Dick D'Agostin
Dick D'Agostin | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Richard Earl D'Agostin |
| Also known as | "Bird", "Bear", "Thun" |
| Born | November 5, 1936 |
| Origin | Beloit, Wisconsin |
| Died | 1993 California |
| Genres | Rock and Roll, Rockabilly blues, (unrecorded), various types, esp. influenced in his later years by Lightnin' Hopkins, B.B. King, Albert King, Big Joe Turner, James Brown, Etta James. |
| Occupations | Singer, pianist, guitarist, dancer, actor, Supervising Deputy Probation Officer with Los Angeles County Probation Department - operating out of Central Juvenile Hall |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica |
Richard Earl D'Agostin, was an American dancer and rock and roll musician, best known for touring with Eddie Cochran.[1] D'Agostin sang and played piano and guitar as the frontman for The Swingers, composed of drummer Gene Riggio, lead guitar Dave Oster, saxophonist Paul Kaufman, bassist Wayne Messick, and D'Agostin's brother Larry D'Agostin on guitar.[2]
Career[edit]
Solo[edit]
As a solo artist, D'Agostin released two singles on Accent Records, "What Gave You The Idea?" b/w "I'm Your Daddy-O" and "Mean Mean Woman" b/w "Come On" from 1956–57.[3]
Dick D'Agostin and The Swingers[edit]
Dick D'Agostin and The Swingers were a Los Angeles band signed to Dot Records, whom had released two singles in 1958.[4] Their song "Nancy Lynne" was a minor hit,[5] with D'Agostin's piano sound being compared to the style of Jerry Lee Lewis.[6]
In 1958, Eddie Cochran formed a touring band for his Canadian tour and were named the Hollywood Swingers, a reference to D'Agostin's group. Dick D'Agostin and The Swingers eventually became Cochran's touring band in 1959.[7]
On February 7, 1959, Cochran performed live on Town Hall Party with Dick D'Agostin and the Swingers. Cochran played "C'mon, Everybody", "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You", "Don't Blame It On Me", "Summertime Blues", "School Days", Gene Autry's "Be Honest With Me", and "Money Honey". There was a brief interview segment on the show, in which D'Agostin and his drummer Gene Riggio were introduced.[4]
In 1959, The Swingers released their third single "It's You" b/w "I Let You Go", on Liberty Records (Cochran's label).[3] D'Agostin was useful as a multi-instrumentalist, and played piano on the recording of Cochran's song "Boll Weevil". D'Agostin also worked as a session musician for other American artists, such as Freddy Cannon, Jan and Dean, Bobby Vee, Sam Cooke, Johnny Otis, Ritchie Valens, Jack Scott, Lou Rawls, and Big Jay McNeely. He recorded at Gold Star Studios, in Hollywood, California. In late 1959, D'Aogstin received his call-up papers and was enlisted into the U.S. Army.[7]
Dancing[edit]
D'Agostin and his partner Judi Stein were the 1955 Al Jarvis dance champions and won $1,000 in prize money, topping thousands of competitors, originally performing on Al Jarvis' KABC-TV teenage contest show Make Believe Ballroom.[8][9][10]
D'Agostin appeared in minor dancing roles in films, Eighteen and Anxious (1957), and Hot Rod Gang (1958), as well as utilising his music abilities for the role of a pianist in Earth Vs. the Spider (1958). He also edited dance columns for two of the first teen magazines, Dig and Modern Teen from 1955–58.[11][12]
Filmography[edit]
| Year | Film | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Eighteen and Anxious | Dance champion | Uncredited |
| 1958 | Earth vs. the Spider | Pianist | Uncredited
Alternative title: The Spider |
| 1958 | Hot Rod Gang | Pianist and Stage dancer | Alternative title: Fury Unleashed |
Discography[edit]
Singles[edit]
Solo[edit]
- "What Gave You The Idea?" b/w "I'm Your Daddy-O" (Accent Records, November 1956)[13]
- "Mean Mean Woman" b/w "Come On" (Accent Records, 1957)
as Dick D'Agostin and The Swingers[edit]
- "Nancy Lynne" b/w "Afraid to Take a Chance" (Dot Records, June 1958)[6]
- "Night Walk" b/w "Give Me You" (Dot Records, November 1958)
- "It's You" b/w "I Let You Go" (Liberty Records, November 1959)[14]
- "Nancy Lynne" on YouTube
- "Afraid to Take a Chance" on YouTube
- "It's You" on YouTube
External links[edit]
- Rockin' Country Style Discography
- Dick D'Agostin at IMDb
- Clip from "Earth vs.the Spider" on YouTube
- Dick D'Agostin Forum
References[edit]
- ^ * Bobby Cochran, Susan Van Hecke (2003). Three Steps to Heaven: The Eddie Cochran Story. Hal Leonard. ISBN 978-0-634-03252-3.
- ^ * Julie Mundy (2001). Don't Forget Me: The Eddie Cochran Story. Billboard Books. ISBN 0823079317.
- ^ a b "D'Agostin, Dick | RCS Search Results". Rockin' Country Style Discography. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ a b "Town Hall party TV show 1959 starring Eddie Cochran." YouTube. February 7, 1959. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ Accardi, Joseph J. (2008). Beloit's Club Pop House. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-5209-5.
- ^ a b Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. June 23, 1958. p. 45.
- ^ a b Collis, John (2011-08-19). Gene Vincent & Eddie Cochran. Random House. ISBN 978-0-7535-4783-0.
- ^ Independent Press-Telegram from Long Beach, California. Feb. 19, 1956 page 25.
- ^ Bigsby, Evelyn (March 25, 1955). "Al Jarvis Defends Teenagers" (PDF). TV-Radio Life: 4–5 – via WorldRadioHistory.com.
- ^ "TV's Longest Contest Is Coming To An End" (PDF). TV-Radio Life: 4–5. August 26, 1955 – via WorldRadioHistory.com.
- ^ D'Agostin, Dick (December 1955). "How to Rock and Roll". Dig magazine: 18.
- ^ D'Agostin, Dick (June 1957). "Ray Anthony's Calypso Dance". Modern Teen: 24–25 – via Worthpoint.com.
- ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 17, 1956. p. 50.
- ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 9, 1959. p. 51.