R.I.P.: Performer, Songwriter Ernie Maresca

Ernie Maresca

Ernie Maresca, who hit the Top 10 with Shout! Shout! Knock Youself Out and wrote many of Dion's biggest hits, died last Wednesday at his home in Southern Florida.

He was 76, according to noise11.com.

Maresca was born in the Bronx and in 1957, formed the group the Monterays who recorded demos for a numvber of labels. They became Rhe Desires when they were signed by Seville Records.

They eventually broke up but reformed later, witohut Maresca, to become The Regents.

In 1958, Dion heard a song that Maresca has written called No One Knows, recording it with his group The Bemonts. The record when to number 12 on the R&R and 19 on the Pop charts and launched Mresca's songwriter carrer.


The success moved Maresca to concentrate on songwriting where he turned out a series of major hits for Dion including Runawaround Sue, The Wanderer, Loves Who Wander and Donna the Prima Donna.