The Wanderer
The Dion DiMucci you might not know
Earlier this week I went to Fordham University in the Bronx to see Dion DiMucci.
Remember Dion and The Belmonts?
Remember “The Wanderer”? “Runaround Sue”? “A Teenager in Love”?
“Abraham, Martin, and John”?
Sure, you do. Well, for the younger crowd, you will want to discover those hits from the ‘60s … and the musician who, at 85, is still making great new music.
Monday’s event was sponsored by Fordham’s Curran Center for American Catholic Studies. From the promotional material:
Dion returns to Fordham University, where he received an honorary degree in 2013, to talk about his Bronx roots, the beginnings of his music career with the founding of Dion and the Belmonts, his rich and ongoing contributions to American popular music, and his spiritual journey from the Catholicism of his youth to a mature embracing of his faith. A Grammy-nominated artist, Dion has released more than 40 albums, scored 11 Top 10 hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
For nearly ninety minutes Dion told those stories, mixing in a few songs along the way. His anecdotes were many, and heartfelt; we really got to know the man behind the music. To get a flavor for those stories, and the man - especially if you’re familiar only with Dion’s music - you’ll want to pick up a copy of Dion: The Wanderer Talks Truth (Stories, Humor, and Music) written with Mike Aquilina. From the back cover:
“Dion came up out of the Bronx in the 60s and tore through the music charts in a ferocious display of talent. He continued to make great music while slowly returning to his Catholic roots. His hard-won wisdom filters through his stories whether he’s recalling how he went shopping with John Lennon and ended up on the cover of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band or what it was like to travel in the Jim Crow South with Sam Cooke.”
In addition to the book, Mike Aquilina has been writing music with Dion for nearly twenty years, and while “The Wanderer” may be best known for his ‘60s hits, he continues to make great music like these outstanding recent releases:
“Runaround Sue” is one of my favorites. I’ve seen Dion interviewed on EWTN speaking of his Catholic Faith. But I did not know that Mike, aside from writing books, writes music as well, and is friends with Dion! Thank you‼️😊 again, Jim!