The Belmonts ' first single , " Teenage Clementine " / " Santa Margherita , " was recorded in 1957 for arranger Irving Spice 's New York based Mohawk Records . Unlike subsequent recordings , Milano did the lead vocal on the " A " side , " Teenage Clementine " , and D'Aleo sang lead on " Santa Margherita " . Also recording on the label was Dion DiMucci , whose first release was backed by a group he never met , the Timberlanes . DiMucci added the lead vocal to existing pre-recorded tracks , and the final composition was released as " The Chosen Few " / " Out In Colorado " , by " Dion and the Timberlanes " . After receiving some airplay on the East Coast , the single was later leased to the larger Jubilee Records label for better distribution , although it failed to chart nationally . DiMucci states that he never knew then , or now , who the Timberlanes were : " The vocal group was so white bread , I went back to my neighborhood and I recruited a bunch of guys , three guys , and we called ourselves Dion and the Belmonts . " Initially billed as " Dion '' with '' the Belmonts " , the new group recorded " We Went Away " / " Tag Along " on the Mohawk label before leaving for newly formed Laurie Records . Known thereafter as " Dion '' and '' the Belmonts " , their first Laurie release , " I Wonder Why " ( Laurie Records first release , Laurie 3013 ) , was recorded at New York 's Bell Sound Studios and brought them immediate success . Released the first week of May 1958 , it appeared on the national charts two weeks later , rising to number 22 on the '' Billboard '' Hot 100 . It led to their first appearance on the nationally televised '' American Bandstand '' show , hosted by Dick Clark . The group followed with the ballads " No One Knows " ( Laurie 3015 , number 19 ) and " Do n't Pity Me " ( Laurie 3021 , number 40 ) , which were also performed on '' Bandstand '' . In 1959 Dion and the Belmonts were part of the historic and tragic Winter Dance Party tour that lost three performers in a plane crash near Clear Lake , Iowa -- Buddy Holly , Ritchie Valens and J.P. " The Big Bopper " Richardson . DiMucci was offered a seat on the plane by Holly , but thought the fee of $ 36 was too much for such a short plane ride and declined . Photographs taken at the concert the night before the accident show Holly filling in on drums for The Belmonts , whose drummer had frostbite . Being a skilled drummer already , Carlo Mastrangelo filled in on drums for several of the other acts , evidenced by photographs also . After the plane crash Bobby Vee , then an unknown , was asked to perform in Holly 's place . Later Frankie Avalon , Fabian and Jimmy Clanton were hired to finish the tour in place of the three deceased headliners
plane crash
The Day the Music Died
The Belmonts