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This is Fresh Air. I'm Terry Gross. Today we conclude our archive series, R&B, Rockabilly,

and Early Rock and Roll with Alan Toussaint, who will hear from later, and Dion.

If you've ever dismissed Dion as a former teen idol whose talent or relevance didn't survive the

oldies era, what you hear today is likely to change your mind.

He's a great singer, deeply influenced by the blues and country music.

I interviewed him in 2000.

He brought his guitar, and we're going to hear him perform some of his own songs and some of the blues and country songs that influenced him.

Dion had his first hit, I Wonder Why, in 1958, with the Duwop group, the Belmont's, named after

Belmont Avenue in the Bronx neighborhood in which they lived. Deon's other hits included,

A Teenager in Love, Where or When, Donna the Prima Donna, Run around Sue, the wanderer, and later Abraham, Martin, and John.

His fan, Bruce Springsteen, gave the introduction when Dion was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Dionn recorded a couple of Springsteen songs on his album, Deja Nu, which was released in 2000 and was the occasion for our interview.

We started with a track from that album, Dion singing Springsteen's If I Should Fall Behind.

We said we'd walk together

Baby come with me

That come the twilight

Should we lose our way

If as we were walking

Our hands should slip free

I'll wait for you

Should I fall behind

...