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 – 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.
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.
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 "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.
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.
The mature period, 1968-1986
Born To Be With You, 1975For 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.
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.
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.
Johnny B. Goode
Dion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
Who never ever learned to read or write so well
But he could play a guitar just like a-ringin' a bell
Go, go, go, Johnny, go
Go, go, Johnny, go
Go, go, Johnny, go
Go, Johnny B. Goode
He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
Oh! The engineers would see him sittin' in the shade
Strummin' with the rhythm that the drivers made
People passing by they would stop and say
Oh, my but that little country boy can play
Go, go, go, Johnny, go
Go, go, Johnny, go
Go, go, Johnny, go
Go, go, Johnny, go
Go, Johnny B. Goode
His mama told him, some day you will be a man
And you will be the leader of a big old band
Many people comin' from miles around
To hear you play your music 'till the sun go down
Maybe someday your name will be in lights
Sayin' Johnny B. Goode tonight
Go, go, go, Johnny, go
Go, go, go, Johnny, go
Go, go, go, Johnny, go
Go, go, go, Johnny, go
Go, Johnny B. Goode
Dion's song Johnny B. Goode tells the story of a talented guitar player named Johnny B. Goode. Hailing from a log cabin in Louisiana, Johnny never learned to read or write well, but he had a natural talent for playing the guitar. He would often sit beneath a tree by the railroad track, strumming his guitar to the rhythm of passing trains. People passing by would stop and listen, amazed at the skill of the young country boy.
Despite his lack of education, Johnny's mother believed in his talent and encouraged him to pursue his dream of becoming a famous musician. She told him that someday he would be a man and the leader of a big old band, with people coming from miles around to hear him play. The lyrics speak to the power of music to transcend barriers and overcome obstacles, as Johnny becomes a symbol of hope and inspiration for others.
Overall, the song is a celebration of the power of music and the human spirit. Despite his humble beginnings and lack of formal education, Johnny's musical talent brought him recognition and acclaim. Through his music, he is able to touch the lives of others and inspire them to pursue their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep down in Louisiana, close to New Orleans
The story takes place in Louisiana, near New Orleans
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
In those woods, there stood a log cabin
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
The cabin was made of earth and wood
Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
Johnny B. Goode was a country boy who lived in that cabin
Who never ever learned to read or write so well
Johnny B. Goode was not good at reading or writing
But he could play a guitar just like a-ringin' a bell
However, he was really good at playing the guitar
Go, go, go, Johnny, go
The song encourages Johnny to keep playing as the rhythm speeds up
He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Johnny carried his guitar in a bag made of burlap
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
He would sit under a tree by the train tracks
Oh! The engineers would see him sittin' in the shade
When the train engineers passed by, they would see him sitting there
Strummin' with the rhythm that the drivers made
He would play his guitar to the rhythm of the passing trains
People passing by they would stop and say
People passing by were impressed and would stop to listen
Oh, my but that little country boy can play
They would comment on how impressive it was for a country boy to play so well
His mama told him, some day you will be a man
Johnny's mother believed in him and said he would grow up to be a man
And you will be the leader of a big old band
She believed he would lead a famous band someday
Many people comin' from miles around
People would come from far away just to hear him play
To hear you play your music 'till the sun go down
They would listen to him play until the sun went down
Maybe someday your name will be in lights
Johnny's mother dreamed he would be so famous he would have his name in lights
Sayin' Johnny B. Goode tonight
People would use his name in promotional materials as he played that evening
Go, Johnny B. Goode
The song emphasizes Johnny's talent and encourages him to keep playing
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
Written by: Chuck Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ulissesortigoza2879
Ficou Boa Esta Gravação
@sexymama1966
I loved his hits with the Belmonts, the Del-Satins and his million seller comeback hit in 1968.
@seventyfourseventyfour
Sounds like this may have inspired Bob Dylan’s “Tombstone Blues”
@khughes6896
I'm kind of surprised that a singer's name would be misspelled, especially one as famous as Dion.
@patrickmcgrath5411
THIS IS NOT THE DION THAT I FELL IN LOVE WITH 🤮
@PingPongZappaFM
Everybody Has The Right To Change Their Styles, Dion Was Right Discovering New Styles, He Doesn't Need To Sing The Same Song From 1958 Again To Make Hits.
@fromthesidelines
Especially after The Beatles (and the "British Invasion") displaced him on the Top 40 charts.
@robertorick6383
@@fromthesidelines Add that to the fact that Dion was taking heroin at the time also could explain his sudden change of styles. He finally kicked the habit in late 1967.
@bwb48
His recent stuff is all straight blues with lots of famous guests. It's really good and he still sounds great.
@robertorick6383
@@bwb48 You are correct. Dion doesn't need heavy drugs to prove he can do the blues as well as any R&B singer. Back in the 60's he was well pressured enough to take drugs, but it turned out to be a wrong move. His blues period from 1964-66 confused a lot of his earlier fans who were used to his doo-wop material, and the British Invasion, not to mention the Motown sound & the Atlantic/Stax sound proved to be too much competition for Dion, so while he made some great blues records, he stayed away from the charts for awhile. His return in 1968 signalized another change, a change to folk-rock.