Richie Rome obit

Richie Rome Has Died

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RICHARD V. “RICHIE ROME”’ December 15, 2020. Devoted father of Linda (Ray) Patitucci and Marianne (John) Vagnozzi. Beloved grandfather of Raymond (Karen) Patitucci, Stephanie (Samuel) Cacia, and Lisa (Michael) Shoemaker. Great grandfather of Michael, Jr., Joseph, Guilianna, and Giovanna. Richie Rome was a well known musician, conductor, arranger and producer of music whose decades long career saw him work with such luminaries as Sammy Davis, Jr., Lou Rawls, Simon and Garfunkel, and Teddy Pendergrass, among many others. Relatives and friends are invited to his VIEWING MONDAY 9 A.M. at The Church of the Holy Spirit, 1845 Hartranft St., followed by his Funeral Mass at 10 A.M. Ent. Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, family requests contributions be made in his memory to Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Rome was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 16, 1930. He began his career composing arrangements in the 1960s, with, as one of his earliest professional works, a medley of "Green Apples" and "Something" by the O'Jays (from their Neptune album The O'Jays in Philadelphia). He was also the arranger for Inez and Charlie Foxx on their hit "Mockingbird", which reached the US Top 10 in 1963.

Rome went on to work with various musical artists in the recording industry, such as The Ritchie Family, Mike Douglas, Vic Damone. Three Degrees, Bobby Scott, Florence Henderson, Leslie Uggams, Jane Olivor, the Tymes. Pixanne, Patti LaBelle, Frankie Avalon, Lovin' Spoonful, Stanley Turrentine, Tony Orlando, Barbara McNair, Richard Hatch and others. He was a musical arranger or conductor for television programs highlighting musical artists and also scored films.

In collaboration with, and as arranger for, producer Jacques Morali, Rome established the disco recording group the Ritchie Family in 1975, whose albums include Brazil (1975), Arabian Nights (1976), and Life Is Music (1977).

Rome's signature style is marked by lush orchestrations, interweaving multidimensional horns and strings to accentuate the sensuality of the compositions. His various other projects include Jimmy Ruffin's "Fallin' in Love with You" (1977), the Sweet Inspirations' "Black Sunday" (1977), the Chi-Lites' "My First Mistake" (1977), Flower's "Midnight Dancing", "How", and "Our Never-Ending Love" (1979), and, in collaboration with Phil Hurtt, Stanley Turrentine's "Disco Dancing" (1978) and Hurtt's "Giving It Back" (1978).