1) Dion DiMucci, 1960s Italian-… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least 2 artists named Dion:
1) Dion DiMucci, 1960s Italian-American singer
2) Dion, Australian rapper and member of 1Team
1. Dion Francis DiMucci (b July 18, 1939), better known as Dion, is an Italian-American singer-songwriter now widely recognized as one of the top vocalists of his era, blending the best elements of doo-wop, traditional pop, and rnb styles, as well as a forerunner in the development of rock and roll.
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 ā particularly Hank Williams ā 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 "Donāt 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 Belmontsā 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.
Solo stardom, 1960-1964
1961 album coverBy 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 "Havinā Fun" and "Kissinā 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, Marescaās 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 ā "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 Stollerās "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.
Changing fortunes, 1964-1968
Following a European tour, Dion returned to the USA and was introduced to classic blues music by Columbiaās John Hammond. To the consternation of his management, he began recording more blues-oriented material, including Willie Dixonās "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Spoonful", but these releases ā 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 Dionās 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 Guardsmenās "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 ā later recorded by many others including Marvin Gaye ā which reached # 4 in the US charts, resuscitated Dionās career.
The mature period, 1968-1986
Born To Be With You, 1975For the next few years, Dionās 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.
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 DĆ©jĆ Nu album in 2000 found him covering Bruce Springsteen, a major follower over the years.
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 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.
www.diondimucci.com/
2. Dion is a musician from Sydney, Australia. Currently, he is part of the 1Team music collective alongside Joeyy, Bic Flame, Facy, B9 and Shotti. Dion has been active since 2016, though he has essentially quit music twice, with large time gaps between any new releases.
(as best we know) Dion has a producer alter-ego: Avail, previously known as Deadman.
Dion frequently collaborates with Sudi (another Sydney based artist), Scrap Club (a collective from Stockholm, Sweden) and Redpriest.
Jailhouse Rock
Dion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The prison band was there and they began to wail
The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing
You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing
Let's rock, everybody let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
They were dancin' to the jailhouse rock
Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone
And Little Joe was blowin' on the slide trombone
The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang
The whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang
Let's rock, everybody let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
They were dancin' to the jailhouse rock
Number forty seven said to number three
"You're the cutest jailbird I ever did see
I sure would be delighted with your company
Come on and do the jailhouse rock with me"
Let's rock, everybody let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
They were dancin' to the jailhouse rock
The sad sack was a sittin' on a block of stone
Way over in the corner weepin' all alone
The warden said, "Hey, buddy don't you be no square
If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair"
Let's rock, everybody let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
They were dancin' to the jailhouse rock
Shifty Henry said to Bugs, "For Heaven's sake
No one's lookin' now's our chance to make a break"
Bugsy turned to Shifty and he said, "Nix, nix
I wanna stick around a while and get my kicks"
Let's rock, everybody let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
They were dancin' to the jailhouse rock
Dancin' to the jailhouse rock, dancin' to the jailhouse rock
Rock, everybody, rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
They were dancin' to the jailhouse rock
Everybody now rock, rock, everybody now rock
Dancin' to the jailhouse rock, everybody rock 'n' roll
Dancin' to the jailhouse, the jailhouse rock
Dion's "Jailhouse Rock" is a lively and catchy song that describes a party happening in a county jail. The lyrics paint a picture of inmates and the prison band coming together to have a good time. The warden throws the party, and as soon as the band starts playing, the whole place comes alive. The inmates, referred to as "jailbirds," join in the fun by singing and dancing to the music.
The song introduces the band members, Spider Murphy and Little Joe, who play the tenor saxophone and slide trombone, respectively. The drummer from Illinois adds to the rhythm while the Purple Gang makes up the entire rhythm section. The lyrics highlight the energy and excitement of the gathering, with everyone in the cell block rocking and dancing to the "jailhouse rock."
In the second verse, prisoner number forty-seven expresses admiration for prisoner number three, calling them the "cutest jailbird" they've ever seen. They invite them to join in and dance to the jailhouse rock together. The lyrics portray a sense of camaraderie and the desire for connection even in a confined and challenging environment.
The song also mentions a sad individual sitting alone in the corner and weeping. The warden encourages them not to be square and offers them a wooden chair as a partner for dancing. This part showcases a moment of inclusivity and the warden's attempt to lift the spirits of this particular inmate.
Towards the end, the lyrics mention Shifty Henry and Bugs, discussing a potential escape plan. However, Bugsy prefers to stay and enjoy the party, indicating a desire to have some fun and make the most of the situation rather than escape.
Overall, "Jailhouse Rock" is a lively and upbeat song that captures the energetic atmosphere of a party in a county jail, emphasizing the shared joy and camaraderie among the inmates.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on, the warden threw a party in the county jail
Join in, the prison overseer organized a celebration in the local detention facility
The prison band was there and they began to wail
The band composed of incarcerated musicians was present and they started playing with great enthusiasm
The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing
The musical group was energetic, and the atmosphere of the place became lively and exciting
You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing
It would have been remarkable to listen to those imprisoned individuals sing with great passion
Let's rock, everybody let's rock
Let's dance in a spirited way, everyone should join
Everybody in the whole cell block
Indeed, every inmate in the entire cell block
They were dancin' to the jailhouse rock
They were dancing energetically to the music played in the jailhouse
Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone
Spider Murphy skillfully played the tenor saxophone
And Little Joe was blowin' on the slide trombone
Additionally, Little Joe played the slide trombone with great skill
The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang
The talented young drummer from Illinois played the drums loudly and enthusiastically
The whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang
All the musicians in the rhythm section were members of the Purple Gang
Number forty seven said to number three
One inmate identified as number forty seven spoke to another inmate, identified as number three
"You're the cutest jailbird I ever did see
"You, my fellow prisoner, are the most attractive incarcerated individual I have ever laid eyes upon
I sure would be delighted with your company
I would be extremely pleased to have your companionship
Come on and do the jailhouse rock with me"
Join me in dancing energetically to the music in the jailhouse
The sad sack was a sittin' on a block of stone
A gloomy and despondent individual was sitting on a stone block
Way over in the corner weepin' all alone
Located far away in a corner, this person was sobbing in seclusion
The warden said, "Hey, buddy don't you be no square
The prison overseer exclaimed, "Hey, my friend, don't be dull or uninteresting
If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair"
If you cannot find a dancing companion, make use of a wooden chair instead
Shifty Henry said to Bugs, "For Heaven's sake
Shifty Henry urged Bugs, "For goodness' sake
No one's lookin' now's our chance to make a break"
Currently, nobody is paying attention, so it's the perfect opportunity for us to escape
Bugsy turned to Shifty and he said, "Nix, nix
Bugsy, however, turned to Shifty and responded, "No, no
I wanna stick around a while and get my kicks"
I prefer to remain here for some time and enjoy myself
Dancin' to the jailhouse rock, everybody rock 'n' roll
Engaging in lively dancing to the music of the jailhouse rock, everyone should also embrace the rock 'n' roll genre
Dancin' to the jailhouse, the jailhouse rock
Dancing intensely to the jailhouse rock music
Rock, everybody, rock
Come on, everybody, let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Every single inmate within the entire cell block
They were dancin' to the jailhouse rock
They were enthusiastically dancing to the music played in the jailhouse
Everybody now rock, rock, everybody now rock
Everybody, at this moment, should rock and dance energetically
Dancin' to the jailhouse rock, everybody rock 'n' roll
Dancing with fervor to the music of the jailhouse rock, everyone should also embrace the rock 'n' roll genre
Dancin' to the jailhouse, the jailhouse rock
Dancing with fervor to the jailhouse rock music
Lyrics Ā© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
gregorheinrich
isn't it great, if what seems to be a simple home made live recording (by any of the zillions of you tubers who cover music or perform originals) is actually a performance by one of the icons popular music - who is also cleary enjoying himself...?
Zachvision
imagine being his neibour and going over to say hi and it turns out to be Dion and he starts playing and singing
Johnnyhayek6
Dion - You are forever a one of a kind, God bless you!
Kelly Delaney
I LOVE THIS SONG! And with your voice!
MrNostalGuy
It doesn't take much to make something so well-known great again : a guitar with an up beat tempo putting aside the usual breaks, a still great and punchy voice and three passionate guys enjoying their wap doo waps ! Dear Dion, I love you and your music since the day I heard Ruby Baby on the radio back then in 1962 here in France. And I still do, may it be rock and roll, blues or folk. Thank you guys, this is great !
Bradleys Music
Dion if you are reading this, this literally made my night
Thomas the Dank Engine
Insane to see Dion still kickin' it out. He's actin' like he hadn't aged a year. Keep going bud, glad to see you around.
Walter
His vocal phrasing is off the charts. Amazing
Donna Marie Pszoniak
Love Love this Dion Beautiful voice& Songšššš
gabriel Sturdevant
Dion, you're an awesome guy. I love the inlays on your guitar