Rafael Roman

Rafael Roman was inducted into the “Tampa Bay Grand Mix Masters Hall Of Fame” by Senior Grand Mix Masters Kurt “K.O.T.O.” Curtis and Stan “The Man” Priest in May 2003. His story begins in 1979 at age 14 and just as the golden era of Disco was fading into the sunset. Although too young to have spun in those glorious days he eventually was introduced to a 12” vinyl dance record by Bill Rickett of “Rickett’s Record Pool” in Saddlebrook, NJ. After scoring his first set of turntables and a mixer he started to spin at small parties and weddings. In 1980 at the Fun House located in Paterson, New Jersey, Roman started spinning at a video arcade- pool Hall where he spent many hours mastering his mixing abilities. Growing up in the New Jersey - New York City area he was lucky enough to meet the some of New York’s top pioneer Grand Mix Masters Larry Levan, Tee Scott, Jose “The Animal” Diaz, John “Jellybean” Benitez, Bill Rickett & many others.

He watched how the masters worked the crowds and decided his destiny was to reach that plateau and become a real professional. In 1981 Roman moved to Florida and found it hard to break into the real club scene due to the fact he had to be 21 years old. While having to wait to break into the major leagues he kept building his music library and found work spinning “Freestyle” tunes at the Southland Roller Ring in Pinellas Park (1983). That same year he became Assistant Director Of The Florida Suncoast Record Pool. Finally in 1984 he landed his first real club gig spinning at the Flamingo Road nightclub in Clearwater. By 1985 he had worked his way up to the immensely popular Clearwater nightclub, Biarritz and worked under the direction of “Magic Marco” Navarra who helped him study the music and how it charted nationally, determining what was and what was not a hit. Navarra also taught him to play the hits sandwiching new songs with the hits, a formula which became a key to his success.

In 1986 Roman traveled with “Matt The Brat” Bradley to open the biggest club in the Southwest called L’ Parc. The following year (1987) found him in Club Rio (Albuquerque, New Mexico) where he launched the very popular Thursday “Freestyle” nights. Returning to Tampa in 1989 he found work at Oscars nightclub and the following year at Mako’s on North Dale Mabry. At Mako’s he launched the Sunday’s 18+ night and named it “Bait Night”. This concept was copied by many clubs in the bay area and is still followed today. In 1990 “Magic Marco” Navarra, WFLZ’s 93.3 (Known as The Power Pig in those days) Hot Mixer handed over that position to Roman. For Roman, his career couldn’t have looking any greater but unfortunately he had to give up the live radio mix show due to a serious Diabetes medical illness. After recovery from his illness for a year Roman bounced back and spun at the Cabana Bay Club (New Port Ritchey-1991), Mako’s (New Port Ritchey-1992), Mako’s (Seminole-1993) where he was again mixed live on 93.3 WFLZ with Bubba the Love Sponge on Friday Nights.

In 1993 at Calypso Bay Café (Clearwater) Roman started a classic Disco night on Wednesday night which he co-hosted with legendary Disco dance instructor Denny Terio who was well known in the 1970’s for his hit TV show “Dance Fever”. That experience gave Roman an appreciation for the old Disco classics, which he started collecting as a teenager. He took the energy witnessed at Studio 54 & Xenon in NY and imitated it here in Tampa. His Wednesday “Disco Nights” became the biggest weeknight ever to hit the bay area with crowds of 1000. That same year Roman also found time to become full time director of the Florida Suncoast Record Pool working directly with record companies to promote there music within the Tampa bay area. At The Krush in downtown Tampa he had the privilege to spin with Grand Mix Master Stan “The Man” Priest in 1995. Thursday nights at The Krush he started spinning Latin music which became the biggest Thursday party in the bay with crowds of 1000 + another Roman concept that has been copied by many clubs in the bay area and is still followed today.

In 1996 Roman started a live Latin radio mix on Friday’s at Club 1509 in Ybor City. The live radio mix show was heard on WRMD 680 AM “Radiomundo” the biggest Latin radio station at the time. Friday’s became a huge success carried over from The Krush club. On Saturday nights at Club 1509 he spun house & Techno, which made Club 1509 the place to be in Ybor City. Roman’s Latin nights continued at such clubs as XS (Tampa-1998). Roman found his true niche’ in the Tampa Bay area by combining Latin music with Reggae, Hip Hop & Freestyle. Today Roman can be heard live on Wednesday nights from Club Joy (Tampa) on radio station WMGG 820 AM “La Mega” the strongest Latin station in the bay. Reflecting back at his successful nightclub career Rafael Roman gives many thanks to his mentors Bill Rickett & “Magic Marco” Navarra. He also gives special thanks to Howard Tripp (Founder of the Suncoast record pool), Stan “The Man” Priest, “Matt The Bratt” Bradley, Kurt “K.O.T.O.” Curtis, Jerry King, Jeff Williams & Carlos Jose Peralta & all the guys that stood by me while my life hung by a thread before my Kidney Transplant.