Johnny Costa
Encyclopedia
Johnny Costa was an American
jazz pianist, born in Arnold, Pennsylvania
. Given the title "The White Tatum" by jazz legend Art Tatum
, Costa is best known for his work as musical director of the children's television program, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
.
Costa learned to play accordion at age 7 and was reading music three years later. Frank Oliver, Costa's high school music teacher, urged him to learn the piano after discovering that Costa had perfect pitch. Costa graduated from Carnegie Mellon University
with two degrees, in music and in education. In case he failed as a musician, Costa prepared himself to teach. Following college graduation, he began work the same day as the house pianist for a radio station in Pittsburgh. Eventually he performed the same role for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh. He provided piano and organ music for many programs, eventually teaming with Fred Rogers to arrange and perform the music heard on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood for which he served as musical director until his death in 1996.
Costa's first recording was The Amazing Johnny Costa, a Savoy LP released in 1955 and reissued on CD as Neighborhood in 1989. Although his increasingly lucrative career was beginning to bring him international attention, the amount of time away from his family and friends led him to live and perform only in western Pennsylvania. He stopped traveling and gave up his job as musical director of The Mike Douglas Show
. He returned to Pittsburgh and remained there for the rest of his life.
Costa served as musical director, arranger, and pianist for the children's television program Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
from the program's debut in 1968 until his death in 1996. The program's creator and host, Fred Rogers, regarded Costa as one of the most gifted musicians he had ever met. Costa was one of the world's most talented jazz pianists. Rogers' choice was surprising because as Costa's style was regarded as too complicated and sophisticated for a children's program. But Costa insisted on not playing "baby" music.
Each day, Costa and his trio (with Carl McVicker Jr. on bass and Bobby Rawsthorne on percussion) played live in the studio for the filming. In addition to the show's recognizable main theme, they played the trolley
whistle, Mr. McFeely's frenetic Speedy Delivery piano plonks, the vibraphone flute-toots as Fred fed his fish, dreamy celesta
lines, and Rogers' entrance and exit tunes.
Costa died of anemia (not leukemia as often misreported) at age 74.
After his death, much of the music heard on the program continued to be Costa's. The show's closing credits
also continued to list Costa as its Musical Director.
Costa appeared along with guitarist Joe Negri
on the 1954 Ken Griffin
TV Series 67 Melody Lane. Johnny and Joe played two numbers, After You've Gone and Little Brown Jug. The latter being accompanied by Ken Griffin
at the organ.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz pianist, born in Arnold, Pennsylvania
Arnold, Pennsylvania
Arnold is a city in Westmoreland County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is a suburb of Pittsburgh, part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 5,667 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. Given the title "The White Tatum" by jazz legend Art Tatum
Art Tatum
Arthur "Art" Tatum, Jr. was an American jazz pianist and virtuoso who played with phenomenal facility despite being nearly blind.Tatum is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time...
, Costa is best known for his work as musical director of the children's television program, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, also known as Mister Rogers, is an American children's television series that was created and hosted by Fred Rogers. The series is aimed primarily at preschool ages, 2-5, but has been stated by Public Broadcasting Service as "appropriate for all ages"...
.
Costa learned to play accordion at age 7 and was reading music three years later. Frank Oliver, Costa's high school music teacher, urged him to learn the piano after discovering that Costa had perfect pitch. Costa graduated from Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
with two degrees, in music and in education. In case he failed as a musician, Costa prepared himself to teach. Following college graduation, he began work the same day as the house pianist for a radio station in Pittsburgh. Eventually he performed the same role for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh. He provided piano and organ music for many programs, eventually teaming with Fred Rogers to arrange and perform the music heard on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood for which he served as musical director until his death in 1996.
Costa's first recording was The Amazing Johnny Costa, a Savoy LP released in 1955 and reissued on CD as Neighborhood in 1989. Although his increasingly lucrative career was beginning to bring him international attention, the amount of time away from his family and friends led him to live and perform only in western Pennsylvania. He stopped traveling and gave up his job as musical director of The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that aired in syndication from 1961 to 1982, distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations.The program featured light banter with...
. He returned to Pittsburgh and remained there for the rest of his life.
Costa served as musical director, arranger, and pianist for the children's television program Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, also known as Mister Rogers, is an American children's television series that was created and hosted by Fred Rogers. The series is aimed primarily at preschool ages, 2-5, but has been stated by Public Broadcasting Service as "appropriate for all ages"...
from the program's debut in 1968 until his death in 1996. The program's creator and host, Fred Rogers, regarded Costa as one of the most gifted musicians he had ever met. Costa was one of the world's most talented jazz pianists. Rogers' choice was surprising because as Costa's style was regarded as too complicated and sophisticated for a children's program. But Costa insisted on not playing "baby" music.
Each day, Costa and his trio (with Carl McVicker Jr. on bass and Bobby Rawsthorne on percussion) played live in the studio for the filming. In addition to the show's recognizable main theme, they played the trolley
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
whistle, Mr. McFeely's frenetic Speedy Delivery piano plonks, the vibraphone flute-toots as Fred fed his fish, dreamy celesta
Celesta
The celesta or celeste is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. Its appearance is similar to that of an upright piano or of a large wooden music box . The keys are connected to hammers which strike a graduated set of metal plates suspended over wooden resonators...
lines, and Rogers' entrance and exit tunes.
Costa died of anemia (not leukemia as often misreported) at age 74.
After his death, much of the music heard on the program continued to be Costa's. The show's closing credits
Closing credits
Closing credits or end credits are added at the end of a motion picture, television program, or video game to list the cast and crew involved in the production. They usually appear as a list of names in small type, which either flip very quickly from page to page, or move smoothly across the...
also continued to list Costa as its Musical Director.
Costa appeared along with guitarist Joe Negri
Joe Negri
Joseph Harold Negri is a jazz guitarist and educator from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During his years as Musical Director at WTAE-TV, he appeared on the former children's television show Paul Shannon's Adventure Time and other locally-produced shows on the station...
on the 1954 Ken Griffin
Ken Griffin
Kenneth W. "Ken" Griffin was an American organist.-Biography:Griffin was born in Columbia, Missouri. His biggest hit was "You Can't Be True, Dear" , which was first released as an instrumental, and later that year re-released with a vocal by Jerry Wayne dubbed in. Both versions became popular,...
TV Series 67 Melody Lane. Johnny and Joe played two numbers, After You've Gone and Little Brown Jug. The latter being accompanied by Ken Griffin
Ken Griffin
Kenneth W. "Ken" Griffin was an American organist.-Biography:Griffin was born in Columbia, Missouri. His biggest hit was "You Can't Be True, Dear" , which was first released as an instrumental, and later that year re-released with a vocal by Jerry Wayne dubbed in. Both versions became popular,...
at the organ.
External links
- The Wonderful World of Johnny Costa (tribute website)