Dion
Dion DiMucci was born on July 18, 1939 in the Bronx borough of New York City. A fan of doo-wap, rock nâ roll and unusual for a lad growing up in the city, Dion was heavily influenced by country star Hank Williams Sr.
At eighteen years of age, he formed Dion & The Belmonts, a group of neighborhood friends named after Belmont Avenue in the Bronx. Signed to Laurie Records, one year later they would debut with their first Pop chart hit, âI Wonder Whyâ.
In 1959 the group had two top five hits with âA Teenager In Loveâ and âWhere or Whenâ. âLonely Teenagerâ hit in 1960 with their first #1, âRunaround Sueâ, topping the charts in 1961. Before the year ended, âThe Wandererâ peaked at #2 nationally. Their three top ten hits in 1962, âLovers Who Wonderâ, âLittle Dianeâ and âLove Came to Meâ found the groups lead singer going solo and signing with Columbia Records for a giant top five hit, âRuby Babyâ in 1963. Before the year ended âDonna the Prima Donnaâ and âDrip Dropâ added two more top ten hits for Dion.
Five years later, Dion would have a top five giant hit with âAbraham, Martin and Johnâ, an anthem that flooded the nations airwaves in response to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy and civil right leader Martin Luther King.
Dion was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.