Dick Roman - Oh Boy The Fountain Of Youth

Born: 1936. Died: 1976. Some information about Dick from an old neighbor of his from his youth (who knew him as 'Richie'): "We grew up across the street from each other. My house number was 1359 W. 7th Street, it's likely his house was 1362 W. 7th Street. Richie was a couple of years older than me. That would make his birth year 1936. The 1940 census shows him as 4 years old, which would fit with what I remember. Also listed with the family is his sister, Carmela, who I remember as well. Richie was the sweetest, gentlest boy and young man, with an incredible talent. He was my favorite among the boys on the block, always polite, never joining with the others in pranks like chasing girls to chalk our coats or wash our faces with snow. He was bullied by one older fellow, who would twist his arm to make him sing. How I hated that guy. I moved out to Long Island, Richie came to visit. Then I moved to West Hills, California. I last saw Richie in Las Vegas in the late 1960s, in the hotel where he was appearing. It was pure coincidence, we were visiting and saw his name on the marquee. He came to greet us and invite us to the show. I can say nothing but the best about him." Here is Dick Roman's final bio, written around the time his country-crossover single "Sweet Touch" was released: That Dick Roman was destined to become a singer was decided almost at birth. He came from a typical Italian home that was constantly filled with music. His mother, Angela, had a beautiful soprano voice and his father, Anthony, was always tinkering with musical instruments, ranging from the ukulele to the harmonica. If Dick had decided on an operatic career, he could very well have used his real name, Richard Sebastian Di Giacomo, but his great love for popular music and his desire to bring a bit of the great operatic technique to the "Hit Parade" was an over-riding factor in his decision to become Dick Roman. Almost from the time he could talk, he sang, and when he sang, he made not only his parents happy, but also brought joy to the neighbors, who eagerly awaited his nightly vocalizing. He became a popular young man with his friends and their parents, who constantly made requests for Dick's vocal talents at weddings, bar mitzvahs, baseball games, block parties and and endless stream of local functions. Brooklyn, New York was his home and if one thing ever came close to depriving the world of hearing a beautiful voice, it was Dick's love for baseball. He played in the streets and on the sandlots with a vigor that left him breathless, and when his mother would call to say it was time for his singing lesson, she would find a boy who left his friends with mixed emotions. When Dick was very young, he told his parents that his great ambition was to sing, but just to sing was not enough. He wanted to be the best- and singing lessons were expensive. The few spare dollars that were left after the week's bill were not enough to pay for these lessons, so Dick's father took a second job in order to help him fulfill his dreams. Soon, Dick started the strenuous tours of agents' offices, "kiddy" shows, auditions and a world where fitting into a costume seemed more important than talent. Rejection is hard enough for adults, but to a little child it can be tremendously cruel. Dick withstood these disappointments and mangaged to land the part of a lame boy, in the dramatic production of "I Remember Mama". One of Dick's co-actors was also making his first appearance on Broadway. Dick remembers Marlon Brando as being moody but friendly "big brother" type. Summer stock, radio appearances, veterans hospitals became weekly habits for the budding singer- and a great training ground. Dick made many friends along the way; the well-known singing teacher, Carlo Menotti, became one of his closest. Their relationship developed into one of the happiest chapters in Dick's life. Dick learned to love his sessions with Carlo and in turn, Carlo developed many of his techniques as a result of these long hours of work. Dick's first breat-throught came when he won the $5,000 first prize on The Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts Show. He soon became one of Godfrey's favorites and made many appearances on his daily show. The song he won with became a million-seller, and one of the most popular records of all time- "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing". Record-breaking appearances at the old Roxy Theatre, Radio City Music Hall and the Steel Pier in Atlantic City followed. Dick filled his time with an incredible schedule: the Palladium in London, his own TV series in Australia, numerous trips to South America and a daily series with Liberace on ABC for 36 weeks. Dick lived in California while he was on The Liberace Show but missed the hustle and bustle of New York. So he returned to New York in time to become part of some of the most memorable TV years. He sang on the biggest variety shows, including Ed Sullivan, Jack Paar, Judy Garland, and later on Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, et al. These were years when Dick was fighting the trend of the "non-singing" singer. He is one of the few true voices and true performers of this era, for the early 60's produces mostly "electronic" voices and at times, Dick felt like he was fighting a losing battle. Nevertheless, the bookings kept pouring in, the Copa in the Latin Quarter in New York, the Fontainbleau and Eden Roc and Diplomat in Florida, the American and Sheraton in Puerto Rico and appearances in practically every major city in the world. The frustrations of the record business failed to faze Dick and he financed and produced "A Theme From A Summer Place