Who is Professor D?

By Stephanie Swendsen

Director of Music Technology Rick DiGiallonardo’s office is not the average professor’s office. Upon walking in, a person sees a double-platinum record glistening on the wall.

Walking down the hallway to DiGiallonardo’s office could be an intimidating experience. Greeted with a big, warm smile, all anxiety can disappear immediately. But don’t let his down-to-earth persona fool you; unbeknownst to the majority of Ball State University’s population, he is a celebrity in his own right.

He turns down his jazz music to create a little “mood music,” he jokes. He explains that music always had a huge influence in his life, but “the old school, nasty funk” was the catalyst of his passion.

At 19 years old, he dropped out of college and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams in the music industry. With sensational talent and undeniable passion on keyboard, he landed a job writing arrangements with Universal Records and K-Tel Records in Las Vegas.

While in the Pacific-Northwest, which had a “really happening fusion jazz thing going on,” the vice president of Geffen Records saw him performing at a club, and he was signed on the spot. He got his big break when David Geffen himself handpicked him to play keys for Quarterflash. The band recorded its self-titled album, and released its Billboard-topping single, “Harden My Heart.”

When he wasn’t working with Quarterflash, he was busy touring with talents such as Elton John, Rick Springfield, Sammy Hagar and Loverboy. He was also composing musical works for movies “Gremlins” 1 and 2, “Night Shift” and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”

Along the way, DiGiallonardo received many prestigious awards including: five gold, four platinum and a double platinum record, along with three gold singles, two Grammy nominations and an American Music Award. However, when he received news that his wife was expecting their first child, it was motivation enough to get him off the road for good. He decided, “You can either be a picture on the wall, or you can be there.”

While DiGiallonardo was working as the music industry program director at James Madison University in Virginia, he sent his résumé to other universities. Despite other offers, something drew him to Ball State. He saw the great potential Ball State had to offer with its “state-of-the-art” facilities and talented students.

His first-hand experience and immense knowledge of the music industry led him to design a Music Business program that will be implemented into the School of Music. He is creating a curriculum with courses that will cover everything from artist management to commercial song writing to concert production. He is also leading an immersive learning project in which he guides students in an artist development project.

Ball State students have a knowledgeable, experienced and passionate member of the music industry at their fingertips. The legacy he’s creating at Ball State may not earn him a platinum album, but it will educate students aspiring to pursue careers in the music industry.