Dion DiMucci
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Dion DiMucci |
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Dion Francis DiMucci (born July 18, 1939), better known as Dion, is an American singer-songwriter whose work has incorporated elements of doo-wop, pop, rock and R&B styles.
One of the most popular American rock and roll performers of the pre-British Invasion era, Dion had over a dozen top 40 hits in the late 1950s and early 60s. He's best remembered for the exuberant 1961 singles "Runaround Sue", a #1 hit about a two-timing woman, and "The Wanderer", a #2 hit about a philandering man that was, somewhat accidentally, an answer song to "Runaround Sue".[1]
Due to changing public tastes and personal problems, Dion's success faltered in the mid-1960s, eventually regaining some popularity in the early 1970s with more mature and contemplative songs such as "Abraham, Martin & John". He has continued making music to the present, earning reappraisals from critics who earlier dismissed him as a teen idol.[2]
Early years
Dion was born to an Italian-American family in the Bronx.[3] As a child, he 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 Crotona Avenue, where he rounded up other local singers inventing a cappella 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.
Career
With the Belmonts, 1957-1960
Schwartz also signed up Dion's friends, The Belmonts, named after nearby Belmont Avenue. 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 "The Winter Dance Party" tour with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. On February 2, 1959, after playing in Clear Lake, Iowa, Dion decided that he could not afford the $36 cost of a flight to the next venue—this was the same monthly rent his parents paid for his childhood apartment, and Dion decided he couldn't justify the indulgence.[4] The plane crashed, and Holly and the other stars were killed, still the tour continued with Jimmy Clanton and Bobby Vee being added to the bill as replacements. Dion and the Belmonts continued to perform until the end of the tour.
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.[citation needed] 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. The main reason was because of his heroin addiction.[citation needed]
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. The performer name on his solo releases was denoted simply as "Dion" without the last name. 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. "Runaround Sue" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[5]
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 20 again in 1976.
By the end of 1961, Dion was a major star, with a worldwide touring schedule, and an appearance in the Columbia Pictures musical film Twist Around the Clock. He followed up with a string of hit singles – "Lovers Who Wander" (#3), "Little Diane" (#8), "Love Came To Me" (#10) - all making the top 10 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 Columbia single, Leiber and Stoller’s "Ruby Baby",(originally a hit for The Drifters), was a big hit, reaching #2, and "Donna the Prima Donna" and "Drip Drop" (another cover of a Drifters hit) ,both reached #6 in the charts in late 1963. (Dion also recorded an Italian version of "Donna the Prima Donna" using the identical backup vocals.) His other Columbia releases were less successful, and problems with his addiction and changing public tastes caused him to enter a period of commercial decline.
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 1965, still with Columbia, Dion formed a new group to back him, The Wanderers, that consisted of John Falbo on guitar, Pete Baron (Pete Falciglia) on bass guitar, and Carlo Mastrangelo of the Belmonts on drums. A number of self-penned tracks were recorded and released unsuccessfully as singles, but were not released at that time on album format.
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, one of the only two pop artists featured on the album cover of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967.
In April 1968, Dion experienced what he identified as 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 & John", written by Dick Holler (also the writer of The Royal Guardsmen’s "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron") in response to the assassination of John F. Kennedy and those 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 and #1 in Canada, resuscitated Dion’s career. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[5]
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 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, 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.[citation needed]
In 1978 Dion released an album drawing on many of his teenage influences, Return of the Wanderer, another commercial failure. In December 1979 there was a radical spiritual change in Dion, who had become a born-again Christian.[6] Thereafter, his recordings for several years were in a contemporary Christian vein, in which he released a number of albums on the Dayspring label reflecting his evangelical Christian convictions. Singles were successfully released to Christian radio, notably "Still in the Spirit" from his 1985 release entitled Kingdom in the Streets.
In 1984 he won the Dove Award (Christian Music Award) for the album 'I Put Away My Idols'. He was also nominated for Grammy Award, best male Gospel performance, for the same album.
Recent work
In 1987 Dion agreed to do a concert of his old hits at Radio City Music Hall in New York. The two disc CD of this concert was released in 2005, featuring concert photos by Dion's friend, Michael J. Friedman. This concert 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 rock music with the contemporary album Yo Frankie, which included appearances by Paul Simon, Lou Reed, k.d. lang, Patty Smyth and Bryan Adams.[7] Produced by Dave Edmunds (who also playd guitar on the album), "Yo Frankie has a sharp sound while never losing sight of Dion's soulful, doo-wop voice."[1] Overall, "the relevant and nostalgic statement from an artist who helped forge rock & roll's first wave" found his way back on radio and in music videos during this period (both on VH-1 and MTV), as well as touring.[8][9][10][11]
In the late 1990s, Dion visited his old Bronx parish, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and returned to Catholicism.[12]
Since then, Dion 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. Dion joined Springsteen onstage in Miami in 2002 for a performance of "If I Should Fall Behind" from Deja Nu.
He joined Scott Kempner of The Del-Lords and Mike Mesaros of The Smithereens in a short-lived band called Little Kings. A live album was later released, but not widely circulated or promoted.
In 2002 he was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "Runaround Sue". Dion continues to perform songs from his albums live.[13]
In January 2006, he released Bronx in Blue, an album of blues and country standards, which was nominated for a Grammy. In November 2007 he issued a follow-up in similar vein, Son of Skip James.
In October 2008, he released Heroes: Giants of Early Guitar Rock, an album of his covers of early rock and roll songs he considers seminal to the genre.[14] The album includes versions of songs originally recorded by Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Cash and many other early rock guitarists.[15]
Now a practicing Roman Catholic, Dion pursues prison ministry and reaches out to men going through addiction recovery. He is also a member of the American Board of Directors of Renewal Ministries.[16] He currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida, and New York City.
Albums (non-compilation) [17]
- 1959: Presenting Dion & The Belmonts
- 1960: Wish Upon a Star With Dion & The Belmonts
- 1961: Alone With Dion
- 1961: Runaround Sue #11
- 1962: Lovers Who Wander #12
- 1962: Love Came to Me
- 1963: Dion Sings to Sandy' (and all his other gals)' #115
- 1963: Ruby Baby #20
- 1963: Donna the Prima Donna
- 1964: 60 Greatest of Dion & The Belmonts - Laurie Records - SLP-6000 (3 records set)
- 1967: Dion & The Belmonts - Together Again
- 1968: Dion #128
- 1969: Wonder Where I'm Bound
- 1970: Sit Down Old Friend
- 1971: You're Not Alone
- 1971: Sanctuary #200
- 1972: Suite For Late Summer #197
- 1973: Dion & The Belmonts - Reunion, Live at Madison Square Garden #144
- 1975: Born to Be With You
- 1976: Streetheart
- 1978: Return of the Wanderer
- 1980: Inside Job
- 1981: Only Jesus
- 1983: I Put Away My Idols CCM #37
- 1984: Seasons
- 1985: Kingdom in the Streets
- 1986: Velvet & Steel
- 1989: Yo Frankie #130
- 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 #2 Blues Lps.
- 2007: Son of Skip James #4 Blues Lps.
- 2008: Heroes: Giants of Early Guitar Rock
Chart singles
| Release date | Title | US record label | Chart Positions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Charts | AC | UK Singles Chart | RnB Singles | |||||||||
| Dion and the Belmonts | ||||||||||||
| 1958 | "I Wonder Why" | Laurie | 22 | |||||||||
| 1958 | "No One Knows" | Laurie | 19 | 12 | ||||||||
| "Don’t Pity Me" | Laurie | 40 | ||||||||||
| 1959 | "A Teenager in Love" | Laurie | 5 | 28 | ||||||||
| "A Lover's Prayer" | Laurie | 73 | ||||||||||
| "Every Little Thing I Do" | Laurie | 48 | ||||||||||
| 1960 | "Where or When" | Laurie | 3 | 19 | ||||||||
| "Little Miss Blue" | Laurie | 96 | ||||||||||
| "When You Wish Upon a Star" | Laurie | 30 | ||||||||||
| "In The Still of the Night” | Laurie | 38 | ||||||||||
| Dion | ||||||||||||
| "Lonely Teenager” | Laurie | 12 | 47 | |||||||||
| 1961 | "Havin’ Fun" | Laurie | 42 | |||||||||
| "Kissin’ Game” | Laurie | 82 | ||||||||||
| "Somebody Nobody Wants" | Laurie | 103 | ||||||||||
| "Runaround Sue" | Laurie | 1 | 11 | 4 | ||||||||
| "The Wanderer" | Laurie | 2 | 10 (also 16, 1976) |
|||||||||
| "The Majestic" | Laurie | 36 | ||||||||||
| 1962 | "Lovers Who Wander" | Laurie | 3 | 16 | ||||||||
| "Little Diane" | Laurie | 8 | ||||||||||
| "(I Was) Born to Cry" | Laurie | 42 | ||||||||||
| "Love Came to Me" | Laurie | 10 | 24 | |||||||||
| "Ruby Baby" | Columbia | 2 | ||||||||||
| 1963 | "Sandy" | Laurie | 21 | |||||||||
| "This Little Girl" | Columbia | 21 | ||||||||||
| "Come Go With Me" | Laurie | 48 | ||||||||||
| "Be Careful of Stones That You Throw" | Columbia | 31 | ||||||||||
| "Lonely World" | Laurie | 101 | ||||||||||
| "Donna the Prima Donna" | Columbia | 6 | 17 | |||||||||
| "Drip Drop" | Columbia | 6 | ||||||||||
| 1964 | "I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man" | Columbia | 113 | |||||||||
| "Shout" | Laurie | 108 | ||||||||||
| "Johnny B. Goode" | Columbia | 71 | ||||||||||
| 1968 | "Abraham, Martin and John" | Laurie | 4 | |||||||||
| "Purple Haze" | Laurie | 63 | ||||||||||
| 1969 | "From Both Sides Now" | Laurie | 91 | |||||||||
| 1970 | "Your Own Back Yard" | Warner Bros. | 75 | |||||||||
| 1971 | "Sanctuary" | Warner Bros. | 103 | |||||||||
| 1989 | "And The Night Stood Still" | Arista | 75 | 16 | ||||||||
| 1989 | "King of the New York Streets" | Arista | 74 | |||||||||
| 1989 | "Written on the Subway Wall/Little Star" with Paul Simon[2] | Arista | 97 | |||||||||
| 1990 | "Sea Cruise" (From "Ford Fairlane") | 28 | ||||||||||
References
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- ^ Critic Richie Unterberger writes:
- "Though it might not have been intended as such, and probably wasn't taken as such at the time, "The Wanderer" was almost like a sequel to "Runaround Sue." In "Runaround Sue," Dion had bitched about a promiscuous girlfriend who betrayed him by running around with every guy in town. In "The Wanderer," Dion seemed to be saying, two can play at that game, boasting about his own footloose wandering, romantic and otherwise."
- ^ Unterberger writes, "his critical rep has risen steadily since the early '60s, with many noted contemporary musicians showering him with praise and citing his influence."
- ^ Sam Howe Vaerhovek (June 19, 1987). "A Wanderer, Dion Returns to His Roots". New York Times.
- ^ DiMucci, Dion: "The Wanderer", page 89. Beech Tree Books, 1988
- ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 134. ISBN 0-214-20512-6. Cite error: The named reference "The Book of Golden Discs" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Semper Fidelis: The Spiritual Journey Of The Wanderer Who Came Home By Dion Dimucci
- ^ AOL.com
- ^ MTC.com
- ^ MTV.com
- ^ VH1.com
- ^ VH1.com
- ^ David Gonzalez (May 14, 2008). "'Wanderer' Has Given Up Wandering". New York Times.
- ^ Blockbuster.com
- ^ Todd Leopold (October 23, 2009). "Dion salutes his 'Heroes' on new CD". CNN.com.
- ^ Fretbase, Dion Tackles Giants of Early Guitar Rock
- ^ "Board". Renewal Ministries. Retrieved 2009-01-13. [dead link]
- ^ a b Source : sleeve notes, King of the New York Streets box set
External links
- Official Dion Website
- Dion "time line" - masses of information
- Comprehensive Rolling Stone profile
- Dion (German)
- The Spiritual Journey of the Wanderer Who Came Home By Dion Dimucci
- Dion the Wanderer, Back In Blue (an article at NPR.com)
- The Wanderer Settles Down With The Blues (an article at Perfect Sound Forever)