was born Ricardo Sebastian De Giacomo in Brooklyn (not Long Island as some sources say), USA in 1938.
He died on October 21, 1976, at the age of 38, in Las Vegas of an apparent heart attack,
in his apartment. 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).
A peice of trivia: Dick lived at 1326 West 7th Street, Brooklyn while he was
attending the School of Industrial Art (graduating class of 1953).
The sleeve-notes to his eponymous album give the following information
(format and spacing per the original):
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!
Spotting his vocal talents early, his parents started him on singing lessons
when he was only seven years old.
Later, he also displayed a flair for acting and essayed his first professional
stage rôle at the age of nine in summer stock at Newport, Long Island.
His dramatic abilities came to the attention of Richard Rodgers and Oscar
Hammerstein II who were producing "I Remember Mama" for Broadway at the time.
Dick passed their audition and was chosen to appear in the play both on Broadway
and it's later tour. His stint with the copany lasted ten months.
After the stage experience, his parents decided that Dick should return to school.
He attended Seth Low Junior High in his native Brooklyn and later the
Industrial Art in New York City where he showed quite a bit of promise in the
commercial art field.
The many-talanted youngster was also the star pitcher of the Industrial Art
baseball team, racking up a record of ninteen wins and four losses in his first season.
This impressive showing was spotted by a scout for the San Fransisco Giants, then based
in New York, and the lad was offered a contract to pitch for one of their farm teams.
Dick passed it up, however, for by now he was firmly determined to become a popular singer.
After completion of his schooling, he began appearing as an entertainer in small night clubs
around Metropolitan New York City area.
Eventually he drew bids for appearances in the better clubs throughout America and Canada -
places like Miami's Eden Roc Hotel, Montreal's El Morocco, Buffalo's Town casino,
the Catskill's Grossingers, Long Island's Boulevard among others.
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.
Produced by Eddie Newmark and Fred Edwards.
