In 1957, three Roosevelt High School friends in the Bronx, Angelo D’Aleo, Fred Milano and Carlo Mastrangelo, formed a group they called The Belmonts after the street where Freddy Milano lived. They recorded for the Mohawk label that year, making their debut with the song, “Teenage Clementine.” Dion DiMucci, who lived in the neighborhood, joined the group for the recording, “We Went Away.” Moving to newly founded Laurie Records, their label debut, “I Wonder Why” went to the top of the charts. Several chart toppers followed, when “A Teenager in Love” and “When You Wish Upon a Star” elevated The Belmonts with Dion to a major worldwide act. The group became known as Dion and the Belmonts. They toured nationwide and were on the bill at the Surf Ball Room in Clearlake, Iowa, the night on which Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper lost their lives in a plane crash. Read More →
