51 Facts About Dion DiMucci

Dion DiMucci had 39 Top 40 hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s as a solo performer, or with the Belmonts and the Del-Satins.

Dion DiMucci's popularity waned in the mid-1960s, and toward the end of the decade he shifted his style with more mature and contemplative songs, such as "Abraham, Martin and John".

Dion DiMucci remained popular in the late 1960s until the mid-1970s, and continued making music.

Dion DiMucci returned to secular music in the late 1980s with Yo Frankie.

Between the mid-2000s and 2021, Dion DiMucci released six chart-topping blues albums.

Dion DiMucci was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

In 2002, Dion DiMucci was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "Runaround Sue".

Dion DiMucci was born to an Italian-American family in the Bronx, New York.

Dion DiMucci accompanied his father, Pasquale DiMucci, on tour as a child.

Dion DiMucci developed a love of country music, particularly the work of Hank Williams.

Dion DiMucci was fond of blues and doo-wop musicians he heard performing in local bars, and on the radio.

Dion DiMucci's singing was honed on the street corners and local clubs of the Bronx, where he and other neighborhood singers created a cappella riffs.

In early 1957, Dion DiMucci auditioned for Bob and Gene Schwartz, for their short-lived Mohawk Records label.

At first Dion DiMucci refused, stating the song would sound like something his old fashioned parents would listen to, but the Schwartzes convinced him to give it a try.

The backing vocals were by a group called "the Timberlanes", whom Dion DiMucci had never met.

Dion DiMucci was invited to accompany the group but decided that he did not want to spend $36 for the flight, as it was the same monthly rent his parents paid for his childhood apartment and he could not justify the indulgence.

However, in early 1960, Dion DiMucci checked into a hospital for heroin addiction, a condition he battled since his mid-teens.

Dion DiMucci had successful albums with Runaround Sue and Lovers Who Wander.

Dion DiMucci was the first rock and roll artist signed to the label, which was an anomaly considering that Mitch Miller loathed that particular genre of music.

Dion DiMucci recorded an Italian version of "Donna the Prima Donna" using the identical backup vocals.

Still with Columbia, Dion DiMucci formed a new group to back him in 1965.

Dion DiMucci released several albums essentially as a singer-songwriter, to moderate sales, moving to the Warner Brothers label in 1969.

In 1978, Dion DiMucci released an album drawing on many of his teenage influences, Return of the Wanderer, another commercial failure.

In December 1979, there was a radical spiritual change in Dion DiMucci, who had become a born again Christian.

In 1984, Dion DiMucci was nominated for a GMA Dove Award for the album I Put Away My Idols.

Dion DiMucci was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Gospel Vocal Performance, Male for the same album.

On September 24,1985, Dion DiMucci was a guest on 100 Huntley Street.

In 1987, Dion DiMucci agreed to do a concert of his old hits at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

In 1989, Dion DiMucci was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with an introduction by Reed.

In 1996, Dion DiMucci joined Scott Kempner and Frank Funaro of the Del-Lords, and Mike Mesaros of the Smithereens, in a short-lived band called Little Kings.

In 2002, Dion DiMucci was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "Runaround Sue".

Dion DiMucci continued to perform songs from his albums live, including a concert in 2004 being recorded for release on DVD.

In January 2006, Dion DiMucci released Bronx in Blue, an album of blues and country standards, which was nominated for a Grammy Award.

In November 2007, Dion DiMucci issued a follow-up album titled Son of Skip James, which peaked at No 4 on the Top Blues Albums chart.

In October 2008, Dion DiMucci released Heroes: Giants of Early Guitar Rock, an album of his covers of early rock and roll songs he considers seminal to the genre.

In October 2009, Dion DiMucci performed "The Wanderer" with Paul Simon at the 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert.

Dion DiMucci released Tank Full of Blues on January 24,2012.

In 2015, Dion DiMucci released the single "New York Is My Home", again with Simon.

Dion DiMucci planned four concerts in the US during early 2016, and was invited as a keynote speaker for the 2016 SXSW in Texas.

Dion DiMucci spoke on the topic A Conversation with Dion: Rock's Enduring Voice on March 17,2016.

Dion DiMucci appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on April 8,2016.

In May 2017, Dion DiMucci released Kickin' Child: The Lost Album 1965 from Norton Records, containing songs recorded in 1965 when he was with Columbia Records.

The album is a celebration of the New York City scene, which Dion DiMucci was part of during that pivotal era.

In June 2020, Dion DiMucci released Blues with Friends via Keeping the Blues Alive Records, an independent record label created by Joe Bonamassa and Roy Weisman for Dion DiMucci and other blues musicians to showcase their talents.

Dion DiMucci released two Christmas songs in 2020: "Hello Christmas" and "You Know It's Christmas".

In November 2021, Dion DiMucci released Stomping Ground, which includes extensive liner notes written by Pete Townshend.

In October 2011, an industry-only reading of a new play about Dion DiMucci's life was performed in New York City.

Dion DiMucci revealed that Michael Wartella would be starring in The Wanderer on December 16,2017.

Dion DiMucci has been married to Susan Butterfield since March 25,1963.

Dion DiMucci was a member of the American board of directors for Renewal Ministries in 2004.

Dion DiMucci appeared on The Journey Home and discussed his wanderings from Catholicism to Protestantism and back again on May 1,2006.