Dion rocks Las Vegas

[RockabillyNBlues]

Every April, Viva Las Vegas takes over The Orleans Hotel and Casino as many thousands flock from all over the world to share their love of the Rockabilly lifestyle including the clothes, the cars and of course the music!  Multiple indoor stages showcase the best of modern and legacy artists with a vintage flair.  This year, Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer, Dion took to the main stage during the Car Show portion and rocked the crowd with his stunning catalog of hits.  He felt the love too calling it the "best looking crowd I have ever seen in my entire life"!  Enjoy some photos from the show! 

http://rockabillynblues.blogspot.com/2015/04/dion-king-of-new-york-streets-takes.html

[Lee Marshall]

Dion was part of the tour which marked what has become known as "the day the music died."  Most were on the bus...an unheated torture chamber of an excuse for transportation...especially through the upper mid-west in winter.  Many were getting sick...having trouble getting [let alone staying] warm.  The plane arrived for Buddy.  He grabbed 2 more to join him.  Richie...'cause he had everyone's laundry and would fly ahead to get it all done so that when the other icicles pulled into the next  tour site they would at least have clean clothes and stage outfits to wear.  JP got a seat too somehow edging out Waylon for the 'opportunity'.  And then........................

Dion was just on the bus.  As I became aware of him...I guess after he kind of left the Belmonts in his wake...I became a real fan...through the very early 60s and then into and beyond Beatlemania.  That never stopped.  The guy is still recording and releasing albums.  He was my favourite American 'solo vocalist' way back in the day.  Preferred him to Elvis...I think because I thought he ROCKED more...or at least more consistently.

Glad to know that he can still 'bring it'.  Denny Wilson used to be a bit of a fan too.  Likely the other guys as well.

[Lonely Summer]

I've seen Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, Rick Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley in concert. Never had a chance to see Dion. I guess he doesn't ever tour in the Northwest.

[Lee Marshall]

Never had the chance to catch Rick Nelson.  He died WAY too early.  Never saw Bo live either.  The rest?  Oh ya.  Dave Bartholemew was there with Fats.  G R E A T show.  Chick Berry could be OUTSTANDING or horrible.  He'd pick up a back-up group wherever he was playing.  If they sucked...he'd get pissed off and the show would be a real disappointment.

Others?  Roy Orbison was terrific...and his band just loved him.  Frankie Valli?  Delivered the goods every time.  The Skatalites, Lynn Taitt, Ernest Ranglin were Jamaican musical pioneers who were wonderful to see...and the spend time with.   GOOD people.   Brenda Lee was talented.  Connie Frances was neat.  No posers or pre-fab 'acts' in THAT bunch.  Ben E King was a great guy.  Carl Gardiner from the Coasters was a hoot.  Chubby Checker and Gary US Bonds were cool.  Ronnie Hawkins, who I used to run into frequently, was loads of fun.  All these folks were around before the Beatles hit North American shores.  And out of all of them, while Frankie continues to soldier on, it may well be that Dion is the MOST active...performing and recording.  And I've never seen him, interviewed him...nuthin'.  And out of all those folks I'd say I liked him best of all...and Frankie and the late Roy are VERY darned close.  Well...and Fats.  Loads of A-1 songs and a REAL gentleman that Antoine.

Before 'the system' tried to replace the real rock 'n' roll stars with card-board cut-outs and a million 'Bobbys' there were some KEY people involved in paving the way.  Dion was one of those individuals.

[jeffh]

I was lucky to see Dion in Milwaukee about ten years ago. It was an "oldies " show. Several of the guy and girl groups played the first half. You know, the groups with only one, or even no original members.

Dion played the entire second half of the concert and simply stole the show. He was amazing.

That is the only time that I can recall him playing Milwaukee.

[donald]

Check out Bronx and Blue

[rn57]

Bronx and Blue is great.  As is this, the B-side of Abraham Martin & John - recorded with some Jamaicans in a bowling alley, according to Mr D.  Even before Paul Butterfield got his band together, Dion was pioneering that white-boy blues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXPKziYdz8w

[Lonely Summer]

I recall a conversation some fans had with the hosts at an oldies show back in the 90's about bringing Dion to town. Still waiting. Great guy, great talent, but apparently he just does not want to play in Seattle. Shame.

[Moon Dawg]

Bronx and Blue is great.  As is this, the B-side of Abraham Martin & John - recorded with some Jamaicans in a bowling alley, according to Mr D.  Even before Paul Butterfield got his band together, Dion was pioneering that white-boy blues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXPKziYdz8w

 "Daddy Rollin'" may be the best thing he ever did. For me, it's the opener in a trilogy, followed by "Sonny Boy" (from the 1969 DION/ABRAHAM MARTIN & JOHN album), culminating with "Your Own Back Yard", the truest anti-drug song ever written.

[Mendota Heights]

Now that I have watched my Dion, there's no plan as to where to go.

[mrski]

Dion was my first 'rock & roll' interest, followed quickly by Gene Vincent.

Not old enough to remember the 50s or much of the 60s, my record collecting days started in the late 70s / early 80s by picking up a Dion (&The Belmonts) compilation LP.

As a young boy I played that lp over a million times and taught myself how to sing!! I still remember every word of every song even now! There is a new Dion Live CD released in the UK on ACE records if anyone is interested. If not, check out this interview, it's almost one hour but it is well worth it... :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rh3RkaPqa0&list=PLi-ECHzqsMFhV27agGKG9ktJMmwtgs9QL

[jeffh]

That was a great video. Thanks for sharing the link

[Junkstar]

Dion is an amazing talent. I really dig his Phil Spector album, even though Phil was fairly absent during the process and made Dion miserable. Only You Know and Make the Woman Love Me are tremendous tunes.