Friends, family members and music fans recently gathered at Nuso Cucina in Atlantic City to remember area musician Dionardo Lavinci, known as the “Prince of AC.”
The tribute featured musicians who had worked with Dion. Longtime rock accordionist Malcolm Tent delivered a eulogy for Dion, who played drums on Tent’s 2019 release, “Nada Chants.” Cheezy and the Crackers closed the event with a spirited set in his honor.
“The original Atlantic City music community came out to remember Dion,” said Stephen Weiss, a local promoter who helped organize the gathering.
More than 150 friends, relatives and fans attended, according to Weiss. Performers included former Dion collaborators Position 9 and Haly Daly, followed by Mersey. David Earl of Anchor Rock Club provided sound.
“Cheezy and the Crackers, Dion’s favorite band, took us home with some great reggae tunes,” Weiss said. “With Nuso Cucina set to be the next big thing for independent entertainment, and this first event showing what community is about, like Dion always said, ‘We are living the dream.’ And what a dream it has been.”
Nuso Cucina owner Joey Lesson said he was pleased with the turnout and plans to bring more live music to the restaurant, located on the beach block of South New York Avenue in Atlantic City’s Orange Loop.
“We definitely want to incorporate more live music into Nuso Cucina,” Ienuso said. “We’re planning to have more live music on weekends, and we expect it to become a much bigger focus next season as we continue developing and setting up the outdoor patio.”
Lesson said the patio could become a setting for live music and special events as work continues.
“We want to create an atmosphere where people can enjoy good food, drinks and music and spend time with friends,” he said. “The idea behind Nuso Cucina was to create a restaurant that was approachable and community-oriented while still putting a lot of thought into the food and overall experience.”
Lesson said Weiss approached the restaurant about hosting the tribute.
“We wanted to support Stephen and the local music community, and Nuso Cucina felt like a natural place to host it,” Ienuso said. “We were happy to provide a space where friends, musicians and members of the community could come together to celebrate Dion’s life.”
Haly Daly, a frequent collaborator who performed during the tribute, remembered Dion as a gifted and versatile musician.
“Dion was always at the heart of the Atlantic City music scene — a one-of-a-kind gem who could literally play anything you asked him to,” Daly said.
Daly also recalled sharing a home with Dion, whom Daly described as a “partner in rhyme and rhythm.”
“One of my favorite memories of our time together was the morning routine,” Daly said. “I would be taking a shower, singing whatever ditty came to mind, and thanks to the old walls, by the time the water was off, he would be awake and have an accompanying guitar, bass line or percussion part laid out. We would instantly lose track of time.”
Their home became known among friends as the “Rock & Roll Beach House,” a name Dion gave it.
“Sending him off with sound waves was the only way to celebrate his extraordinary life and the impact he had on so many people in and outside the Atlantic City music scene,” Daly said.
