TERRY GROSS, HOST:
That is FRESH AIR. I am Terry Gross. Right this moment, we conclude our archive collection, R&B, Rockabilly and Early Rock ‘n’ Roll, with Allen Toussaint, who we’ll hear from later and Dion. If you happen to’ve ever dismissed Dion as a former teen idol whose expertise or relevance did not survive the oldies period, what you hear at the moment is more likely to change your thoughts. He is an important singer, deeply influenced by the blues and nation music. I interviewed him in 2000. He introduced his guitar, and we will hear him carry out a few of his personal songs and among the blues and nation songs that influenced him.
Dion had his first hit, “I Marvel Why,” in 1958, with the doo-wop group the Belmonts, named after Belmont Avenue within the Bronx neighborhood through which they lived. Dion’s different hits included “A Teenager In Love,” “The place Or When,” “Donna The Prima Donna,” “Runaround Sue,” “The Wanderer” and, later, “Abraham, Martin and John.” His fan Bruce Springsteen gave the introduction when Dion was inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame in 1989. Dion recorded a few Springsteen songs on his album “Deja Nu,” which was launched in 2000 and was the event for our interview. We began with a observe from that album, Dion singing Springsteen’s “If I Ought to Fall Behind.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND”)
DION: (Singing) We mentioned we would stroll collectively, child, come what could, that come the twilight, ought to we lose our method, if as we’re strolling a hand ought to slip free, I will look forward to you, and may I fall behind, look forward to me. We swore we would journey, darlin’, facet by facet and we would assist one another keep in stride. However every lover’s steps fall so in a different way. Lady, I will look forward to you. If I ought to fall behind, look forward to me. Now, everybody goals of a love lasting and true.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR CONTENT)
GROSS: Dion, welcome to FRESH AIR.
DION: Good to be right here.
GROSS: What’s it been like for you discovering new materials? I believe lots of people, once they consider your songs, they consider the songs you probably did once you have been very younger that have been a few of them very explicitly teenage songs like “Teenager In Love” and even…
DION: Proper.
GROSS: …”The Wanderer.” It is a tune about – it is a tune of a younger man who in some methods is actual scorching stuff. So, I imply, you are not a young person anymore, and the tune that we simply heard is an actual grownup tune. Are you – has it been tough so that you can discover songs that attain your viewers that you simply like and which are grownup songs?
DION: I do not know. Songs, to me, have at all times been sort of like a diary, you already know. Say, once I did “Teenager In Love,” possibly I used to be 16. These questions in that tune, although it is a quite simple tune and it looks as if sort of claptrap or one thing, nevertheless it’s not. To the unknowing ear, it will appear, you already know, if you happen to simply take heed to the floor of it, nevertheless it had a number of coronary heart. It had a number of soul, and it asks some related questions that you would ask at the moment, you already know, and songs like “I Marvel Why.” It was the primary hit file I had. You understand, we have been – we did not know the right way to write lyrics too good, so we invented this type of percussive rhythmic sound. You understand, we would make up these sounds. We might go right down to the Apollo Theater and listen to the horn gamers, and we would come again to the neighborhood and provides the vocal group – I would conjure – you already know, I would recruit guys and say, do that, try this, you already know. And I would attempt to get them to sound just like the horn part down on the Apollo Theater.
Like, a tune like “Ruby Child.” I might, you already know, (strumming guitar, singing ) I obtained a woman and Ruby is her identify. I’ve to go (singing) Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, child. It was like (scatting). They have been like horns, you already know? And all that stuff was organized, you already know – I – the group was a poor man’s horn part on the road corners. That is what it was.
Even once I did “Runaround Sue” and they might – (strumming guitar, vocalizing). That was a horn part that I heard on the Apollo Theater. I simply introduced it again to the streets and gave it to the blokes to sing.
GROSS: Let me return to the start with you once you have been first listening to music. You wrote in your autobiography that Hank Williams actually influenced you early on. Once you have been a child rising up within the Bronx, what did you hear in Hank Williams?
DION: Nicely, Hank Williams appeared, like, so whole to me, so dedicated to the lyric. He would really rip the ends of the phrases off on the, you already know – the top of the sentence. It gave the impression of he’d chunk into the phrase and rip it off. You understand, he would do like – properly, I am unable to sing like him, however the sort of thought like – the primary tune I heard him do was like, (strumming guitar, singing) and I let my house down on the agricultural route, informed my pa I used to be going stepping out and get the honky-tonk blues. Yeah, the honky-tonk blues. Nicely, oh, I obtained them. I obtained the honky-tonk blues.
You understand, he’d say (singing) I ended into each place on the town.
And he’d rip the phrase proper off. Like I obtained it, and there it goes, you already know. And he was completely dedicated bodily, lyrically, musically, spiritually simply – I simply mentioned what’s this man speaking about? You understand, simply – and, see, I had a man on the streets that actually helped me out rather a lot, too. There was a man in Bronx, New York Metropolis. His identify was Willie Inexperienced, and he was the superintendent of a tenement constructing in my neighborhood.
And, you already know, mainly what I ever – what I do is like Black music filtered via an Italian neighborhood comes out with an perspective – yo. So Willie Inexperienced can be enjoying me all this John Lee Hooker stuff and, you already know, Sonny Boy Williamson. And he’d be enjoying like (strumming guitar, singing) happening to Rosie’s cease at Fannie Mae’s. Inform my child what I heard her boyfriend say. Do not begin me speaking. Oh, lord. Inform every part I do know. I am going break up with signifying. Whoa, lord, Jack. Some individuals have gotten to go. Jack gave his spouse $5 to go downtown get some.
You understand, he’d do stuff like that or (strumming guitar, singing) and I awoke this morning, trying round for my footwear. Some telling me, youngster, obtained these strolling blues. Yeah. Awoke this morning trying round for my footwear, youngster. You understand, and I am leaving this morning, youngster, now, with these strolling blues. Some individuals inform me that they put on blues in mattress (ph), [inaudible]. Some individuals inform me that they put on blues in mattress, youngster, no. [inaudible]. I am strolling, strolling blues [inaudible] strolling.
You understand, he’d do stuff like that. So I would go into the studio and do the white model of that.
(LAUGHTER)
GROSS: No, actually, nevertheless it seems like what I am listening to from you is that you simply heard nation music via Hank Williams. You heard all these blues recordings.
DION: Proper.
GROSS: And what you discovered was this type of Bronx model…
DION: And slightly doo-wop.
GROSS: Yeah. That – properly, that doo-wop was out for you, this actually, like, for you, native model of all of the music that you simply have been loving.
DION: Proper. It sort of…
GROSS: However it was genuine ‘trigger it was your music. You were not simply doing stuff within the method of anyone else.
DION: Nicely, Willie Inexperienced, once more, the man who was doing this, he informed me – he mentioned, Dion – he mentioned, write in regards to the individuals within the neighborhood, write in regards to the issues you already know. And to me, once I seemed round my neighborhood, we had characters like Frankie Yunk-Yunk, Joe BB Eyes, Ralphie Mooch. There was a man in my neighborhood – they known as him Shakespeare. He used to say, like, 2B or to not 2B? Which is my condo?
(LAUGHTER)
DION: I assumed I would get you at that, Terry.
GROSS: (Laughter).
DION: However we had a number of characters, you already know? So – they usually appeared greater than life, like “The Wanderer” – his identify was Jackie Burns (ph). He was a sailor who obtained tattoos throughout him, you already know? And each time he’d date a woman, he’d get her identify tattooed on his physique. You understand, this man was like, you already know, (singing, enjoying guitar) Flo on my left arm, Mary on my proper. Janie is the woman I will be with tonight. Little woman asks me which one I like the most effective. I tear open my shirt. I present her Rosie on my chest. I am a wanderer. Yeah, I am the wanderer. I roam round, round, round, round, round. Lay that factor over your neck.
GROSS: (Laughter).
DION: However this man would stroll round together with his tank prime on with all these names throughout. You understand, he was like…
GROSS: What did you consider him? Did you want him or…
DION: He was a – he was sort of a loner. He would love – I did not know him that properly, however he simply appeared greater than life ‘trigger he was older than me and he was within the Navy.
GROSS: Proper.
DION: And he would come again and he’d have this type of – you already know, and I sort of featured myself, you already know, sort of, like a avenue nook poet, you already know, burnt to the bone with the fireplace of this new rock ‘n’ roll music. So I used to be like, you already know, over there saying, what might this man – you already know, like, how can we put this man to music, you already know? And I do not assume he ever knew the tune was about him. He took off for – I do not even know if he is alive at the moment, however “The Wanderer” is a tragic tune. It says, I roam from city to city. I am going via life with no care. I am as completely happy as a clown with my two fists of iron, however I am going nowhere. It is about an actual – a man who simply is caught in a really sort of shallow life-style, you already know?
GROSS: Earlier than you began listening to rhythm and blues and blues music and stuff like that, I do know once you have been 11, you used to sing in a bar in your neighborhood, and it sounded such as you have been an actual native attraction. What did you sing once you have been 11?
DION: Ah, yeah. I might do – I knew 70 Hank Williams songs.
GROSS: (Laughter).
DION: Would you consider that? I might even sing his Luke the Drifter collection, you already know? (Singing, enjoying guitar) On the earth’s mighty gallery of images cling the scenes which are painted from life.
I used to be, like, 13 years previous.
GROSS: (Laughter).
DION: I assumed I used to be a thinker. I did not even know what I used to be singing about. I sang “Honky Tonk Blues.” I sang “Jambalaya.” If you happen to – an Italian from the Bronx – I had no thought what jambalaya meant, nevertheless it sounded so good and felt so good popping out of my mouth, you already know? (Singing, enjoying guitar) Goodbye, Joe. Me obtained to go. Me oh my oh.
You understand – (singing, enjoying guitar) Jambalaya, crawfish pie and a file gumbo.
I did not know what gumbo was.
GROSS: (Laughter).
DION: I knew what rigatoni was.
GROSS: (Laughter).
DION: However gumbo, I had no thought. And, you already know, it – I obtained caught up on this music. And it – I assume it is like anyone else once you get caught up into one thing, it simply took me away.
GROSS: Why do not we pause right here and take heed to the primary Dion and The Belmonts recording, which is “I Marvel Why” with these nice harmonies?
DION: That is an excellent perspective tune.
(LAUGHTER)
GROSS: Yeah. Let’s hear it. And what 12 months is that this, Dion?
DION: That is ’57 – starting.
GROSS: And also you have been how previous?
DION: I used to be 17.
GROSS: OK, let’s hear it.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “I WONDER WHY”)
DION AND THE BELMONTS: (Singing) Do not know why I like you want I do. Do not know why I do. Do not know why I like you. Do not know why I care. I simply need your like to share. I ponder why I like you want I do. Is it as a result of I believe you like me, too? I ponder why I like you want I do, like I do. I informed my mates that we might by no means half. They usually mentioned that you’d break my coronary heart. I ponder why they assume that we’ll half, we’ll half. (Vocalizing). Once you’re with me, I am certain you are at all times true.
GROSS: We’re listening to my interview with Dion, recorded in 2000. We’ll be again with extra music and dialog after a break. That is FRESH AIR.
That is FRESH AIR. Let’s get again to the interview I recorded with Dion in 2000. He introduced his guitar and sang some songs.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR CONTENT)
GROSS: There is a tune that you simply wrote on the brand new CD that I actually wish to play ‘trigger I believe your singing now could be actually much like what it is at all times been. I do not assume – I believe among the materials has modified, however I believe your singing nonetheless has every part in it that you’ve got been speaking about – all these influences, the urgency that you’ve got been speaking about. So, let me play a tune from the brand new CD. However earlier than I do, I would like you to introduce it for us. And that is known as “Each Day (That I am With You).” Inform us about scripting this. What impressed it?
DION: Nicely, this can be a story, however I’ll inform it. The CD known as Deja Nu. And the tune that you simply’re about to play – in actual fact, the entire CD, the entire – all of the songs in it are a film soundtrack for a film known as “The Wanderer” that Chaz Palmernteri wrote a screenplay for. And I used to be writing these songs for various scenes within the film. And the film obtained slowed down this 12 months, so I simply launched a CD. However anyway, each tune on the CD is written for a sure, you already know, piece of the film. This tune was written for a montage scene in the course of it. I traveled with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens on that tour. We have been co-headlining a tour. And we have been on this little yellow college bus, not one in all these luxurious line custom-made coaches at the moment. It was only a yellow college bus. We have been driving via the Midwest in 1959, February of 1959, and it was chilly. It was like 30 under zero. We have been freezing. However we actually sort of bonded on this tour, Ritchie, Buddy and myself, as a result of we had the primary Fender guitars that have been issued, these new Stratocasters, and we have been in a sort of a contest to see who would make them ring the longest. And two weeks into the tour, Buddy obtained sort of fed up with the bus breaking down, and he recruit – he was making an attempt to recruit individuals. He chartered a airplane. And he mentioned – ‘trigger the extra individuals he’d get aboard, the much less it will price. So he mentioned, you already know, it will be $36, he tells me. And he hit the magic quantity for me.
I grew up with my mother and father screaming and yelling at one another for the hire in Bronx, New York Metropolis, on the time was $36. So my thoughts hadn’t stretched out to that place the place I might spend the entire month’s hire on a 45-minute airplane flight to Fargo, North Dakota. So I mentioned no. So he offers me his guitar. He says, right here, he says, you already know, handle my guitar. He says, you higher handle it, you already know? So he took his laundry. That is what he wished to do. He wished to get a haircut. He wished to do his laundry. Provides me the guitar to handle.
So now I am questioning, I ponder how his guitar sounds in comparison with mine. So I am going within the dressing room, and I take the guitar, I will plug it in, and I am saying – I used to be telling Chaz Palmernteri as he is scripting this story round this e book, “The Wanderer” that I wrote. And the film was known as “The Wanderer.” So he mentioned, you already know, we might do a Buddy Holly tune right here within the film. Like, it would not matter anymore. I mentioned, let me write one thing. To undergo me sitting within the dressing room, enjoying his guitar and singing with – and whereas this scene takes place of them leaving us driving to Fargo, arriving the following morning. So this tune was written for that scene as a result of I assumed I might seize this factor ‘trigger in my coronary heart, I’ve at all times wished to precise this relationship that – you already know, that I contemplated at instances or mirrored on at instances that I had with Buddy Holly, and it got here out on this tune.
GROSS: And I simply wish to say for our listeners who do not know the top of the story that Buddy Holly took this airplane that you simply determined to not take, the airplane crashed, killing Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Huge Bopper.
DION: Proper.
GROSS: So – and the opposite factor is so Chaz Palmernteri’s film is your biography? That is what he is making an attempt…
DION: Yeah. He wrote a screenplay round this – round…
GROSS: Round your biography – autobiography “The Wanderer.”
DION: Proper.
GROSS: Alright.
DION: So that is what the – this entire album is. It is really a soundtrack. Actually, I do not assume…
GROSS: Soundtrack of your life.
DION: I do not assume it will have got here out pretty much as good if I attempted to write down songs and put out an album. I sort of did it inadvertently. I sort of backed into it…
GROSS: Proper.
DION: …You understand? And it is attention-grabbing the best way it got here out, you already know?
GROSS: So, let’s hear “Each Day (That I am With You).” This tune that is, I assume, impressed by Buddy Holly and…
DION: Sure.
GROSS: …About that…
DION: Completely.
GROSS: …Chapter of your life. It is a tune written and carried out by Dion from his new CD, Deja Nu.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “EVERY DAY (THAT I’M WITH YOU)”)
DION: (Singing) Every single day, I stare down bother. Heaven is aware of it is what I do. Every single day, I increase my fist for the wrestle. Every single day that I am with you. Every single day, I get up hungry. Yeah, and I attempt to get my fill. Anyway, it is nice massive nation. Now I’ve obtained time to kill.
GROSS: My interview with Dion was recorded in 2000. He turned 86 in July. Final 12 months, he launched the album “Lady Buddies,” that includes duets with feminine singers. This 12 months, he launched the only “New York Minute” and had a brand new e book known as “The Rock And Roll Thinker,” a group of conversations with a pal. After a break, we’ll conclude our archive collection, R&B, Rockabilly and Early Rock ‘n’ Roll with Allen Toussaint, the nice New Orleans pianist, singer, songwriter and producer. And jazz historian Kevin Whitehead will bear in mind alto saxophonist Artwork Pepper, who was born 100 years in the past at the moment. I am Terry Gross, and that is FRESH AIR.
(SOUNDBITE OF DION’S “EVERY DAY (THAT I’M WITH YOU)”)
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