Posted on

Dion: The Wanderer Talks Truth

It’s out: Dion: The Wanderer Talks Truth, the book I co-authored with the man himself.

I mostly tried to stay out of the way while Dion told his story — twelve gold records, Grammy awards and nominations in three categories (rock, gospel, and blues), fourteen years of heroin addiction and alcoholism, then recovery and happy family life. And he’s still making great music. Dion is the only man on the charts in 1957 who’s still cutting original tracks today. Our names have appeared together in the New York Times. It’s a thrill to have them together on a book.

In these pages, Dion talks about the hit songs — “Teenager in Love,” “I Wonder Why,” “The Wanderer,” “Runaround Sue,” “Ruby Baby,” “Abraham, Martin and John” — and the hitmakers — Buddy Holly, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Sam Cooke, Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, Bobby Darrin, Dick Clark. (Lou Reed wrote the foreword to the book.) He discusses his work in gospel and blues. He also talks about his miraculous healing from addiction and his slow, steady growth in Christian faith. I grooved, of course, to his reflections on St. Augustine — just as I grooved, a few years ago, to his song about St. Jerome.

I love the book because I love the man. I think you’ll love the man because you’ll love his book.

4 thoughts on “Dion: The Wanderer Talks Truth

  1. Congratulations, my friend!

  2. Today is my birthday and I just ordered myself a present! Can’t wait to read it!

  3. Wow, Mike. This is too cool for words!! Good show

  4. Yay! Sounds interesting.

Comments are closed.