Dion an The Belmonts

1955 to 1960

They first recorded in 1957, with The Chosen Few and Out in Colorado for Mohawk Records. Also recording on Mohawk was Dion DiMucci, who joined the group as lead vocalist shortly thereafter. Now known as Dion and the Belmonts, they recorded We Went Away and Tag Along for Mohawk, before leaving for the newly formed record label, Laurie Records.

Their first release on Laurie, I Wonder Why, brought them their first real success, charting in 1958. They followed it with the ballad No One Knows, which was also a hit in their local area. They continued recording, and in 1959, were part of a tour that lost three members to a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa — Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and J. P. Richardson, a.k.a. The Big Bopper.

Almost immediately after this tragedy, the quartet hit again with Teenager in Love. They recorded a few more songs, including Where or When which reached #3 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1960

1960 to 1971

In late 1960, Dion decided to leave the group – (the decision partly due to a heroin problem that had developed) – but the Belmonts carried on with Mastrangelo singing the lead vocal parts. Their success dwindled at this point, but they continued to record through the 1960s.

Their biggest separate hit was Tell Me Why in 1961 on the Sabrina (aka Sabina) label. It reached #18. They had a total of six hits on the US top 100 between 1961 and 1963. In 1960 before leaving the Laurie label they released an enchanted rendition of We Belong Together (the Robert and Johnny hit), which was not a hit but is valued today.

Mastrangelo himself would attempt a solo career in 1962 and was replaced by Frank Lyndon, who was also replaced after a short time by Warren Gradus. Later still they were a quartet with Milano, D’Aleo, Gradus, and Daniel Elliott.

1972 to 1990

The group reunited in 1972 with Mastrangelo, D’Aleo, Milano, and Dion, and carried on recording, with Dion eventually returning to his solo career. Dion also recorded with a group of ‘Belmonts’ in the mid 1980s – the group was Mastrangelo, Louis Colletti, and Tommy Moran (Colletti and Moran were backing vocalists on Dion’s 1992 Dream On Fire). Meanwhile, in the original group, D’Aleo left, leaving the group a trio of Milano, Gradus, and Elliott. Art Loria also came in for singing duties in the mid to late 1980s.

1994 onwards

In 1994, a lawsuit was filed by Fred Milano and Warren Gradus, claiming trademark infringement against DiMucci, Mastrangelo, and D’Aleo. It was alleged that, while Dion had agreed to reunite with Milano, he had simultaneously agreed to take part in a reunion with Mastrangelo and D’Aleo. Milano won the suit.

Elliott was later replaced by Daniel Rubado in the late 1990s. Presently the still performing singing group features Fred Milano, Warren Gradus, and Frank DeLigio.