The Music of Dion Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Belmonts

It was Dion and The Belmonts who first hit the US pop chart in 1958 with "I Wonder Why" which reached number 22. It did not chart in the UK.

The Belmonts named for Belmont Avenue in the Bronx, New York were Carlo Mastrangelo, Freddie Milano and Angelo D'Aleo.
The Timberlanes were a group that Dion recorded with before joining The Belmonts.
The Del-Satins were Dion's backing singers on most of his solo hits.
The Wanderers were a group Dion formed in 1965.

Answer: A Teenager In Love

Written by Pomus/Shuman, Dion and The Belmonts had a number five hit on the US pop chart with "A Teenager In Love" in 1959. It reached number 28 on the UK chart the same year. This was the groups first chart entry since being on the "Winter Dance Party" tour with the ill fated Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. The story is that Dion could not afford to join the plane flight after the gig at the Surf Ballroom on the 2 Feb 1959.

In the UK "A Teenager In Love" was covered by Marty Wilde (father of Kim), who had his biggest UK hit and reached number two with the song in 1959. Craig Douglas also covered the song for his first hit and reached number 13 on the UK chart the same year. Neither of the these cover versions charted in the US.
Of the alternate Dion and The Belmonts songs "No One Knows" was their second hit and reached number 19 on the US pop chart in 1958. "Don't Pity Me" was their third hit and reached number 40 on the US pop chart in 1959. "Every Little Thing I Do" was their fourth single and reached number 48 on the US pop chart in 1959. None of these three songs charted in the UK.

Answer: Where Or When

"Where Or When" reached number three on the US pop chart in 1960. It did not chart in the UK. Written by Rodgers/Hart in 1937 for the musical "Babes In Arms". It was Dion and The Belmonts second and last US Top 10 hit.

Of the alternate Dion and The Belmont songs "A Lover's Prayer" reached number 73 on the US pop chart in 1959. "When You Wish Upon A Star" reached number 30 on the US pop chart in 1960. "In The Still Of The Night" reached number 38 on the US pop chart in 1960. This was Dion and The Belmonts last chart hit before Dion went solo in 1960. None of these three songs charted in the UK.

Answer: Runaround Sue

Dion went solo in 1960 and "Runaround Sue" gave him his one and only US number one hit. It was number one for two weeks on the US pop chart in 1961. It reached number 11 on the UK chart the same year. Written by Ernie Maresca and Dion, it earned Dion his first Gold Disc.

At the time answer songs were very popular. There was "I'm No Runaround Sue" by Ginger and the Snaps in 1961 and "Stay-At-Home Sue" by Linda Laurie in 1962 neither of which charted. In the UK "Runaround Sue" was covered by Doug Sheldon and reached number 36 in 1961.

Answer: The Wanderer

Written by Ernie Maresca "The Wanderer" reached number two on the US pop chart in 1962. It reached number 10 on the UK chart the same year and was his last UK hit until re-released in 1976, reaching number 16.

The song featured The Del-Satins on backing vocals and Bobby Keys on saxophone. Originally offered to Nino and the Ebbtides but unfortunately for them they turned it down. Dion recorded it as the B-side to "The Majestic" which reached number 36 on the US pop chart in 1961. It's a good job the record was flipped by DJ's and got the airplay to make it a hit. The original line in the song was "With my two fists of iron and my bottle of beer"

Answer: Wander

Written by Ernie Maresca & Dion, "Lovers Who Wander" reached number three on the US pop chart in 1962. It did not chart in the UK.

"Lovers Who Wander" was the first of three Top 10 hits on the US pop chart in 1962 for Dion. The B-side "(I Was) Born To Cry" reached number 42 on the US pop chart the same year, it did not chart in the UK. Dion was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Answer: Ruby Baby

Written by Leiber/Stoller, "Ruby Baby" was Dion's first hit on the Columbia record label. It reached number two on the US pop chart in 1963. It did not chart in the UK.

All of Dion's solo hits and the hits with The Belmonts were on the Laurie record label up to and including "Love Came To Me" a number 10 hit on the US pop chart in 1962.
"Ruby Baby" was a number 10 hit on the US R&B chart for The Drifters in 1956 with Johnny Moore as lead singer.
"Adorable" was a number one hit on the US R&B chart for The Drifters in 1955 with Johnny Moore as lead singer.
"There Goes My Baby" was a number two hit on the US pop chart for The Drifters in 1959 with Ben E. King as lead singer.
"Dance With Me" was a number 15 hit on the US pop chart for The Drifters in 1959 with Ben E. King as lead singer.

Answer: Donna

Written by Ernie Maresca & Dion, "Donna The Prima Donna" was a number six hit on the US pop chart in 1963. It never charted in the UK.

Singer/songwriter Ernie Maresca who co-wrote many hits with Dion began singing in the group The Regents. The Regents had a number 13 hit on the US pop chart with "Barbara Ann" in 1961, it did not chart in the UK. The group had broke up by the time it hit the chart. Ernie Maresca later had a number six hit on the US pop chart with the self-penned "Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)" backed by The Del Satins in 1962. It did not chart in the UK.

Answer: Drip Drop

Written by Leiber/Stoller, "Drip Drop" reached number six on the US pop chart in 1963. It did not chart in the UK. It was Dion's last but one hit of the early '60s and last Top 10 hit on the US pop chart for nearly five years.

"Drip Drop" was a number 58 hit on the US pop chart for The Drifters in 1957 with Bobby Hendricks as lead singer.
"Fools Fall In Love" was a number 10 hit on the US R&B chart for The Drifters in 1957 with Johnny Moore as lead singer.
"Hypnotized" was a number 79 hit on the US pop chart for The Drifters in 1957 with Johnny Moore as lead singer.
"This Magic Moment" was a number 16 hit on the US pop chart for The Drifters in 1960 with Ben E. King as lead singer.

Answer: Dion

Dion recorded the song first, hit the chart first and reached the highest position. Dion reached number four on the US pop chart with "Abraham, Martin And John" in 1968. It was his second Gold Disc and last US Top 40 hit. It did not chart in the UK.

Moms Mabley reached number 35 on the US pop chart with her version in 1969, it did not chart in the UK.
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles reached number 33 on the US pop chart with their version in 1969, it did not chart in the UK.
Marvin Gaye reached number nine on the UK chart with his version in 1970, it did not chart in the US.