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Biography
redir|Born To Cry|the song by The Hives|Two-Timing Touch and Broken BonesUnreferenced|date=December 2007 Dion and the Belmonts was a leading United States|American vocal group of the late 1950s. The group formed when Dion DiMucci , lead singer (born July 18, 1939), joined The Belmonts - Carlo Mastrangelo , baritone (born October 5, 1938), Fred Milano , second tenor (August 22, 1939 – January 1, 2012), and Angelo D'Aleo , first tenor (born February 3, 1940), in late 1957.
History
After an unsuccessful first single (music)|single , the group was signed to Laurie Records . Their breakthrough came when " I Wonder Why " reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100|Billboard Top 100 record chart|chart , and the group appeared for the first time on American Bandstand . They followed it with the ballad s "No One Knows" (No. 19) and "Don’t Pity Me" (No. 40).
This success won Dion and the Belmonts their first major tour in late 1958, with The Coasters , Buddy Holly and Bobby Darin , and this was followed up by the "Winter Dance Party" tour with Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper . On 2 February 1959, after playing at the Surf Ballroom , Dion decided that he could not afford the $36 cost of a flight to the next venue. The Day the Music Died|The plane crashed ; Holly, Valens, The Big Bopper, and the pilot were killed on 3 February 1959, shortly after midnight. However, the tour continued, with Jimmy Clanton and Bobby Vee being added to the bill as replacements.Fact|date=August 2008 In March 1959, Dion and the Belmonts’ next single, " A Teenager in Love ", was released, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 28 in the UK Singles Chart , and this was followed by an album, Presenting Dion and the Belmonts . Their biggest hit, " Where or When ", was released in November 1959, and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 .
In early 1960, Dion checked into a hospital for heroin addiction, a problem he had had since his mid-teens. Other singles released for the group that year were less successful. In addition, there were musical and financial disputes between Dion and members of the Belmonts. In October 1960, Dion decided to quit for a Dion DiMucci|solo career with a new backing group, The Del-Satins , reaching the top of the charts with songs The_Wanderer_(Dion_song)|"The Wanderer" , " Runaround Sue " and " Ruby Baby ". On later reissues these songs would often be erroneously attributed to Dion and the Belmonts. The Belmonts also continued to release gramophone record|records , but with less success.
Dion and the Belmonts reunited in 1966 for the unsuccessful album Together Again on ABC Records , and again in 1972 for a one-off show at Madison Square Garden , recorded and released as a live album .
In 1968, as a single act, Dion recorded "Abraham, Martin and John" written by Dick Holler. It is a tribute to the memories of icons of social change, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. It was written as a response to the assassinations of King and the younger Kennedy in April and June of 1968.
In 2000, Dion and the Belmonts were inducted in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame .
Discography
Albums
Dion and the Belmonts released two album s during their heyday:
There were later compilation album|compilations , some of which also included the separate hits of The Belmonts , and some of which also included the separate hits of Dion along with Dion and The Belmonts. These two original releases of Dion and The Belmonts are the most collectable.
Dion and the Belmonts also appeared together on:
Together Again (1966)
Reunion: Live at Madison Square Garden (recorded 1972, released 1973)
Singles
Year
Single
U.S. record label
Billboard Hot 100
UK Singles Chart
Oct 1957
"We Went Away" / "Tag Along"
Mohawk 105
-
-
Apr 1958
" I Wonder Why " / "Teen Angel"
Laurie 3013
22
-
Aug 1958
"No One Knows" / "I Can't Go On (Rosalie)"
Laurie 3015
19
-
Dec 1958
"Don't Pity Me" / "Just You"
Laurie 3021
40
-
Mar 1959
" A Teenager in Love " / "I've Cried Before"
Laurie 3027
5
28
Aug 1959
"Every Little Thing I Do" / "A Lover's Prayer"
Laurie 3035
48
-
Nov 1959
" Where or When " / " That's My Desire (1931 song)
