Roman Dragoun
A versatile voice of Czech rock and theatrical music, he bridged the progressive sounds of the 1980s with modern stages.
Born 1956 (age 70)·Czech musician·Birthday: April 8·Baby Boomers
Biography
Roman Dragoun's career is a map of Czech popular music across four decades. Emerging in the early 1980s, he became the keyboardist and vocalist for the seminal progressive rock band Progres 2, a group known for its ambitious, synth-driven concept albums. His path wasn't confined to one band; he moved through influential groups like Stromboli and Futurum, and his skills as a session musician made him a sought-after collaborator. Dragoun also carved a parallel career in musical theatre, bringing a rock sensibility to the stage. His induction into the Beat Hall of Fame in 2012 cemented his status as a foundational figure, respected for his adaptability and enduring presence in a shifting musical landscape.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Roman was born in 1956, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Roman Was Born
The biggest hits of 1956
#1 Movie
The Ten Commandments
Best Picture
Around the World in 80 Days
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Roman's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1956Born
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1961Started school
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1969Became a teenager
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Could drive
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1974Could vote
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Turned 21
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1986Turned 30
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 40
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 50
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 60
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 70
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as a key member of the influential Czech progressive rock band Progres 2 across two distinct periods of its history.
- Inducted into the Czech Beat Hall of Fame (Beatová síň slávy) in 2012 for his contributions to music.
- Maintained a successful parallel career as a singer and performer in musical theatre productions.
- Was a session musician for numerous prominent Czech artists, showcasing his versatility.
Did You Know?
He was a member of the band T4, which was formed by members of Progres 2.
Dragoun performed on the 1981 Progres 2 rock opera "Dialog s vesmírem" (Dialogue with the Universe).
His musical theatre work included performances in popular Czech productions.
“Music is not a profession; it's a state of being.”
