Warren Web: Dion

Listen to music by rock & roll legend Dion.

Dion DiMucci is an American singer-songwriter from the Bronx in New York City whose work has incorporated elements of doo-wop, rock and R&B styles, and most recently, straight blues. He began his career in the late 50’s as the lead singer of the Belmonts, and several years later went solo in 1960. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, along with The Rolling Stones, The Temptations, Otis Redding, and Stevie Wonder.

Dion was a first-generation rock and roll artist who is still active at 77 today with new albums and concerts. In 1958 he had three top-forty hits, in 2007 he was nominated for a Grammy, and his last three albums have some of his best work.

As a 19-year-old leading Dion & the Belmonts in 1959, he declined the chartered plane ride that crashed and killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “Big Bopper” Richardson on the “Winter Dance Party” tour. He and Bob Dylan were the only American singers in the pictures of 57 famous people on the cover of the The Beatles album cover for Sgt. Pepper (he’s between Tom Mix’s cowboy hat and Tony Curtis up and left from John Lennon, and Bob Dylan’s in the upper right).

Best of Dion (2001) – 10 songs, 26 min

These are his best songs from the late 50’s. This really takes me back to my teenage years!

New York Is My Home (2016) – 10 songs, 38 min

Here is his most recent album New York Is My Home that he just released.

Albums

Recent Albums (2000-2015)

Here are some of his other studio albums.

Sanctuary / Suite for Late Summer (2015) – 24 songs, 1 hr 17 min

Born to Be with You / Streetheart (2015) – 20 songs, 1 hr 18 min

Sit Down Old Friend / You’re Not Alone (2015) – 22 songs, 1 hr 17 min

Tank Full of Blues (2012) – 11 songs, 44 min

Don’t Start Me Talkin’ (2010) – 17 songs, 49 min

Bronx in Blue (2006) – 12 songs, 43 min

Dion (2007) – 11 songs, 37 min

Live At The Bitter End (2015) – 17 songs, 1 hr 56 min

Earlier Albums (1969-1990)

Fire In The Night (1990) – 8 songs, 36 min

Yo Frankie (1989) – 10 songs, 41 min

Velvet & Steel (1986) – 10 songs, 41 min

Kingdom In The Street (1985) – 10 songs, 35 min

I Put Away My Idols (1983) – 10 songs, 38 min

Return Of The Wanderer (1977) – 10 songs, 41 min

Wonder Where I’m Bound (1969) – 11 songs, 34 min

Early 1960’s

Donna the Prima Donna (1963) – 12 songs, 31 min

Ruby Baby (1963) – 12 songs, 32 min

Lovers Who Wander (1962) – 12 songs, 32 min

Runaround Sue (1961) – 12 songs, 31 min

Super Hits (2000) – 10 songs, 26 min

Heroes (2008) – 17 songs, 55 min

Compilation Albums

Here are some compilations.

My Time Is Now (2013) – 17 songs, 43 min

The Best of Dion & The Belmonts (2005) – 30 songs, 1 hr 16 min

Videos

Here are some videos.

New York Is My Home by Dion and Paul Simon (2015) – 4 min 42 sec

Early Live Rock and Roll Videos (1950’s)

A Teenager in Love (1959) – 3 min 19 sec

The Wanderer – 2 min 44 sec

Runaround Sue (1961) – 2 min 36 sec

I Wonder Why (1958) – 2 min 34 sec

Where or When (1958) – 3 min 16 sec

Don’t Pity Me (1959) – 4 min 5 sec

Would You Like to Swing on a Star (1960) – 2 min 51 sec

Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame

Runaround Sue by Dion at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 25th Anniversary Show (2010) – 3 min 35 sec

The Winter Dance Party (2015) – 1 hr 7 min 45 sec

Here’s the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame history of “The Winter Dance Party” told by Dion. The true story of the plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper.