1) Dion DiMucci, 1960s Italian-… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least 2 artists named Dion:
1) Dion DiMucci, 1960s Italian-American singer
2) Dion, Australian rapper and member of 1Team
1. Dion Francis DiMucci (b July 18, 1939), better known as Dion, is an Italian-American singer-songwriter now widely recognized as one of the top vocalists of his era, blending the best elements of doo-wop, traditional pop, and rnb styles, as well as a forerunner in the development of rock and roll.
Early years
Dion was born to an Italian-American family in the Bronx borough of New York City. As a child, he used to accompany his father, a vaudeville entertainer, on tour, and developed a love of country music โ particularly Hank Williams โ and the blues and doo-wop stars he heard in local bars and on the radio. His singing abilities were honed on the street corners of Crotona Avenue, where he rounded up other local singers inventing acapella licks, and in local clubs.
In early 1957 he auditioned for Bob and Gene Schwartz, who had just formed Mohawk Records. They recorded him with a vocal group, The Timberlanes, and released a single "The Chosen Few", arranged by Hugo Montenegro, which became a minor regional hit.
With the Belmonts, 1957-1960
Schwartz also signed up Dion's friends, The Belmonts, named after nearby Belmont Avenue. Their breakthrough together came in early 1958, when "I Wonder Why" made # 22 on the national US charts, followed up with "No One Knows" and "Donโt Pity Me" which were also chart hits.
This success won Dion and the Belmonts a place on the "Winter Dance Party" tour with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. On 2 February 1959, after playing at Clear Lake, Iowa, Dion decided that he could not afford the $36 cost of a flight to the next venue [1]. The plane crashed, and Holly and the other stars were killed.
In March 1959, Dion and the Belmontsโ next single, "A Teenager In Love", was released, making # 5 in the US pop charts and # 28 in the UK. Their biggest hit, "Where or When", was released in November 1959, and reached #3 on the US charts. However, in early 1960, Dion checked in to 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 and financial differences between Dion and members of the Belmonts, and in October 1960 Dion decided to quit for a solo career.
Solo stardom, 1960-1964
1961 album coverBy the end of 1960, Dion had recorded and released his first solo album, Alone With Dion, and the single "Lonely Teenager", which rose to # 12 in the US charts. Follow-ups "Havinโ Fun" and "Kissinโ Game" had less success, and the signs were that Dion would drift onto the cabaret circuit. However, he then recorded, with new vocal group the Del-Satins, an up-tempo number co-written with Ernie Maresca. The record, "Runaround Sue", stormed up the charts, reaching # 1 in the US charts in September 1961, and # 11 in the UK, where he also toured.
For the next single, the record company promoted the A-side, "The Majestic", but it was the B-side, Marescaโs song "The Wanderer", which received the radio plays and again rose swiftly up the charts, reaching # 2 in the US charts in December 1961 and # 10 in the UK. As a classic oldie, it made the UK top twenty again in 1976.
By the end of 1961, Dion was a major star, with a worldwide touring schedule, and he followed up with a string of hit singles โ "Lovers Who Wander" (# 3), "Little Diane" (# 8), "Love Came To Me" (# 10) and "Ruby Baby" (# 2) all making the top ten in 1962. Several of these were written or co-written by Dion. He also had successful albums with Runaround Sue and Lovers Who Wander.
At the end of 1962, Dion moved from Laurie to Columbia Records, the first rock and roll artist ever signed to that label. Although the first single, Leiber and Stollerโs "Ruby Baby", was a big hit, reaching # 2, several follow-ups were less so, although "Donna the Prima Donna" and "Drip Drop" both reached # 6 in the charts in late 1963. Nevertheless, problems with his addiction and changing public tastes did cause him to enter a period of commercial decline.
Changing fortunes, 1964-1968
Following a European tour, Dion returned to the USA and was introduced to classic blues music by Columbiaโs John Hammond. To the consternation of his management, he began recording more blues-oriented material, including Willie Dixonโs "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Spoonful", but these releases โ some produced by Tom Wilson, with Al Kooper on keyboards - were not commercially successful.
In 1966, Dion briefly reunited with the Belmonts for the album Together Again on ABC Records. Again, this bombed, despite one classic self-penned song, "My Girl The Month Of May". Although by this stage Dionโs career appeared to be nearing an end, he retained enough credibility to be, along with Bob Dylan, the only pop artist featured on the album cover of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967.
In April 1968, Dion had a powerful religious experience. After getting clean from drug use, he approached Laurie Records for a new contract, and they agreed on condition that he record the song "Abraham, Martin and John", written by Dick Holler (also the writer of The Royal Guardsmenโs "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron") in response to the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F Kennedy during the summer of 1968. The success of this song โ later recorded by many others including Marvin Gaye โ which reached # 4 in the US charts, resuscitated Dionโs career.
The mature period, 1968-1986
Born To Be With You, 1975For the next few years, Dionโs music became radically different, moving to more contemplative and mature material. He released several albums essentially as a singer-songwriter, to critical acclaim but moderate sales, moving to the Warner Brothers label in 1969.
There followed a one-off live reunion show with the Belmonts at Madison Square Garden in 1972, released on album. This was followed in 1975 by the album Born To Be With You, eccentrically 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.
In 1978 Dion released an album drawing on many of his teenage influences, Return of the Wanderer, another critical success and commercial failure. In December 1979 he experienced a life-changing religious experience, documented in this article [1]. Thereafter, his recordings for several years were in a contemporary Christian music vein, in which he released a number of albums on the Dayspring label reflecting his religious convictions.
Recent work
In 1987 Dion agreed to do a concert of his old hits at Radio City Music Hall in New York. This 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.
In 1988 Dion's autobiography (co-authored by Davin Seay) titled The Wanderer: Dion's Story was published. In the following year, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the induction speech being given by Lou Reed.
In 1989 he returned to secular rock music with the album Yo Frankie, and since then has released several albums with contemporary rock artists. His Dรฉjร Nu album in 2000 found him covering Bruce Springsteen, a major follower over the years.
He joined Scott Kempner 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.
In January 2006 he released Bronx in Blue, an album of blues and country standards, which was critically acclaimed and nominated for a Grammy. As a practicing Catholic, Dion pursues prison ministry and reaches out to men going through addiction recovery.
www.diondimucci.com/
2. Dion is a musician from Sydney, Australia. Currently, he is part of the 1Team music collective alongside Joeyy, Bic Flame, Facy, B9 and Shotti. Dion has been active since 2016, though he has essentially quit music twice, with large time gaps between any new releases.
(as best we know) Dion has a producer alter-ego: Avail, previously known as Deadman.
Dion frequently collaborates with Sudi (another Sydney based artist), Scrap Club (a collective from Stockholm, Sweden) and Redpriest.
You Better Watch Yourself aka Drinkin' That Wine
Dion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You better stop drinking that wine, sonny boy
Everybody going out, everybody going out enjoying
You better stop drinking that wine, sonny boy
You better stop drinking that gin, sonny boy
You better stop drinking that gin, sonny boy
Oh, you're gonna mess up your mind, yeah, you'll fly by, by
Can't you hear your mama calling you?
Can't you hear your mama calling you?
You're gonna mess up your happy home
You're gonna wind up all alone, sonny boy
Stop drinking that wine, sonny boy
You better stop using those drugs, sonny boy
You better stop using those drugs, sonny boy
Yeah, if you don't stop popping those pills
You're gonna bring on those evil chills
You better stop drinking that wine, sonny boy
You better stop drinking that gin, sonny boy
You better stop drinking that gin, sonny boy
You think you're on a track but you don't know when to stop
You better stop drinking that wine, sonny boy, hey
Why don't you drink some hot green tea, sonny boy?
Why don't you drink some hot green tea, sonny boy?
Oh, it'll be better for you, better for your sweet tooth
Hey, you better stop drinking that wine, sonny boy
You better take it one day at a time
You better take it one day at a time
Oh, that wine, sonny boy
The song "You Better Watch Yourself" by Dion is a cautionary tale about the dangers of drinking alcohol and using drugs. The lyrics urge the listener to stop drinking wine and gin, and to avoid using drugs like pills. The chorus repeats the warning to "stop drinking that wine, sonny boy" in order to avoid ruining their mind and their life, as well as their relationships with others. The song also references the mother of the listener, suggesting that their destructive behavior is causing harm to their family and home life.
The song's message is reflective of the anti-drug and anti-alcohol sentiments of the 1960s and 1970s. It also reflects a common theme in blues music of warning against the dangers of excess and addiction. The lyrics are simple and direct, reinforcing the message through repetition and a catchy melody.
There are also hints of hope in the song, as the singer suggests alternatives to alcohol and drug use, such as drinking green tea instead. The final line, "you better take it one day at a time," suggests that recovery and healing is possible if the listener makes a commitment to change.
Line by Line Meaning
You better stop drinking that wine, sonny boy
Listen up! I'm warning you to stop drinking that wine before it's too late. Your reckless behavior is not only affecting you, but also those around you. So please, sonny boy, put down the bottle and think about what you're doing.
Everybody going out, everybody going out enjoying
I know everyone else seems to be enjoying themselves and drinking like it's no big deal, but don't follow the crowd blindly. You need to make your own choices and think for yourself.
Oh, you're gonna mess up your mind, yeah, you'll fly by, by
Drinking too much alcohol will only lead to trouble. It might seem like fun at first, but eventually, it will take a toll on your mental and physical health. Don't let yourself spiral downward โ you have the power to make better choices.
Can't you hear your mama calling you?
I can imagine your mother is worried sick about you. She loves you and doesn't want to see you hurt yourself by drinking too much. So listen to her voice in your head and resist the urge to drink.
You're gonna mess up your happy home
Your drinking isn't just hurting yourself, but also those you care about. You might think it's a way to escape or have fun, but in reality, it's ruining your relationships and home life. So think about the consequences before you take another sip.
You better stop using those drugs, sonny boy
Drinking might not be the only destructive habit you have. Using drugs will only make the situation worse. Take responsibility for your actions and seek help if needed.
If you don't stop popping those pills
Taking pills might seem like a solution to your problems, but it's only a temporary fix. In the long run, it will have negative effects on your health and well-being. So don't rely on pills as a crutch โ you're stronger than that.
You think you're on a track but you don't know when to stop
You might be fooling yourself into thinking that you have everything under control, but in reality, you're headed down a dangerous path. You need to recognize that you have a problem and take steps to fix it.
Why don't you drink some hot green tea, sonny boy?
Instead of turning to alcohol and drugs, why not try healthier alternatives like green tea? It might not seem as exciting or fun, but it will be better for your body and mind in the long run.
You better take it one day at a time
Overcoming addiction isn't easy, but it's possible. You need to remember to take things one day at a time and celebrate the small victories. Don't let setbacks discourage you โ keep pushing forward and making progress towards a better life.
Writer(s): Sam Lightnin Hopkins
Contributed by Oliver C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Momma Donna
on Only You Know
Check out Joe Leone Music on YouTube for a great cover of this song.
https://youtu.be/iYrkDhA4wGM
Momma Donna
on Only You Know
Joe Leone did a beautiful cover of this song.
https://youtu.be/iYrkDhA4wGM