Dion DiMucci With the Belmonts: 1957-1960 How did he end up in the Belmonts? Bob and Gene Schwartz also signed Dion's friends, the Belmonts, (Carlo Mastrangelo, Fred Milano, and Angelo D'Aleo), a vocal group named for nearby Belmont Avenue, Who else was signed? teamed them, with Dion singing lead. Did they release an album? Their initial hit was followed by "No One Knows" and "Don't Pity Me," which also charted the Billboard Top 100. What was their initial hit? No One Knows How did no one knows do on the charts? charted the Billboard Top 100. Did he break with the Belmonts in 1960? in early 1960, Dion checked into hospital for heroin addiction, a problem he had had since his mid-teens. What did he do after the hospital? Dion decided to quit for a solo career.
Did the belmonts continue without him?
Did the belmonts continue without Dion DiMucci?
Bob and Gene Schwartz also signed Dion's friends, the Belmonts, (Carlo Mastrangelo, Fred Milano, and Angelo D'Aleo), a vocal group named for nearby Belmont Avenue, and teamed them, with Dion singing lead. The new group's breakthrough came in early 1958, when "I Wonder Why" (on their newly formed "Laurie" label) made No. 22 on the U.S. charts. Dion said of the Belmonts; "I'd give 'em sounds. I'd give 'em parts and stuff. That's what 'I Wonder Why' was about. We kind of invented this percussive rhythmic sound. If you listen to that song, everybody was doing something different. There's four guys, one guy was doing bass, I was singing lead, one guy's going 'ooh wah ooh,' and another guy's doing tenor. It was totally amazing. When I listen to it today, oftentimes I think, 'man, those kids are talented.'"  Their initial hit was followed by "No One Knows" and "Don't Pity Me," which also charted the Billboard Top 100. This success won a place for Dion and the Belmonts on the ill-fated "The Winter Dance Party" tour with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson), Frankie Sardo, and other performers. On February 3, 1959, after a concert stop in Clear Lake, Iowa, Holly and others decided to charter a flight to the next venue rather than travel on the tour bus. Dion 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 couldn't justify the indulgence. The plane crashed, killing all on board; Holly, Valens, Richardson, and the pilot Roger Peterson. Dion and the Belmonts continued on the tour, along with Frankie Sardo, while Bobby Vee, then an unknown artist, performed in Holly's place at the very next concert. Later, Jimmy Clanton, Frankie Avalon, and Fabian were added to replace the other now-deceased headliners.  Dion and the Belmonts' next single, "A Teenager in Love," was released in March 1959, eventually hitting No. 5 on the U.S. pop charts and No. 28 in the UK. The group's biggest hit, "Where or When," was released in November of that year, and reached No. 3 on the U.S. charts. However, in early 1960, Dion checked into hospital for heroin addiction, a problem he had had since his mid-teens. Further single releases for the group that year were less successful. There were musical, personal and financial differences between Dion and members of the Belmonts, and in October 1960, Dion decided to quit for a solo career. By the time of their breakup, all eight Laurie releases had charted on the Hot 100. CANNOTANSWER
Further single releases for the group that year were less successful.
Dion Francis DiMucci (born July 18, 1939), better known simply as Dion, is an American singer and songwriter whose music has incorporated elements of doo-wop, rock, R&B and blues. Initially as lead singer of Dion and the Belmonts, and then in his solo career, he was one of the most popular American rock and roll performers of the pre-British Invasion era. He had 39 Top 40 hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s as a solo performer, with the Belmonts or with the Del-Satins. He is best remembered for the singles "Runaround Sue", "The Wanderer", "Ruby Baby" and "Lovers Who Wander", among other hits.

Dion's popularity waned in the mid-1960s. Toward the end of the decade, he shifted his style and produced songs that were more mature and contemplative, such as "Abraham, Martin and John". He remained popular in the late 1960s until the mid-1970s, and continues making music. During the 1980s, Dion produced several Christian albums, winning a GMA Dove Award in 1984 for the album I Put Away My Idols. He returned to secular music in the late 1980s with Yo Frankie (1989). Between the mid-2000s and 2021, Dion released six chart-topping blues albums. Critics who had dismissed his early work, labeling him as a teen idol, praised his later work and noted the influence he has had on other musicians.

A Grammy-nominated artist, Dion has released nearly 40 albums and scored eight Top 10 hits (ten including the Belmonts) on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Early life 
Dion was born to an Italian-American family in the Bronx, New York. As a child, he accompanied his father, Pasquale DiMucci, a vaudeville entertainer, on tour, and developed a love of country music – particularly the work of Hank Williams. He also developed a fondness for the blues and doo-wop musicians he heard performing in local bars and on the radio. His 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, he auditioned for Bob and Gene Schwartz for their short-lived Mohawk Records label. They asked Dion to sing a song which had been arranged by Hugo Montenegro and recorded featuring Vic Damone doing vocals. At first Dion 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 had never met. The resulting single, "The Chosen Few", was released under the name "Dion and the Timberlanes", and became a minor regional hit. Dion himself stated in 2019 during an interview at "Crashing the Party" (a radio program related to Norton Records in Brooklyn, New York) that "The Chosen Few" hit the Top Ten locally in Boston and enabled him to perform this song on American Bandstand where the kids at the show started screaming during his performance, which gave him his first impression of being a record star. Writing about this experience later, in his autobiography, The Wanderer, Dion said that he had never met the Timberlanes and did not even know who they were. "The vocal group was so white bread, I went back to my neighborhood and I recruited a bunch of guys – three guys – and we called ourselves Dion and the Belmonts."

Career

Beginnings with the Belmonts: 1957–1960 

Bob and Gene Schwartz signed Dion's friends, the Belmonts (Carlo Mastrangelo, Fred Milano, and Angelo D'Aleo), a vocal group named for the Belmont, Bronx neighborhood, and teamed them up with Dion singing lead. The new group's breakthrough came in early 1958, when "I Wonder Why" (on their newly formed Laurie Records) made No. 22 on the U.S. charts. Dion said of the Belmonts; "I'd give 'em sounds. I'd give 'em parts and stuff. That's what 'I Wonder Why' was about. We kind of invented this percussive rhythmic sound. If you listen to that song, everybody was doing something different. There's four guys, one guy was doing bass, I was singing lead, one guy's going 'ooh wah ooh,' and another guy's doing tenor. It was totally amazing. When I listen to it today, oftentimes I think, 'man, those kids are talented.'"

Their initial hit was followed by "No One Knows" and "Don't Pity Me", which also charted the Billboard Top 100. This success won a place for Dion and the Belmonts on the ill-fated "The Winter Dance Party" tour with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson), Frankie Sardo, and other performers. On February 3, 1959, after a concert stop in Clear Lake, Iowa, Holly and others decided to charter a flight to the next venue rather than travel on the tour bus. Dion 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. The plane crashed, killing all on board: Holly, Valens, Richardson, and the pilot Roger Peterson. Dion and the Belmonts continued on the tour, along with Frankie Sardo, while Bobby Vee, then an unknown artist, performed in Holly's place at the very next concert. Later, Jimmy Clanton, Frankie Avalon, and Fabian were added to replace the other now-deceased headliners.

Dion and the Belmonts' next single, "A Teenager in Love", was released in March 1959, eventually hitting No. 5 on the U.S. pop charts and No. 28 in the UK. The group's biggest hit, "Where or When", was released in November of that year, and reached No. 3 on the U.S. charts. However, in early 1960, Dion checked into hospital for heroin addiction, a problem he had had since his mid-teens. Further single releases for the group that year were less successful.  There were musical, personal and financial differences between Dion and members of the Belmonts, and in October 1960, Dion decided to quit for a solo career. By the time of their breakup, all eight Laurie releases had charted on the Hot 100.

Solo stardom and touring worldwide: 1960–1964 
By the end of 1960, Dion produced his first solo album on Laurie Records, Alone with Dion, released in 1961. The single "Lonely Teenager" rose to No. 12 in the US charts. The name on his solo releases was simply "Dion". Follow-ups "Havin' Fun" and "Kissin' Game" had less success, and the signs were that Dion would drift onto the cabaret circuit. However, he then recorded an up-tempo number co-written with Ernie Maresca with a new vocal group, the Del-Satins. The record, "Runaround Sue", stormed up the U.S. charts, reaching No. 1 in October 1961, and No. 11 in the UK, where he also toured. "Runaround Sue" sold over a million copies, achieving gold disc status.

For the next single, Laurie promoted the A-side, "The Majestic", but it was the B-side, Maresca's "The Wanderer", which received more radio play and climbed swiftly up the charts to reach No. 2 in the U.S. in February 1962 and No. 10 in the UK. The 1976 re-release made the UK Top 20.

By the end of 1961, Dion had become a major star, touring worldwide and making an appearance in the Columbia Pictures musical film Twist Around the Clock. In 1962, he followed with a string of singles he wrote or co-wrote including "Lovers Who Wander" (No. 3), "Little Diane" (No. 8), "Love Came to Me" (No. 10). He also had successful albums with Runaround Sue and Lovers Who Wander.

At the end of 1962, Dion moved from Laurie to Columbia Records. He was the first rock and roll artist signed to the label, which was an anomaly considering that its then-A&R director, Mitch Miller, loathed that particular genre of music. The first Columbia single, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's "Ruby Baby" (originally a hit for the Drifters) reached No. 2, while "Donna the Prima Donna" and "Drip Drop" (another remake of a Drifters hit) both reached No. 6 in late 1963. (Dion also recorded an Italian version of "Donna the Prima Donna" using the identical backup vocals.) His other Columbia releases were less successful, and problems with his drug addiction and changing public tastes, especially the British Invasion, saw a period of commercial decline.

Belmonts reunion and renewed contract: 1965–1968 
Following a European tour, Dion returned to the U.S. and was introduced to classic blues by Columbia's John Hammond. To the consternation of his management, he began recording more blues-oriented material, including Willie Dixon's "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Spoonful", but these releases – some produced by Tom Wilson, with Al Kooper on keyboards – were not commercially successful. In 1965, still with Columbia, Dion formed a new group to back him, The Wanderers, composed of John Falbo on guitar, Pete Baron (Pete Falciglia) on bass, and Carlo Mastrangelo of the Belmonts on drums. They made national appearances on Dick Clark's, Where The Action Is, and The Lloyd Thaxton Show. A number of self-penned tracks were recorded and released unsuccessfully as singles, and did not appear in album format until years later. In June 1965 he recorded fellow Columbia Records's contemporary Bob Dylan's composition "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" a half-year before Them (featuring Van Morrison)'s hit version.

In 1966–67, Dion briefly reunited with the Belmonts, recording the LP Together Again for ABC Records. The album was unsuccessful, despite one classic self-penned song, "My Girl the Month of May". Two singles were released from the LP. While neither charted in the United States, they fared better in the UK. "My Girl The Month of May" entered the Radio London "Fab 40" at No. 9 the week of December 25, 1966. A 'turntable' hit at London underground clubs like Middle Earth, the disc received a lot of play from pirate radio DJ's John Peel and Kenny Everett. The follow up, "Movin' Man", reached No. 17 on the "Radio London" charts on Easter Sunday, March 26, 1967. "My Girl The Month of May" was later covered by English artists Alan Bown in 1967, and Island Records artists The Bunch (featuring Sandy Denny and other members of Fairport Convention) in April 1972. During their brief mid-60's reunion, Dion and the Belmonts appeared on the popular Clay Cole Show performing "Berimbau" and "My Girl The Month of May", and occasionally performed at local New York City clubs such as "The Mardi Gras" on Staten Island (April 29, 1967) before disbanding. While Dion's career appeared to be nearing an end, he still retained enough credibility to be, along with Bob Dylan, one of only two rock artists featured on the album cover of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967.

In April 1968, Dion experienced what he identified as a powerful religious transformation. After getting clean once again from heroin addiction, an experience he documented in his 1970 song "Your Own Backyard", he approached Laurie Records for a new contract. They agreed on the condition that he record the song "Abraham, Martin & John", written by Dick Holler (also the writer of the Royal Guardsmen's "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron") in response to the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, and those of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy during the spring of 1968. The success of this song (released by Dion in August 1968 and later recorded by many others including Marvin Gaye) which reached No. 4 in the US charts and No. 1 in Canada, resuscitated Dion's career. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.

Mature and Christian music period: 1969–1986 
For the next few years, Dion's music became radically different, moving to more contemplative and mature material. He released several albums essentially as a singer-songwriter, to moderate sales, moving to the Warner Brothers label in 1969.

There followed a live reunion show with the Belmonts at Madison Square Garden on June 2, 1972, which was recorded and released as a live album by Warner. A year later, in 1973, Dion and the original Belmonts performed once more, doing a sold-out concert at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, New York. However, no recording of the 1973 reunion was released. This was followed in 1975 by the album Born to Be with You produced by Phil Spector. The album was a commercial failure, but has been subsequently praised by such artists as Jason Pierce of Spiritualized and Pete Townshend of The Who with the track "Only You Know" being sampled by Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker for his single "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time" from his 2006 solo album Jarvis.

In 1978, Dion 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, who had become a born again Christian. Thereafter, his recordings for several years were in a contemporary Christian vein, in which he released five albums on the DaySpring Records label, a division of Word Records in Waco, Texas. These albums reflecting his evangelical Christian convictions were Inside Job (1980), Only Jesus (1981), I Put Away My Idols (1983) which charted at No. 37, Seasons (1984), Kingdom in the Streets (1985) and Velvet & Steel (1986). Several singles were successfully released to Christian radio, notably "Still in the Spirit" from Kingdom in the Streets.

In 1984, Dion won the GMA Dove Award (Christian Music Award) for the album I Put Away My Idols. He was also nominated for Grammy Award for Best Gospel Vocal Performance, Male for the same album.

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

Return to secular music and RRHOF induction: 1987–1999 
In 1987, Dion agreed to do a concert of his old hits at Radio City Music Hall in New York. The two disc CD of this concert was released in 2005, featuring concert photos by Dion's friend, Michael J. Friedman. This concert helped free him to celebrate both his past and his future, and led to a series of special appearances, including a fundraiser for homeless medical relief. There he shared the stage with fans such as Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon and Lou Reed, all of whom cited Dion as one of their prime influences.

Dion's autobiography, The Wanderer: Dion's Story, co-authored by Davin Seay, was published in the late-1980s.

In 1989, DiMucci returned to rock music with the contemporary album Yo Frankie, which included appearances by Paul Simon, Lou Reed, k.d. lang, Patty Smyth and Bryan Adams. Produced by Dave Edmunds (who also played guitar on the album), "Yo Frankie has a sharp sound while never losing sight of Dion's soulful, doo-wop voice." Overall, "the relevant and nostalgic statement from an artist who helped forge rock & roll's first wave" found his way back on radio and in music videos during this period (both on VH1 and MTV), as well as touring.

Dion was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF) in 1989 (with an introduction by Lou Reed). Controversially, when Dion's solo induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame occurred, the other original members of the Belmonts (Carlo Mastrangelo, Fred Milano, and Angelo D'Aleo) were not inducted. A January 3, 2012 Billboard magazine article stated: "There was strife between DiMucci and Belmonts members, who were not pleased when DiMucci was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame without them in 1989."

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. A live album was later released, but not widely circulated or promoted.

Grammy Hall of Fame and blues success: 2000–2019 
Dion has released several albums with contemporary rock artists. His Déjà Nu album in 2000 found him covering Bruce Springsteen, a major follower over the years. He joined Springsteen onstage in Miami in 2002 for a performance of "If I Should Fall Behind" from Dream on Fire.

In 2002, Dion was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "Runaround Sue". He continues to perform songs from his albums live, including a concert in 2004 being recorded for release on DVD.

In January 2006, Dion released Bronx in Blue, an album of blues and country standards, which was nominated for a Grammy Award. It peaked at No. 2 on the Top Blues Albums chart. In November 2007, Dion issued a follow-up album titled Son of Skip James, which peaked at No. 4 on the Top Blues Albums chart.

In October 2008, 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. The album includes versions of songs originally recorded by Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Cash, and many other early rock guitarists.

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

An audiobook and paperback by Dion and Mike Aquilina, titled Dion: The Wanderer Talks Truth (Stories, Humor Music), was published in April 2011. DiMucci shares stories about The Bronx in the 1950s, how he ended up on the cover of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and his travels with Sam Cooke in the Jim Crow South.

Dion released Tank Full of Blues on January 24, 2012. It peaked at No. 3 on the Top Blues Albums chart.

While touring on April 5, 2015, Dion performed "Donna the Prima Donna" live in Las Vegas. On July 11, 2015, he held a concert in Westbury, New York.

In 2015, Dion released the single "New York Is My Home" with Paul Simon. Dion had previously worked with Simon on his 1989 hit "Written on the Subway Wall". The single was followed by the album New York Is My Home, released February 12, 2016. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Top Blues Album chart.

Dion planned four concerts in the U.S. during early 2016 and was invited as a keynote speaker for the 2016 SXSW in Texas. He spoke on the topic A Conversation with Dion: Rock's Enduring Voice on March 17, 2016.

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

In May 2017, Dion released Kickin' Child: The Lost Album 1965 from Norton Records, containing songs recorded in 1965 when he was with Columbia Records but were not previously released. Also in May 2017, Richard Barone's Sorrows & Promises: Greenwich Village in the 1960s was released, which included Dion performing a duet of his 1964 song "The Road I'm On (Gloria)" with Barone. The album is a celebration of the New York City scene that Dion was part of during that pivotal era.

Recent albums with KTBA Records: 2020–present 
In June 2020, Dion released Blues with Friends via Keeping the Blues Alive Records (KTBA), a new record label created by Joe Bonamassa and Roy Weisman for Dion and other blues musicians to showcase their talents. The album features Van Morrison, Jeff Beck, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, and others (including liner notes by Bob Dylan). A digital album (and a double vinyl record set), Dion released a music video for every song from the album on his website and social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart (9 weeks at No. 1 and 59 weeks total). It also charted in United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Australia.

American Songwriter magazine honored Dion's "Song for Sam Cooke (Here in America)" as the "Greatest of the Great 2020 Songs".

Dion also released two Christmas songs in 2020: "Hello Christmas" (featuring Amy Grant) and "You Know It's Christmas" (featuring Bonamassa). Both songs were co-written with Mike Aquilina. Music videos were produced for both songs.

Dion's song "Blues Comin' On" (with Bonamassa) from Blues with Friends was nominated for a 2021 Blues Music Award.

In November 2021, Dion released Stomping Ground (with music videos), which includes extensive liner notes written by Pete Townshend. Except for a cover of "Red House", the songs were written by Dion and Aquilina. Multiple guest artists participate on the album. The album became Dion's second No. 1 blues album.

The Wanderer musical 
On October 13, 2011, an industry-only reading of a new play about Dion's life was performed in New York City.

In a December 9, 2011 article from The New York Times, Dion and his collaborator (writer/director Charles Messina) discussed details about the project – titled The Wanderer: The Life and Music of Dion – which will focus on the years between 1957 until the late-1960s, and will feature more than 20 songs from that era as well as new/original music. In the article, Dion gave his perspective on the story: "You know, I always saw my story as a young Sopranos with great music and a Rocky Graziano Somebody Up There Likes Me ending. It's a story of redemption. A rock and roll redemption story!"

DiMucci revealed that Michael Wartella would be starring in The Wanderer on December 16, 2017. There was a reading of the musical on November 2, 2017 while working on it continued. On December 4, 2019, it was announced that former New Kids on the Block member Joey McIntyre would star as Johnny, Michael Wartella as Dion, and Christy Altomare as wife, Susan. The first performance was scheduled to start on May 28, 2020, at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the opening performance was rescheduled to March 24, 2022.

Personal life 
Dion lives in Boca Raton, Florida and New York City.

In the late 1990s, Dion visited his old Bronx parish, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and returned to Catholicism. Sparking Dion's reversion to Catholicism was "a chance viewing of The Journey Home program on EWTN."

As a practicing Roman Catholic and having struggled with a heroin addiction during his youth, Dion has been involved in prison religion, reaching out to men going through drug recovery. 

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

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

Selective discography 

With the Belmonts
 Presenting Dion and the Belmonts (1959) 
 Wish Upon a Star with Dion and the Belmonts (1960) 
 Together Again (1966)
 Live at Madison Square Garden 1972 (1973) 

Solo albums
 Alone with Dion (1961)
 Runaround Sue (1961)
 Donna the Prima Donna  (1963) 
 Dion (1968)
 Suite for Late Summer (1972)
 Born to Be with You (1975)
 Streetheart (1976)
 I Put Away My Idols (1983) 
 Yo Frankie (1989)
 Son of Skip James (2007)
 Blues with Friends (2020)
 Stomping Ground (2021)

References

External links 

 
Comprehensive Rolling Stone profile
The Spiritual Journey of the Wanderer Who Came Home By Dion Dimucci

 Dion the Wanderer, Back In Blue (an article at NPR.com)

1939 births
Living people
American male singers
American people of Italian descent
American male pop singers
American folk singers
American rock singers
Musicians from the Bronx
American performers of Christian music
Laurie Records artists
Columbia Records artists
Singers from New York City
Dion and the Belmonts members
Doo-wop musicians
Catholics from New York (state)
Fred Milano (August 26, 1939 – January 1, 2012) was an American doo-wop singer. Born in the Bronx, New York, he was a member (second tenor) of The Belmonts who became successful in the late 1950s as Dion and the Belmonts, and in the early 1960s. The Belmonts got their name from the street that Milano lived on, Belmont Avenue.

Life
He had participated in every one of the Belmonts' recording sessions dating back 54 years. Dion DiMucci said of his death; "I was shocked, obviously, because it was so sudden. It was already in stage four when he found out there was anything wrong with him. It hit hard because a relationship like we had, it’s ingrained in you. We knew each other from our teenage boyhoods; even though we weren’t close and didn’t talk in later years, what we went through together made us like family. He and the Belmonts — they were the very best. Freddie was almost like a genius with vocal harmony. I was humbled to sing with Freddie, Carlo and Angelo."

In 2000, Dion and the Belmonts were inducted in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

Milano died on January 1, 2012, from lung cancer in New York, at the age of 72.

Discography

Singles
 Mohawk Records 
 "Santa Margherita" / "Teen-Age Clementine" (1957) - The Belmonts
 "Tag Along" / "We Went Away" (1958) - Dion and the Belmonts
 Laurie Records 
 "I Wonder Why" / "Teen Angel" (1958) - Dion and the Belmonts
 "No One Knows" / "I Can't Go On (Rosalie)" (1958) - Dion and the Belmonts
 "Don't Pity Me" / "Just You" (1958) - Dion and the Belmonts
 "A Teenager in Love" / "Ive Cried Before" (1959) - Dion and the Belmonts
 "A Lover's Prayer" / "Every Little Thing I Do" (1959) - Dion and the Belmonts
 "Where or When" / "That's My Desire" (1960) - Dion and the Belmonts
 "When You Wish upon a Star" / "Wonderful Girl" (1960) - Dion and the Belmonts
 "In the Still of the Night" / "A Funny Feeling" (1960) - Dion and the Belmonts
 "We Belong Together" / "Such A Long Way" (1961) - The Belmonts
 "Story Teller" / "A Brand New Song" (1975) - The Belmonts
 Sabrina/Sabina Records 
 "Tell Me Why" / "Smoke From Your Cigarette" (1961) - The Belmonts
 "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" / Searching For A New Love" (1961) - The Belmonts
 "I Need Someone" / "That American Dance" (1961) - The Belmonts
 "I Confess" / "Hombre" (1962) - The Belmonts
 "Come On Little Angel" / "How About Me" (1962) - The Belmonts
 "Diddle-Dee-Dum" / "Farewell" (1962) - The Belmonts
 "Ann-Marie" / "Ac-Cent-Tuate-The-Positive" (1962) - The Belmonts
 "Let's Call It A Day" / "Walk On Boy" (1963) - The Belmonts
 "More Important Things To Do" / "Walk On Boy" (1963) - The Belmonts
 "C'mon Everybody" / "Why" (1963) - The Belmonts
 "Nothing In Return" / "Summertime" (1964) - The Belmonts
 United Artists Records 
 "I Don't Know Why, I Just Do" / "Wintertime" (1965) - The Belmonts
 "Today My Love Has Gone Away" / "(Then) I Walked Away" (1965) - The Belmonts
 "To Be With You" / "I Got A Feeling" (1965) - The Belmonts
 "You're Like A Mystery" / "Come With Me" (1966) - The Belmonts
 ABC Records 
 "My Girl The Month of May" / "Berimbau" (1966) - Dion and the Belmonts
 "Movin' Man" / "For Bobbie" (1967) - Dion and the Belmonts
 Dot Records 
 "She Only Wants To Do Her Own Thing" / "Reminiscing" (1968) - The Belmonts
 "Have You Heard-The Worst That Could Happen" / "Answer Me My Love" (1969) - The Belmonts
 Strawberry Records 
 "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" / "Voyager" (1976) - The Belmonts
 Miasound Records 
 "Let’s Put The Fun Back In Rock n Roll" / "Your Mama Ain’t Always Right" (1981) - The Belmonts with Freddy Cannon

Albums
 Presenting Dion and the Belmonts (1959)
 Wish Upon A Star with Dion and the Belmonts (1960)
 Together Again (1967) - Dion and the Belmonts
 Summer Love (1969) - The Belmonts
 Cigars, Acappella, Candy (1972) - The Belmonts
 Reunion (1973) - Dion and the Belmonts

References

External links
 The Belmonts official website

1939 births
2012 deaths
American people of Italian descent
American male pop singers
People from the Bronx
Deaths from lung cancer
Deaths from cancer in New York (state)
Dion and the Belmonts members
Belmont, Bronx Carlo Mastrangelo (October 5, 1937 – April 4, 2016) was an Italian-American doo-wop and progressive rock singer. Born and raised in The Bronx, he lived in an apartment on the corner of 179th St. and Mapes Ave.

He was an original member of The Belmonts (with and without Dion DiMucci), a popular singing group of the late 1950s and early 1960s. He led the progressive rock/jazz ensemble, "Pulse", during the 1970s.

Early career
Mastrangelo sang bass during the period that the group was known as Dion and the Belmonts. After the group's breakup with DiMucci, he sang lead vocals on all Belmonts recordings until leaving for a solo career in 1962. Following the hit, "Come On Little Angel", a split developed within the group concerning the finances of their privately owned label, Sabina (a.k.a. Sabrina) Records. Mastrangelo said, "Because we owned the company, we had to pay the bills, studio time, ads, and stuff like that. We needed hits that sold around 500,000 copies to make enough. That was the worst move we ever made. If we hadn't done that, we would have been together all these years. It was very sad, like leaving my two brothers".

Mastrangelo left the group and attempted a solo career on Laurie Records, releasing four singles under the name Carlo. He was backed vocally by the uncredited Tremonts (aka The Demilles). The singles, "Baby Doll", and "Little Orphan Girl", received considerable airplay in Florida and a few other states, but didn't make the national charts. "Ring-A-Ling", a tune which he overdubbed catchy bass vocals to, was a favorite of New York disc jockey Murray the K. He featured it on his weekly, "Record Review Board Contest", February 12, 1964, and it was the clear winner. It received airplay on New York stations WINS and WENE, but also failed to chart nationally. Around the same time, he contributed backing bass vocals to the Laurie single, "Donna Lee", by the Demilles, before joining DiMucci again.

Between 1964 and 1966 Mastrangelo was Dion DiMucci's occasional songwriting partner, backup vocalist, and drummer in the group, "Dion and the Wanderers". Recording for Columbia Records, they released three uncharted singles and made national appearances on Dick Clark's, "Where The Action Is", and "The Lloyd Thaxton Show".

In late 1966, the three original Belmonts; Mastrangelo, Milano, and D'Aleo, reunited with DiMucci and released the album, "Dion & The Belmonts Together Again", for ABC Records. Produced by "DiMont Music", Mastrangelo played drums and DiMucci contributed guitar to reduce the need for additional session musicians. Two singles were released from the LP; "My Girl The Month of May"/"Berimbau", and "Movin' Man"/"For Bobbie".

Neither charted in the United States, but fared better in England. During their brief reunion they appeared on the popular "Clay Cole Show" debuting "Berimbau" and "My Girl The Month of May", and occasionally performed at local New York City clubs such as "The Mardi Gras" on Staten Island (April 29, 1967) before disbanding.

Later career

In the late 1960s, Mastrangelo was lead vocalist for, "The Endless Pulse", recording three uncharted singles for Laurie Records. Subsequent releases included the bubblegum rock, Ernie Maresca produced, "Shoo-Fly Pie & Apple Pan Dowdy" on Tower Records, followed by a progressive version of the Peggy Lee classic "Fever", and "Let There Be Love" on the Raftis label.

In the early 1970s, Mastrangelo sang lead, played drums, percussion, and kazoo for the jazz-rock ensemble, "Pulse" (initially known as The Endless Pulse). Members included Kenny Sambolin, Richie Goggin, Bill Golden, and Chris Gentile. In late 1971, they recorded the LP; "Pulse-featuring Carlo Mastrangelo", later released in 1972 on the small Thimble label. Most of the material on the ten-track album was written by Mastrangelo, with an emphasis placed on organ and fuzz guitar. The LP is noted for being one of the few hard rock albums featuring a kazoo solo, and stands up well as a fine progressive rock composition.

After Pulse disbanded, he formed and sang lead for The Midnite Sun, a popular New York City area nightclub band. Members included Kenny Sambolin - bass guitar, Bobby Coleman - lead guitar, Judy Purse - singer, and his cousin Joey DeMaria on drums. That later changed to Carlo on drums and Charlie Carlisi on lead guitar.

After recording the jazz-rock album, Mastrangelo, D'Aleo, Milano, and DiMucci reunited in New York City on June 2, 1972, for a Richard Nader "Rock and Roll Revival" concert. The live performance, recorded by Warner Brothers, was titled, "Dion and The Belmonts – Reunion: Live at Madison Square Garden 1972". The following year, all four original members did another reunion concert at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, NY, with no recording ever being issued.

Although no longer an official member of the Belmonts, Mastrangelo did backing vocals on all nine tracks of the Belmonts' album, "Cigars, Acappella, Candy", released by Buddah Records in 1972. He also sang lead vocals on the songs, "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever", and "We Belong Together". The LP received many favorable reviews, being distinguished for its medley of 13 four-part harmony tracks titled "Street Corner Symphony". Their doo-wop version of, "Da Doo Ron Ron", even received considerable airplay on progressive rock station WLIR.

Mastrangelo lived in Boynton Beach, Florida, minutes away from Dion DiMucci. The two former lead singers of The Belmonts continued to collaborate on many of DiMucci's recordings and live performances from the 1980s until Mastrangelo's death in April 2016 at the age of 78.

Discography

Singles by label
Mohawk Records
 Teen-age Clementine / Santa Margherita (1957) - The Belmonts
 Tag Along / We Went Away (1957) - Dion with the Belmonts

Laurie Records
 I Wonder Why / Teen Angel (1958) - Dion and the Belmonts
 No One Knows / I Cant Go On (Rosalie) (1958) - Dion and the Belmonts
 Don't Pity Me / Just You (1958) - Dion and the Belmonts
 A Teenager In Love / I've Cried Before (1959) - Dion and the Belmonts
 Every Little Thing I Do / A Lover's Prayer (1959) - Dion and the Belmonts
 Where Or When / That's My Desire (1960) - Dion and the Belmonts
 When You Wish Upon A Star / Wonderful Girl (1960) - Dion and the Belmonts
 In The Still Of The Night / A Funny Feeling (1960) - Dion and the Belmonts
 Rockin' Rocket / Happy Tune (instrumentals)(1960) - Carlo and Jimmy 
 We Belong Together / Such A Long Way (1961) - The Belmonts
 Baby Doll / Write Me A Letter (1962) - Carlo
 Little Orphan Girl / Mairzy Doats (1963) - Carlo
 Five Minutes More / Story Of Love (1963) - Carlo
 Ring-A-Ling / Stranger In My Arms (1964) - Carlo
 Donna Lee / Um Ba Pa (1964) - The Demilles
 Time Is Wastin' / Ghost Man (1968) - The Endless Pulse
 You Turned Me Over / Just You (1968) - The Endless Pulse
 Nowhere Chick / Wake Me, Shake Me (1969) - The Endless Pulse

Sabrina/Sabina Records
 Tell Me Why / Smoke From Your Cigarette (1961) - The Belmonts
 Don't Get Around Much Anymore / Searching For A New Love (1961) - The Belmonts
 I Need Someone / That American Dance (1961) - The Belmonts
 I Confess / Hombre (1962) - The Belmonts
 Come On Little Angel / How About Me (1962) - The Belmonts

Columbia Records
 Tomorrow Won't Bring The Rain / You Move Me Babe (1965) - Dion and the Wanderers
 Time in My Heart For You / Wake Up Baby (1965) - Dion and the Wanderers
 Two Ton Feather / So Much Younger (1966) - Dion and the Wanderers
 I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound / Southern Train (1969) - Dion and the Wanderers

ABC Records
 My Girl The Month of May / Berimbau (1966) - Dion and the Belmonts
 Movin' Man / For Bobbie (1967) - Dion and the Belmonts

Tower Records
 Shoo-Fly Pie & Apple Pan Dowdy / It's Alright (1969) - Carlo's Crown Jewel

Raftis Records
 Fever / Claudine (1970) - Carlo
 Let There Be Love / same (1970) - Carlo

Thimble Records
 Why Can't She See Me / same (1972) - Pulse

LPs
 Presenting Dion and the Belmonts (1959) - Laurie Records
 Wish Upon A Star with Dion and the Belmonts (1960) - Laurie Records
 Together Again (1967) - Dion and the Belmonts - ABC Records
 Summer Love (1969) - The Belmonts - Dot Records
 Cigars Acappella Candy (1972) - The Belmonts - Buddah Records
 Pulse featuring Carlo Mastrangelo (1972) - Thimble Records
 Reunion (1973) - Dion and the Belmonts - Warner Brothers Records

References

External links
 The Belmonts official website

1937 births
2016 deaths
American rock singers
American people of Italian descent
American male pop singers
People from the Bronx
Laurie Records artists
Singers from New York City
Dion and the Belmonts members