Ago , Teenage Millionaire , Twist Around the Clock ).
In the mid-1960s, his drug problems - he was heroin for many years - and later also an alcoholic - got out of hand and forced him to take a long break from admission. It was only with the help of his father-in-law Jack, himself a dry alcoholic, that Dion found the final way out of drug addiction through his newly developed faith in God.
In 1968 he reported back to Laurie Records - almost drug-free and with a new style - and recorded protest songs : "Abraham, Martin and John" about Abraham Lincoln , Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy made it into the top five.
Dion, Bob Dylan and Stuart Sutcliffe are the only other musicians featured on the cover of the 1967 Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band . John Lennon , with whom Dion was well known, used the photo of Dion's "Ruby Baby" single for the Sgt. Pepper collage.
1970s
Dion found a record label with Warner Bros. Records that released his folk songs. From 1970 to 1972 four albums were created in classic songwriting style . They are only sparsely orchestrated - often only Dion can be heard with his guitar. As a result, he appeared in smaller clubs, such as B. the Troubadour in Los Angeles or the Bitter End in New York. He did not want to be reminded of his drug-laden rock 'n' roll career and for a long time refused to play his hits from the late 50s and early 1960s in public appearances. His folk-oriented albums sold rather slowly despite the positive reviews.
In 1972 there was a one-time musical reunion with the Belmonts in New York's Madison Square Garden - without major rehearsals. Excerpts from the concert were released on the LP Reunion .
In 1975, after several months of studio work, the album Born to Be with You was created , which was produced by Phil Spector . Unlike the previous folk albums, Born to Be with You was instrumentally overloaded. Phil Spector didn't seem to be completely sure either, so that the album was only released in England in the end.
Through the use of his song The Wanderer in the 1976 Philip Kaufman film The Wanderers , the song gained renewed attention and hit the UK charts for nine weeks.
On December 14, 1979, Dion had an epiphany that changed his life and music. He joined an evangelical Born Again church .
1980s and 1990s
The 1980s were shaped by Dion's spirituality, which was also reflected in his music. He released numerous gospel albums on DaySpring Records , which also earned him a Grammy nomination.
In 1987 he agreed to give a concert at Radio City Music Hall . This was recorded, but only released on CD in 2005.
In 1988 Dion finally published his autobiography The Wanderer - Dion's Story .
In 1989 his comeback album Yo Frankie was released on Arista Records and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the same year . Lou Reed gave the address .
On October 1, 1989, Dion gave his only live concert in Germany in the slaughterhouse in Munich. A year later he founded the band The Little Kings , with whom he toured the US East Coast for a long time. The Little Kings consisted of Scott Kempner (lead guitar), Mike Mesaros (bass) and Frank Funaro (drums). On April 26, 1996, a Dion 'n' Little Kings concert was recorded in the Mercury Lounge in New York and was released on CD in 2001 by Ace Records .
In the late 1990s he returned to his baptistery, Mount Carmel Catholic Church, where he found the answers to all the religious questions that had preoccupied him for many years and converted back to Catholicism.
From 2000
In 2000, Ace Records released Dion's album Déjà Nu in memory of Gene Schwartz, the founder and producer of Laurie Records , where Dion began his career. The songs on the album were recorded with the same equipment as his big hits from 1961 "The Wanderer" and "Runaround Sue" and sound like pieces that have long been lost and re-emerged.
Dion continues to tour the US at irregular intervals. His concert at Tropicana, Atlantik City, USA, in 2004 was recorded and was released on DVD with numerous bonus material under the title Dion Live . He also still goes to the studio to record albums.
On October 29, 2009, Dion performed at the 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert with his hit "The Wanderer".
In April 2011 his second book The Wanderer Talks Truth was published with numerous stories and anecdotes from his long life. Dion devotes around half of the book to the development and change in his religious beliefs over the decades.
On January 24, 2012, the album Tank Full of Blues was released .
On June 5, 2020 Dion released the album Blues with Friends , on which he plays with musicians such as Jeff Beck , Joe Bonamassa , Billy Gibbons , Van Morrison , Paul Simon , Bruce Springsteen and Steven van Zandt .
Discography
Albums (selection)
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DE
|
 CH
|
 UK
|
 US
|
|||
| 1968 | Dion | - | - | - |
US128 (11 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
| 1971 | Sanctuary | - | - | - |
US200 (2 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
| 1972 | Suite Fo Late Summer | - | - | - |
US197 (4 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
| 1973 | Reunion - Live At The Madison Square Garden 1972 | - | - | - |
US144 (8 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
| Dion's Greatest Hits | - | - | - |
US194 (5 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
|
| 1980 | 20 Golden Greats - Dion and The Belmonts | - | - |
UK31 (5 weeks) UK |
- |
as Dion & The Belmonts
|
| 1989 | Yo Frankie | - | - | - |
US130 (19 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
| 2020 | Blues with Friends |
DE42 (2 weeks) DE |
CH79 (2 weeks) CH |
UK52 (1 week) UK |
- |
as Dion
|
gray hatching : no chart data available for this year
More albums
- Presenting Dion & the Belmonts (1959)
- Wish Upon a Star with Dion and the Belmonts (1960)
- Alone with Dion (1960)
- Runaround Sue (1961)
- Lovers Who Wander (1962)
- Love Came to Me (1964)
- Ruby Baby (1963)
- Donna the Prima Donna (1963)
- Together with the Belmonts (1964)
- Together Again (1967)
- Wonder Where I'm Bound (1968)
- Sit Down Old Friend (1970)
- You're Not Alone (1971)
- Born to Be with You (1975)
- Streetheart (1976)
- Return of the Wanderer (1978)
- Inside Job (1981)
- Only Jesus (1983)
- I Put Away My Idols (1984)
- Kingdon in the Streets (1985)
- Velvet and Steel (1986)
- The Road I'm On (A Retrospective) (1997)
- Déjà Nu (2000)
- Dion'n'Little Kings Live in New York (2001)
- Under the Influence (2005)
- Bronx in Blue (2006)
- Son of Skip James (2007)
- Heroes: Giants of Early Guitar Rock (2008)
- Tank Full of Blues (2012)
Singles
| year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
UK
|
US
|
|||
| 1958 | I wonder why | - |
US47 (2 weeks) US |
B-side: Teen Angel
as Dion & The Belmonts |
| No one knows | - |
US24 (16 weeks) US |
as Dion & The Belmonts
|
|
| Don't Pity Me | - |
US40 (12 weeks) US |
as Dion & The Belmonts
|
|
| 1959 | A teenager in love |
UK28 (2 weeks) UK |
US5 (15 weeks) US |
B-Side: I've Cried Before
as Dion & The Belmonts |
| Where ore When | - |
US3 (16 weeks) US |
B-side: That's My Desire
as Dion & The Belmonts |
|
| Every Little Thing I Do | - |
US48 (8 weeks) US |
as Dion & The Belmonts
|
|
| A lover's prayer | - |
US73 (3 weeks) US |
as Dion & The Belmonts
|
|
| 1960 | Lonely teenager |
UK47 (1 week) UK |
US12 (16 weeks) US |
B-side: Little Miss Blue
as Dion |
| When You Wish Upon A Star | - |
US30 (9 weeks) US |
as Dion & The Belmonts
|
|
| In The Still Of The Night | - |
US38 (7 weeks) US |
as Dion & The Belmonts
|
|
| Little Miss Blue | - |
US96 (1 week) US |
as Dion
|
|
| 1961 | Runaround Sue |
UK11 (9 weeks) UK |
US1 (14 weeks) US |
B-side: Runaway Girl
as Dion |
| Havin 'fun | - |
US42 (6 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
|
| Kissin Game | - |
US82 (3 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
|
| The Wanderer |
UK10 (12 weeks) UK |
US2 (18 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
|
| The Majestic | - |
US36 (8 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
|
| 1962 | Little Diane | - |
US8 (11 weeks) US |
B-side: Lost For Sure
as Dion |
| Love came to me | - |
US10 (11 weeks) US |
B-side: Little Girl
as Dion |
|
| (I Was) Born To Cry | - |
US42 (7 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
|
| Lovers Who Wander | - |
US3 (12 weeks) US |
B-Side: (I Was) Born To Cry
as Dion |
|
| 1963 | Ruby baby | - |
US2 (13 weeks) US |
B-Side: He'll Only Hurt You
as Dion |
| This little girl | - |
US21 (8 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
|
| Sandy | - |
US21 (11 weeks) US |
B-side: Faith
as Dion |
|
| Donna the Prima Donna | - |
US6 (11 weeks) US |
B-side: You're Mine
as Dion |
|
| Come go with me | - |
US48 (6 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
|
| Drip drop | - |
US6 (11 weeks) US |
B-Side: No One's Waiting For Me
as Dion |
|
| Be Careful Of Stones That You Throw | - |
US31 (7 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
|
| 1964 | Johnny B. Goode | - |
US71 (4 weeks) US |
|
| 1967 | Abraham, Martin and John | - |
US4th  (14 weeks)US |
B-side: Daddy Rollin '
as Dion |
| 1969 | From Both Sides Now | - |
US91 (2 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
| Purple Haze | - |
US63 (4 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
|
| 1970 | Your Own Back Yard | - |
US75 (3 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
| 1976 | The Wanderer (1976) |
UK16 (9 weeks) UK |
- |
as Dion
|
| 1989 | King Of The New York Streets |
UK74 (5 weeks) UK |
- |
B-side: Serenade
as Dion |
| And The Night Stood Still | - |
US75 (5 weeks) US |
as Dion
|
|
| 1990 | Written On The Subway Wall / Little Star EP |
UK97 (1 week) UK |
- |
as Dion
|
Autobiography
- The Wanderer: Dion's Story . Beech Tree Books, New York 1988, ISBN 0-688-07841-9 .
- The Wanderer Talks Truth . Servant Books, Cincinnati 2011, ISBN 978-0-86716-999-7 .
literature
- Irwin Stambler: The Encyclopedia Of Pop, Rock And Soul . 3rd revised edition. St. Martin's Press, New York City 1989, ISBN 0-312-02573-4 , pp. 179-181.
- Richard Price: The Wanderers . First Avon Printing, 1975, ISBN 0-380-00242-6 .
swell
- ↑ 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Rolling Stone , December 2, 2010, accessed August 9, 2017 .
- ↑ My Spiritual Journey ( Memento of the original from April 3, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Dion DiMucci, Davin Seay: The Wanderer - Dion's Story. Beech Tree Books, New York 1988, p. 40.
- ↑ Dion, Davin Seay: The Wanderer - Dion's Story.
- ↑ Dion, Davin Seay: The Wanderer - Dion's Story. 1988, pp. 50f.
- ↑ Dion, Davin Seay: The Wanderer - Dion's Story. 1988, p. 105.
- ↑ Richard Price: The Wanderers.
- ↑ Dion, Davin Seay: The Wanderer - Dion's Story. 1988, p. 58f.
- ↑ Rob Finnes 1988 liner notes to the CD Carlo and The Belmonts
- ↑ Dion, Davin Seay: The Wanderer - Dion's Story. 1988, p. 56f.
- ↑ $ 36 in 1959 corresponds to $ 284 in purchasing power in 2012
- ↑ For this song see Fred Bronson: The Billboard Book of Number One Hits . 3rd revised and expanded edition, Billboard Publications, New York City 1992, p. 99.
- ↑ Dion, Davin Seay: The Wanderer - Dion's Story. 1988, p. 121
- ^ EWTN Global Catholic Television network: Bookmark - Doug Keck interviewed Dion DiMucci in August 2011
- ^ EWTN Global Catholic Television network: World Over - Raymond Arroyo interviewed Dion DiMucci in August 2011
- ↑ Dion, Davin Seay: The Wanderer - Dion's Story. 1988, p. 206.
- ↑ Dion, Davin Seay: The Wanderer - Dion's Story. 1988, p. 209.
- ↑ The Wanderer 1976 , official charts, accessed January 2, 2019
- ↑ My Spiritual Journey ( Memento of the original from April 3, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Dion DiMucci in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- ↑ Lou Reed's Speech inducting Dion into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ( Memento of the original from January 25, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ My Spiritual Journey ( Memento of the original from April 3, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ CD booklet Déjà Nu
- ↑ Dion live at the 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert
- ↑ Dion DiMucci, Mike Aquilina: The Wanderer Talks Truth 2011
- ↑ https://buchundton.de/2020/06/15/neues-dion-album-erschienen/
- ↑ Dion's new album to Feature Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck and More on Ultimate Classic Rock on April 24, 2020
- ↑ Dion - Blues With Friends Chris Strieder on Darkstars , accessed on June 1, 2020. See also Im Studio mit gute Freunde, in: Der Sonntag (Karlsruhe), June 14, 2020, p. 6.
- ↑ a b Chart data: DE CH UK US
- ↑ Music Sales Awards: US
Web links
- Dion DiMucci in theInternet Movie Database(English)
- Dion DiMucci at Discogs (English)
- Dion at Rock'n'Roll AG
- Buddy Holly and Me
- The Official Dion Website
- History of Rock
- Interview on SPON
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | DiMucci, Dion |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Dion (stage name); DiMucci, Dion Francis (real name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American pop singer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 18, 1939 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Bronx , New York , USA |