Dion & The Belmonts – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts
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Dion & The Belmonts Biography
Dion and The Belmont’s were a popular vocal group in the 1950’s and 60’s. The name ‘The Belmonts’ comes from the avenue where Fred Milano lived. It consisted of Angelo D’Aleo, Carlo Mastrangelo, Fred Milano and, from 1958 – 1960, Dion DiMucci. The band started at the birth of rock and roll in the early 50’s and was one of a select handful of artists to be making new music after fifty years.
The original band members were Fred Milano, Angelo D’Aleo, Carlo Mastrangelo. Dion DiMucci would join the band in 1958 and go solo in 1960. As of 2022, the current members are Warren Gradus with original band members Fred Milano and Angelo D’Aleo. Dan Elliot passed away in 2019.
Their most recent hit was a rendition of “The Bell That Couldn’t Jingle” as part of the album “The Belmonts Anthology.”
Their most popular songs (that most people would recognize) is “Teenager In Love” (March of 1959) and “In The Still of the Night.” (June 1960) Dion DiMucci was the leading vocalist of the band until he went solo in 1960.
The Band (https://nightswithalicecooper.com/2020/06/02/flashback-dion-the-belmonts-reunite-at-madison-square-garden/) briefly reunited on June 2nd at New York’s Madison Square garden.
David Hinckley writes that “They were the embodiment of late-1950s cool, famous around the country and icons in New York.” The band would tour with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in 1959. Despite ups and downs, the group would maintain a lifelong friendship.
Presenting (Album Title)
Presenting was the bands debut album with I Wonder Why was the Belmont’s first hit in the Top 40. It was released 1959 as part of “Presenting.” The song hit No. 22 on the Billboard Single Chart that year. Apart from Elvis Presley, Rock and Roll Albums like ‘Presenting’ didn’t sell well, so the success of Presenting was somewhat of an anomaly for the time. The subject matter was mostly about girls.
Fred Milano
Fred Milano, the tenor of the group and a Bronx native, died at the age of 72 in 2012 of lung cancer. Milano performed with the Belmonts as late as a few weeks before his death. Fred attended Roosevelt High School in the Bronx where he met Angelo D’Aleo and Carlo Mastrangelo. The Belmonts, consisting at the time of Milano, Mastrangelo and D’Aleo, debuted with “Teenage Clementine” under the Mohawk Label. They later moved to Laurie Records and would be the label’s debut album with “I Wonder Why” which was in the Top 40 (number 22) in 1958.
Carlo Mastrangelo
Born, October 5th, 1937 started his musical career by singing bass for Dion and The Belmonts. Mastrangelo played the drums and sang in subways and street corners with Milano and D’Aleo when he was a teenager. He would go solo in 1962 under the name ‘Carlo’ and released ‘Little Orphan Girl.’ In the 70’s Carlo would form the band ‘Pulse’ with Kenny Sambolin, Richie Goggin, Bill Golden, Chris Gentile.
Angelo D’Aleo
Born February 3rd, 1940, American doo-wop singer D’Aleo was the tenor vocalist for ‘The Belmonts’. He is famous for his songs ‘I Wonder Why’, ‘A Teenager In Love’ and ‘The Wanderer’ among others. D’Aleo was drafted into the US Navy at the height of his career, which he believes impacted his career negatively. Immediately before deploying, he recorded ‘Teenager In Love’ and immediately left for South America with the US Navy. He would learn while on active duty that the song became a hit. D’Aleo says that when Dion left the band in 1960, it was ‘like losing your left shoe.’ But they managed to create several songs in the top twenty including “Tell Me Why”, “Come On Little Angel” and “I Need Someone”.
Dion DiMucci
Most famous for his ‘[Doo Wop]’ style, Dion DiMucci, often referred to just as ‘Dion’, is still making new music and touring as of 2022 [https://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/] — at the age of 82. There continues to be a healthy demand to see Dion live. His latest release “Stomping Ground” was released in 2021. While Dion only had one song hit the top 10, an impressive 39 songs hit the Top 40 throughout his career. Dion started his career as the lead singer for The Belmonts and went solo in 1960. He struggled with a heroin addiction starting from his early teenage years through 1968, when after recovering from addiction he had a Top 10 Hit called “Abraham, Martin and John.”
Dan Elliott
Dan was born on March 22nd, 1050 in East Syracuse, New York. In addition to being a lead singer for The Belmonts from 1974 until his death, Elliot was the lead singer in ‘The Monterays’ from 1965 – 1969. Dan would ultimately be the lead vocalist for 45 years.
Warren Gradus
Warren joined The Belmonts in 1963 when the group would release ‘Cigars Acappela Candy’ for Buddah Records. The group would enjoy a moderate comeback during the 70’s with an ‘oldies boom.’
Doo Wop
Doo Wop is a mix of the blue and jazz, and the name comes from the sounds made by the vocalists who provide the background for the lead singer. The first recognized Doo Wop that was a major hit was ‘Tell Me So’ by The Orioles.
Dion & The Belmonts Discography
| Reunion | |
| Together Again | |
| Wish Upon a Star | |
| Presenting Dion & The Belmonts |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Happened To The Belmonts After Dion Left?
The Belmonts continued to have success after Dion left, scoring hits with “A Teenager in Love” and “Where or When.” The group disbanded in 1967, but reunited sporadically over the years for reunion tours and new recordings.
Who Are The Dion And The Belmonts ?
The Dion and the Belmonts were a popular rock and roll group of the late 1950s and early 1960s. The group was composed of lead singer Dion DiMucci, along with Angelo D’Aleo, Carlo Mastrangelo, and Fred Milano. The group is best known for their hits “The Wanderer”, “Runaround Sue”, “Ruby Baby”, and “The Teenager in Love”.
When Was Just You By Dion And The Belmonts Recorded?
The song “When Was Just You” by Dion and the Belmonts was recorded in 1958. It was released as a single in 1959 and reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was written by Dion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca.
Who Is Dion And The Belmonts ?
Dion and the Belmonts were a popular American doo-wop group from the late 1950s and early 1960s. The group was named after its lead singer, Dion DiMucci, and his bandmates, Angelo D’Aleo and Carlo Mastrangelo. The Belmonts were one of the most successful vocal groups of their era, scoring several hit songs including “A Teenager in Love” and “Where or When”. The group disbanded in 1963 but reunited briefly in 1971 for a reunion album and tour. Dion continued to have success as a solo artist throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In recent years, Dion and the Belmonts have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Most Searched For Dion & The Belmonts Songs
| A teenager In Love | |
| I Wonder Why | |
| Wonderful Girl | |
| The Wanderer | |
| I’m Through With Love | |
| Where Or When | |
| It’s Only A Paper Moon | |
| That’s My Desire | |
| Just You | |
| When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along |