Dion Steps out in Spain

(Ed: I’ve taken this opportunity to delve into my Image library of unique Spanish picture disc images)

Well, what is the meaning of this introduction?? It's simple, I was really really surprised when after years of being a DION fan I discovered that he visited Spain in November or December 1963. And he was not the only rock and roll star that was here, others like Roy Orbison or the Tokens also walked Spanish land.

When Dion was here he made no concerts at all. He had been traveling Europe promoting his records and I suppose this was the time he taped the famous "FACE AU PUBLIC" TV special in Belgium. Thanks to the only two magazines that covered the few rock and roll acts that came to Spain, I've been able to see some photographs and read some info on what Dion did over here. These two magazines reveal not too much info, but this is a lot more than what I expected on a spanish mag.

Some of the info included on the FONORAMA magazine from December 1963 is of biographical interest, and then they included a very brief interview they made to Dion:

"Have you been in other European countries?, - I have performed on the London Palladium, in the Olympia in Paris, in Milan, and in several other places with nice success, I'm very happy with this. -Which was the place your success was bigger?, - In the Olympia, french youth is pretty enthusiast! they gave me a wonderful welcome.

-What do you think now about the european youth?, -Young people in Europe are wonderful, they know a lot about music, and as I told you before they have a lot enthusiasm.

-Here in Spain you are going to appear on TV but you are not going to make live appearances, will you comeback?, - I don't know, I'm really sad for not having the chance to sing in front of an audience. Radio and TV are wonderful but there's nothing like the reactions of an audience."

DISCOBOLO magazine from December 1963 included another brief interview:

"Why did you left the Belmonts? (he doesn't seems to be annoyed for the question, we know that other singers that began with groups don't like this kind of questions), - They created their own label and publishing company, and this is something I don't like, bills, office papers are not for me. I just want to compose and sing, that's what I like, and that's why I left the group.

-Your style, with and without them, is the same, all your songs have a special trademark. - Yes, I think my style is original, that's what I like, that it's mine and that I feel it.

-We let him know that on the November 16th edition of CASHBOX his song "Drip Drop" is on the Top 100 list. He smiles and we take the chance for asking him what has he done in Spain during his brief visit. - I went to see some flamenco show, one of those tropical places. It was pretty late when we arrived back to the hotel, then I took my guitar and was playing until 6 o'clock in the morning, trying to play what I heard at the show, my wife was going crazy. The following morning we visited Madrid and I arranged everything to buy a spanish guitar.

-Which are your favorite singers?, - Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Roy Orbison, Hank Williams... Roy Orbison was in Spain lately and promised me that he was going to buy me a spanish guitar, but I'm still waiting!.

-After this, Dion asked us if american folk music was popular in Spain, and the truth is that it isn't. - As soon as I arrive to the USA I'm going to record a new album with only folk songs."

Apart from this few interviews, Dion also attended a small party offered by Columbia, and then sang three songs to the people on the party with the only company if his guitar. For what the magazine says, he sang two original compositions plus "Ruby Baby". Then, the next day Dion appeared on the spanish TV show "Gran Parada" . I really don't know which song/s he did there!. The spanish TV of the era had the brilliant idea of not to save all the recorded footage. So I think I will never know more about this.

Approximately this is what I have known about Dion in Spain in 1963. But I would like to know where else in Europe (or any other continent) he has been, so fans from all over, look for magazines, archives etc... because more than probably Dion was in your country. And we all hope he will be back!.