This last pick became my favorite song in 1968 when it was released. I had returned home from serving 3 years in the army in Sept.1966 and was married to Joan with 1 child (Jeff). I was finishing my 2nd year of college on the GI bill at the Manitowoc Extension Center when this song was released. Funny how some life events get glued to a piece of music. I never knew who sang the song until today . . . writing this release. Dion was a cool dude!
Well that about wraps it up for this week. Bill, we are thinking of you!
Harv
Harv
Happy July 22nd!
Looks like sunny and clear in the midwest. High today in the mid 80's (cooler near the Pacific) mid 70's in Edmunds and Federal Way.
This week we are going back to our HS years to take a closer look at a group you all remember "Dion and the Belmonts" not to be confused with "Dion and the Westmont's" (another popular . . . less well known group back then) . . . . Corrections and comments may be in order here
Dion and the Belmonts were a leading American vocal group of the late 1950s. All members were from the Bronx, New York City. The group formed when Dion DiMucci, lead singer (born July 18, 1939), joined The Belmonts – Carlo Mastrangelo, bass-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. The name The Belmonts was derived from the fact that two of the four singers lived on Belmont Avenue in the Bronx, and the other two lived near Belmont Avenue.
After an unsuccessful single on Mohawk Records in 1957, the group signed with Laurie Records in early 1958. The breakthrough came when their very first Laurie release, "I Wonder Why" reached No. 22 on the Billboard Top 100 charts, and they appeared for the first time on the nationally televised American Bandstand show, hosted by Dick Clark. 1] Dion and the Belmonts were the sound of the city. Their roots were groups like the Flamingos, the Five Satins, and the Dells; acts who developed their sound in urban settings on street corners, mimicking instruments with their voices, even complex jazz arrangements.[2]
In March 1959, Dion and the Belmonts’ next single, "A Teenager in Love", broke the Top Ten, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 28 on the UK Singles Charts. Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, it's considered one of the greatest songs in Rock and Roll history.
In 1968, as a solo performer, Dion recorded "Abraham, Martin and John" written by Dick Holler. It is a tribute to social change icons, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy.
In 2000, Dion and the Belmonts were inducted in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Looks like sunny and clear in the midwest. High today in the mid 80's (cooler near the Pacific) mid 70's in Edmunds and Federal Way.
This week we are going back to our HS years to take a closer look at a group you all remember "Dion and the Belmonts" not to be confused with "Dion and the Westmont's" (another popular . . . less well known group back then) . . . . Corrections and comments may be in order here
Dion and the Belmonts were a leading American vocal group of the late 1950s. All members were from the Bronx, New York City. The group formed when Dion DiMucci, lead singer (born July 18, 1939), joined The Belmonts – Carlo Mastrangelo, bass-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. The name The Belmonts was derived from the fact that two of the four singers lived on Belmont Avenue in the Bronx, and the other two lived near Belmont Avenue.
After an unsuccessful single on Mohawk Records in 1957, the group signed with Laurie Records in early 1958. The breakthrough came when their very first Laurie release, "I Wonder Why" reached No. 22 on the Billboard Top 100 charts, and they appeared for the first time on the nationally televised American Bandstand show, hosted by Dick Clark. 1] Dion and the Belmonts were the sound of the city. Their roots were groups like the Flamingos, the Five Satins, and the Dells; acts who developed their sound in urban settings on street corners, mimicking instruments with their voices, even complex jazz arrangements.[2]
In March 1959, Dion and the Belmonts’ next single, "A Teenager in Love", broke the Top Ten, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 28 on the UK Singles Charts. Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, it's considered one of the greatest songs in Rock and Roll history.
In 1968, as a solo performer, Dion recorded "Abraham, Martin and John" written by Dick Holler. It is a tribute to social change icons, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy.
In 2000, Dion and the Belmonts were inducted in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.