THE REAL DICK ROMAN

Dick Roman was born Ricardo Sebastian De Giacomo in Brooklyn (not Long Island as some sources say), USA in 1938. He died on October 21, 1976 in his Las Vegas apartment at the age of 38 of an apparent heart attack. His body was found (by Jerry Vale) seated with the television set still on. An obituary appeared in the New York Times on October 22, 1976.

One piece of trivia: Dick lived at 1326 West 7th Street, Brooklyn while he was attending the School of Industrial Art He graduated in 1953.

The sleeve-notes to his eponymous album give the following information:

Hailed by the critics as America's bright new singing star, Dick Roman proves they are right. This LP is concrete evidence that the handsome six-foot, blue-eyed lad from Brookyn, born Ricardo Sebatian De Giacomo of Italian-American parents, deserves the critics' kudos to a man!

The much sought-after young arranger, Alan Lorder, who today is one of the 'hottest' men in the business, did the arrangements for Theme From A Summer Place. Among the ear-caressing tunes recorded here, done in the magnificent Roman style, are In The Still Of The Night, one of the great songs of all time, sung in an exciting Latin tempo, Lady of Spain, Arrivederci Roma and a contagious love-lilting melody, Touch of Love.

Versatile Billy Verplanck, whose arrangements have long been the talk of the musical world, has been writing for Dick for six years. He is very familiar with the singing star's big, low-to-high baritone voice that has a two-and-a-half octave range, a full octave more than the usual baritone span. Billy, who has worked with such name bands as Claude Thornhill, Tommy Dorsey and Charles Bennett among others, knows exactly what to do to enhance Dick's rich and natural tones. . .after listening we're sure you'll agree that a little Dick Roman doesn't go far enough and that like all great entertainers, you'll want him back for an encore.

The Liberace Letter

Additional information courtesy of Eddie Newmark and Fred Edwards.

See http://www.chronoglide.com/WWWS_MiniPages/MPDickRoman.html