Dion and the Belmonts
Oct 24, 2019 08:40:51 #
I listen to Pandora on my computer when I'm not listening to the Internet radio. Pandora lets you build Channels. One of my favorites is Dion and the Belmonts. As a kid, I always liked their music. What Pandora does is give me Dion and other performers who were similar. The emphasis is on Dion, but there are lots of other singers from that time period. I saved about eight hours of that onto a flash drive for the car.
Listening to Dion and the Belmonts, I appreciate their talent and the work they put into their recordings. They have beautiful harmony, and Dion has a great voice.
Side note - A friend worked for a local and NYC couple whose business was getting royalties for singers from the 1950s and 60s who earned very little money, but who made the studios and agents rich. While she was at the friend's house one day a few years ago, she met Dion. He was very polite and pleasant. He gave her a copy of a CD he had recently recorded.
Listening to Dion and the Belmonts, I appreciate their talent and the work they put into their recordings. They have beautiful harmony, and Dion has a great voice.
Side note - A friend worked for a local and NYC couple whose business was getting royalties for singers from the 1950s and 60s who earned very little money, but who made the studios and agents rich. While she was at the friend's house one day a few years ago, she met Dion. He was very polite and pleasant. He gave her a copy of a CD he had recently recorded.
Oct 24, 2019 08:47:07 #
Thank goodness modern technology will preserve the work and artistry of these earlier recording artists.
jerryc41 wrote:
I listen to Pandora on my computer when I'm not li... (show quote)
Oct 24, 2019 09:02:29 #
One of our local guys was a singer for The Belmonts in the 70's ran a local band here for over 30 years
Oct 24, 2019 09:39:33 #
We all loved his early recordings but only recently did I become aware of his versatility and talent in the Blues Genre... Dion is a remarkable talent and I would recommend to anyone to check out some of his blues work which he transitioned into after his pop recordings.
Oct 24, 2019 10:36:13 #
Oct 25, 2019 07:09:03 #
I'm a big fan of Dion and the Belmonts too.
jerryc41 wrote:
I listen to Pandora on my computer when I'm not li... (show quote)
Oct 25, 2019 09:04:09 #
FrankR
Loc: NYC
We all know about the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper Less well know is that a fourth musician was offered a seat on the flight, but turned it down, saying he refused to pay more for transportation than his parents payed in monthly rent for their Bronx apartment. That performer was Dion DiMucci.
Oct 25, 2019 09:42:30 #
FrankR wrote:
We all know about the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper Less well know is that a fourth musician was offered a seat on the flight, but turned it down, saying he refused to pay more for transportation than his parents payed in monthly rent for their Bronx apartment. That performer was Dion DiMucci.
You mean Waylon Jennings?
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/buddy-holly-richie-valens-big-bopper-killed-in-plane-crash/
Oct 25, 2019 10:03:54 #
mas24
Loc: Southern CA
Yes, I remember Dion from decades past. He had big hits. Two of them were the Wanderer and Run Around Sue. Teenage girls loved him. I also was a big fan of Bobby Darin. Both were unique talents.
Oct 25, 2019 10:59:53 #
A little trivia--Dion Dimucci lived in the "Little Italy" of the Bronx. Those ofus familliar to Arthur Ave knoe that Belmont Ave is one the streets in the Arthur ave neighborhood hence the name of the group. BTW my fave restaurant on Arthur Ave is Amelia's. Terrific food in a very friendly place
Oct 25, 2019 11:26:45 #
Saw them at Chautauqua New York about ten years ago. Put on a great show. During The show he told about the resent history of his life. He was very heavily into drugs and alcohol near death and penniless. One day walking around New York he went by, I believe St. Patric's Cathedral, it was one of the big famous churches there. A voice inside said go in side. He did prayed and found God. His addictions left him and he began to get his life together and tour again. Of course he told it a lot better than I could and had many people in tears. If you get a chance, see him in tour. Everyone ,even us old folk were dancing in the isles to "Run Around Sue".
Oct 25, 2019 11:32:13 #
Oct 25, 2019 12:10:39 #
Dion and the Belmonts and the rest of the Doo Wop era was and is still great music. I too listen to him, Bobby Rydell, Bobby Vee, The Crests, and Johnny Maestro on Pandora. Rydell still performs throughout mostly the Northeast. Occasionally look up some old American Bandstand shows on YouTube as well. Ahhh —- “The Good Old Days!”
Oct 25, 2019 13:04:20 #
Oct 25, 2019 15:21:56 #
kddp13
Loc: Wisconsin
I've had the pleasure of seeing him play twice. Once in the mid 90's with the Belmonts and once in 1974 as an acoustic solo opening for Frank Zappa. He was great both times.
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