Dion: The Wanderer Talks Truth (Stories, Humor & Music)

Dion DeMucci provides us with a short, but effective, autobiography of his life thus far. The life of several rock and roll stars, or entertainers of any kind, have been cut short due to substance abuse brought on by the pressures of continuous performing or just having too much money on their hands and not knowing what to do with it. Dion was no exception to this trap. As a young boy he had to listen to ongoing shouting matches between his parents in addition to getting himself involved in a street gang in the Bronx, New York.Dion was successful in the doo wop group which called themselves Dion and the Belmonts and had a number of hit songs such as I Wonder Why. Dion then moved on to a successful solo career with hits such as Runaround Sue and The Wanderer.Dion took part in the Winter Dance Party which claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper", J. P. Richardson, in a airplane crash 53 years ago today. I have read other versions and watched a DVD as to how which of the rockers came to claim a seat on the plane. I have not read Dion's version prior to reading this book. Dion says that since Buddy Holly chartered the plane the remaining three of Dion, Ritchie Valens, and the Bopper flipped a coin to see who would fly. The Bopper and Dion won the flips, but when Dion found out the cost would be $36.00 he was willing to give up his seat to Ritchie Valens. I have never heard this version before, but Dion insists this is how it happened.Most of the book focuses on his conversion to Christianity by accepting Christ as his Savior. He mentions those who helped him through his difficulties, and emphasizes the importance of realizing that relationships never end even though individuals who have been a part of our life have passed on.A book need not be 400 or 500 pages long to be worth five stars. Dion DiMucci is a survivor in the rugged world of entertainment, and I found this to be an interesting and important work for him to pass on to those who would read this book.

Ahhhh, Dion. I don't even know where to start. I was five years old the first time I heard "the Wanderer", and that song went through me like a white hot poker! From my toes all the way up to my head! I didn't know what the heck he was saying at that age except "they call me the wanderer, yeah the wanderer, I roam around and round and round......but it was the WAY he sang it! He sang the HE** out of that song!!! His phrasing and diction, and the way he hung on to a note and used "ah" at the end of words, like "right-ah" was like NOTHING I had ever heard! But this is what did it...I went to the movies with one of my cousins around that same year, and you know how they have (had) entertainment (little videos) before the movie started? Well, there was Dion in all cinematic glory singing "Run-around Sue", in that white jacket and that voice! But what sent little 'ol me over the edge and was something I will NEVER forget was him walking around during the song, with the microphone cord he threw over his shoulder!!! OH MY GOD, that was IT for me! He still to this DAY remains one of the coolest dudes I have EVER seen! And even though I was from "Hollis" and he was from the "Bronx", he was (is) my guy!!! Now, back to the subject :-).......read the book, loved it, but I was highly disappointed that there were no pictures! I bought the e-book, so I don't know if it was because of that, but I still enjoyed it. Learned a lot about his ups and downs, and it just reinforced in me that you NEVER know what the heck goes on in someone's life. So don't go wishing for something you may not be ready for!

Louise Pare, in Entertainment, made this comment on Dion Dimucci - The Wanderer - Talks Truth: "This new book is a fascinating look at the memories of this music legend on the early days of rock and roll--the music, the personalities, the high life and the pitfalls. Especially interesting to me was the story of the day the music died. Dion narrowly escaped being on that plane that crashed . . ."I have heard the story Louise speaks of, and heard it often, even though I was not a follower of Dion or Buddy Holly. Our sons liked them and the story seemed to come up often. I guess that is one of the things people will always remember - the night Dion would have died, but gave up his seat on the small plane, agreeing to ride the bus, because one of the men in the band was ill. Dion agreed to ride on the long cold bus ride so the friend could fly, with Buddy Holly, and be in Fargo, North Dakota, sooner. Or so the story goes but Dion tells the whole story in his book.Dion lived on to have a musical career winning awards for rock, blues and gospel music.Although I missed Dion's music those early days, I did discover him in 2006 in a program on EWTN, the Catholic TV station. In that great interview with Dion, he did indeed speak Truth! My husband heard him speaking and came in to sit and listened. Dion spoke openly of his faith and his love for his wife. Dion is a great storyteller.After the program, I went immediately to the computer, bought a hat like Dion's for my husband and a lot of Dion's recordings on iTunes! He is just great. Listening right now to Walkin' Blues!I was so happy when I heard this year Dion was working on a book with Mike Aquilina, one of my favorite authors.So far, I have purchased 5 of the books - 4 for our sons and one for me. My husband is no longer living but his Dion Dimucci hat is hanging in my office on my art easel!

A very good read.

Good book , fast delivery.

One for the Rock'N'Roll bookshelf.

a great read

Dion, and his friends from New York, was gifted with a voice that played like an instrument, a la mode of the great Sinatra. He found fame young, and like many other stars was tempted into drugs, but with the patience of his beautiful wife, Susan Butterfield, and memories of the saintliness of the local priest, found his faith again and was saved from the abyss. The book is well named, because it is the truth, and very heartfelt, kind and enlightening. Dion is still making wonderful music. If you like the history of rock'n'roll, this book is well worth the read.