DION: The Rock 'N' Roll Philosopher (and Legend!)

Dion Dimucci has been a Rock 'N' Roll pioneer since the late 1950's with his iconic band Dion and the Belmonts. They scored hit after hit including The Wanderer, Runaround Sue, A Teenager in Love and Abraham, Martin and John making them Rock 'N' Roll royalty. Dion co-wrote a stunningly gorgeous coffee table sized book with his pal Adam Jablin called Dion The Rock 'N' Roll Philosopher: Conversations on Life, Recovery, Faith and Music. There are one-of-a-kind photos in the book with music legends Pail Simon, Eric Clapton, Tony Bennett, Bruce Springsteen, Clive Davis, Lou Reed and more. We discuss: 1. How did you come up with the name Dion and the Belmonts? 2. How was it like growing up in Da Bronx being part of the gang the Fordham baldies? Thanks to you guys I have this beautiful coffee table sized book beautifying…my coffee table. Adam 3. How did Dion and Adam get hooked up with each other & what inspired the co-creation of this book? 4. What Dion feels are the reasons for his early success. 5. What gave him the self-confidence that he was a great singer & the ability to sing to millions of people? 6. As with many Rock Legends, Dion seemingly had it all from an outsider’s perspective. The hit songs, the fame, the adulation, screaming girls, the power & money…did he feel he had it all and why does he think he turned to a debilitating addiction and what helped him to overcome it? 7. Paul Simon in the books Forward said they don’t see each other often but their phone conversations can go on for an hour & usually drift into the spiritual. What does he mean by that? 8. Was there an Aha moment where all of a sudden he found God? How did his spirituality emerge and sustain over all these years? 9. Eric Clapton in the book’s prologue says Dion has an essential ingredient: SOUL…buckets of it. How did this soul start & evolve? 10. In 2020 hindsight, what would Dion change if he had to do it all over again? 10. When did Dion first start wearing the berets he is iconically known for and why do you like that signature look? 11.On Feb. 2, 1959 at the Winter Dance Party, there were 4 groups on the bill. Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Big Bopper, Richie Valens & Dion & The Belmonts. The plane didn’t make it home and some like Don Maclean called it "The Day the Music Died." What did those guys mean to Dion and why wasn't he on that fatal plane?