Ernie Maresca lived near Dion DiMucci in the Bronx and wrote several hits with/for him including "Runaround Sue", "The Wanderer", "Lovers Who Wander", "Donna, the Prima Donna" and "The Majestic". At one time he sang with The Regents who later had a hit with "Barbara Ann". He also co-composed "Child of Clay" the last hit for Jimmie Rodgers, Reparata and the Delrons "Whenever a Teenager Cries", Bernadette Carol's "Party Girl" and had his own hit with "Shout! Shout! Knock Yourself Out"!. He became an executive with Laurie Records.

Dion and the Belmonts (Carlo Mastrangelo, Fred Milano and Angelo D'Aleo) were named after Belmont Avenue in their neighbourhood and were on the 1959 Winter Dance Party that changed the face of music forever with the deaths of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson). Dion went solo in 1960. He was the first rock star signed to Columbia Records and continued with hits like "Drip, Drop" and "Ruby Baby". In 1968 he recorded the sensational "Abraham. Martin and John" and in 1989 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"The Wanderer" is heard here with Ernie Maresca's demo along with German, Spanish and French adaptations before the 1961 hit by Dion.