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Dion Francis DiMucci (b July 18, 1939) www.diondimucci.com/, better known as Dion, is an American singer-songwriter, now widely recognized as one of the top singers of his era, blending the best elements of doo-wop, pop, and R&B styles.
Early years
Dion was born to an Italian-American family in the Bronx borough of New York City. 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 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.
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 “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.
Early years
Dion was born to an Italian-American family in the Bronx borough of New York City. 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 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.
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 “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.
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Teen Idols - Dion
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Presenting Dion & The Belmonts, Runaround Sue
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The Road I'm On: A Retrospective
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Runaround Sue
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Shoutbox
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Matrioshka1 wrote:
http://vimeo.com/19483646
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sgoldcoast wrote:
Two artists named Dion? Come on guys, there is only one Dion and this guy started on the Bronx street corners way back in 1957 and is still producing great music in 2012 - listen to Tank Full Of Blues. The other Dion should not be associated with the real original Dion.
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pipe_indierockk wrote:
porque?? Dion (la banda chilena) no esta en last -.-
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NotSoVelvet wrote:
The guy covered "Purple Haze" back in the late 60's, it's, well. different. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCi3t7Ufa2s
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Ceashe wrote:
Lamentablemente no es el que asistirá a Lollapalooza.
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Paanchi wrote:
el es el que va al lollapalooza :D
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skeleandmole wrote:
attack of the 8 inch donkey. lol
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BeckyLovesDelta wrote:
everytime I think of him, I think of Rocky in Chicken run on his tricycle..lmao
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BraveNoob wrote:
Love The Wanderer <3
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Choke__me wrote:
DION - Rock - Chile
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SimplySha83 wrote:
I actually met him in 2004 after a concert in our hometown, Bronx, New York.
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rufusberto wrote:
so cool...
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Rapture5212011 wrote:
Another gifted & talented soloist whose recordings entertained the 'baby boomer' generation of the 50s & 60s with great music. Many fond memories. God bless~!
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johnnyp2355 wrote:
Classic Rock & Roll
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Sashimaruninja wrote:
Runaround Sue ♥
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Dead_Romance wrote:
DION - Rock - Chile
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HijoDelDiluvio wrote:
DION - Rock - Chile
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daria12342 wrote:
Runaround Sue ♥
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Rebel2807 wrote:
dion is cool and love hes songs rebx
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Pryde wrote:
Please vote for Elvis Presley in The American Rock League!
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Events
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Mar
31
Lollapalooza Chile 2012
Parque O'Higgins, Santiago, Chile
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1,058 shouts
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Recent Activity
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famar23 tagged Dion with american, rock and roll, rock n roll and 2 other tags. yesterday afternoon
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valderas2 and robinferrara added Dion to their libraries. yesterday morning
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kvadrum tagged Dion with singer-songwriter, american, doo wop and 3 other tags. Thursday evening
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kimwalentin added Dion to kimwalentin’s library. Thursday afternoon
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martyo1959 tagged Dion with ‘classic’. Thursday morning
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martyo1959, unlock_universe, klsayles and 5 other people added Dion to their libraries. Thursday morning
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Frentik tagged Dion with rock and roll and doo wop. last week
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SEVAN18, Adal50berto, jongaunt940 and 5 other people added Dion to their libraries. last week
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WilliamNl tagged Dion with rock n roll, rock and roll, singer-songwriter and 4 other tags. last week
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WilliamNl updated the wiki page for Dion. (diff) last week
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