# Don Costa

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American recording artist, conductor, record producer, music arranger, jazz guitarist

Don Costa Costa in 1961 Background information Born Dominick P. Costa (1925-06-10)June 10, 1925 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Died January 19, 1983(1983-01-19) (aged 57) New York City, U.S. Genres Pop jazz Occupations Conductor arranger record producer musician Instrument Guitar

Musical artist

**Dominick P.** "**Don**" **Costa** (June 10, 1925 – January 19, 1983)[1] was an American conductor and record producer.[2] He discovered singer [Paul Anka](/source/Paul_Anka) and worked on several hit albums by [Frank Sinatra](/source/Frank_Sinatra), including *[Sinatra and Strings](/source/Sinatra_and_Strings)* and *[My Way](/source/My_Way_(Frank_Sinatra_album))*.

## Career

Costa was born in [Boston](/source/Boston), [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts), United States,[1] to an [Italian American](/source/Italian_American) family.[3] As a child, he took a keen interest in learning the guitar, and he became a member of the [CBS](/source/CBS) Radio Orchestra by the time he was in his teens. In the late 1940s, Costa moved to New York City to further his career by becoming a [session musician](/source/Session_musician). He played guitar with [Bucky Pizzarelli](/source/Bucky_Pizzarelli) on [Vaughn Monroe](/source/Vaughn_Monroe)'s hit record "[Ghost Riders in the Sky](/source/(Ghost)_Riders_in_the_Sky%3A_A_Cowboy_Legend)". It was around this time that Costa started experimenting with combinations of instruments, producing musical arrangements, and selling them to [big bands](/source/Big_band).

[Steve Lawrence](/source/Steve_Lawrence) and [Eydie Gormé](/source/Eydie_Gorm%C3%A9) invited Costa to write vocal backgrounds for their recordings. He agreed and thus began an association that led to their joining a [record label](/source/Record_label) headed by Sam Clark, [ABC-Paramount Records](/source/ABC_Records). Costa accepted the position of head [A&R](/source/A%26R) man as well as chief arranger and producer.[3] Many hits were to follow, not only with Lawrence and Gormé, but with [Lloyd Price](/source/Lloyd_Price), [George Hamilton IV](/source/George_Hamilton_IV), and [Paul Anka](/source/Paul_Anka).[4] Apart from his arranging skills, Costa was a guitarist. Between 1956 and 1957, he released two 45s on ABC-Paramount using the alias Muvva "Guitar" Hubbard. He wrote the first, "Ponytail", as an R&B instrumental. The second was a cover version of "[Raunchy](/source/Raunchy_(instrumental))" by [Bill Justis](/source/Bill_Justis).

In 1957, he signed 15-year-old [Carole King](/source/Carole_King) to her first recording contract on the strength of her performance after she talked her way into an audition at his office.[5]

In 1959, Costa, Lawrence, and Gormé left ABC for [United Artists Records](/source/United_Artists_Records). Costa became A&R director.[6] He arranged and produced albums for others and released his own instrumental albums. His hits included the theme songs from *[Never on Sunday](/source/Never_on_Sunday)* and *[The Unforgiven](/source/The_Unforgiven_(1960_film))*.[4] "[Never on Sunday](/source/Never_on_Sunday_(song))" sold over one million copies and was awarded a [gold disc](/source/Music_recording_sales_certification).[3] The song peaked at No. 27 in the United Kingdom in late 1960 and No. 13 in [Canada](/source/CHUM_Chart),[7][8] while the theme from *The Unforgiven* ("The Need For Love") peaked at No. 27 on the U.S. [Hot 100](/source/Hot_100) and No. 15 in [Canada](/source/CHUM_Chart).[9][10] In [*Cash Box* magazine](/source/Cashbox_(magazine)), Costa was voted the best pop orchestra leader of 1960.[4][11]

During this time, [Frank Sinatra](/source/Frank_Sinatra) formed [Reprise Records](/source/Reprise_Records) and hired Costa to arrange the album *[Sinatra and Strings](/source/Sinatra_and_Strings)*, released in 1962.[1] This set of standard ballads would remain one of the most critically acclaimed works of Sinatra's Reprise period. His[*[ambiguous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*] later work moved away from orchestra arrangement. Songs on the album include "[All or Nothing at All](/source/All_or_Nothing_at_All)", a verse-only version of "[Stardust](/source/Stardust_(1927_song))", a ballad rendition of "[Night and Day](/source/Night_and_Day_(song))" which provided a contrast to Sinatra's more-familiar big band version, and "[Come Rain or Come Shine](/source/Come_Rain_or_Come_Shine)", which frequently is included in compilations from Sinatra's Reprise years.

During the next year, Costa was asked to arrange for the [Sarah Vaughan](/source/Sarah_Vaughan) album, *[Snowbound](/source/Snowbound_(Sarah_Vaughan_album))*. [Barbra Streisand](/source/Barbra_Streisand) used the same arrangement of "Snowbound" for her second Christmas album for [Sony](/source/Sony_Music_Entertainment) in 2001. Costa also arranged [Tony Bennett](/source/Tony_Bennett)'s 1965 album *[If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set](/source/If_I_Ruled_the_World%3A_Songs_for_the_Jet_Set)*.[12]

Between 1964 and 1968, Costa arranged four [Columbia](/source/Columbia_Records) releases for Eydie Gormé: *Gorme Country Style* (1964), *Softly, As I Leave You* (1966), *Don't Go To Strangers* (1966), and *The Look of Love* (1968).

In the mid-1960s, Costa moved from New York City to Hollywood and in 1964 formed DCP International through United Artists.[1] His label revived the career of popular 1950s act [Little Anthony and the Imperials](/source/Little_Anthony_and_the_Imperials). Working with producer [Teddy Randazzo](/source/Teddy_Randazzo), Little Anthony had a fresh string of hits, including "[Goin' Out of My Head](/source/Goin'_Out_of_My_Head)" and "[Hurt So Bad](/source/Hurt_So_Bad)". In 1963, Costa discovered [Trini Lopez](/source/Trini_Lopez) working at PJ's, a Hollywood nightclub. Later in the decade, Sinatra again called on Costa to become his arranger, and Costa's work with Lawrence and Gormé abated. During this period, Sinatra scored one of his biggest hits, the Paul Anka adaptation of "[My Way](/source/My_Way)" (from the French "[Comme d'habitude](/source/Comme_d'habitude)").[1] UA Records acquired DCP International in 1966 and renamed the label Veep Records.[13]

## Later years and death

Costa was conducting for Sinatra in [Las Vegas](/source/Las_Vegas%2C_Nevada) as well as arranging his records when Costa suffered a [heart attack](/source/Myocardial_infarction) and required [bypass surgery](/source/Coronary_artery_bypass_surgery). After recovering, he started working with [Mike Curb](/source/Mike_Curb) at [MGM Records](/source/MGM_Records), producing and arranging material for the [Osmond Brothers](/source/Osmond_Brothers), as well as having a hand in [Sammy Davis Jr.](/source/Sammy_Davis_Jr.)'s "[The Candy Man](/source/The_Candy_Man)" (1972), "[We Can Make it Together](/source/We_Can_Make_it_Together)" by [Steve & Eydie](/source/Steve_%26_Eydie) featuring [the Osmonds](/source/The_Osmonds) (1972), and [Petula Clark](/source/Petula_Clark)'s cover of "[My Guy](/source/My_Guy)" (1971).

In 1980, Costa received his fourth [Grammy](/source/Grammy) nomination for orchestrating what became another [signature song](/source/Signature_song) for Sinatra, "[Theme from New York, New York](/source/Theme_from_New_York%2C_New_York)".[14] Costa then scored a hit in 1981 with his daughter [Nikka](/source/Nikka_Costa), titled "[Out Here on My Own](/source/Out_Here_on_My_Own)". The two were planning a follow-up when Costa died of a second heart attack on January 19, 1983, in New York City.[4]

## Selected discography

- *Music to Break a Sub-Lease* ([ABC-Paramount](/source/ABC-Paramount), 1958)

- *The Theme from "The Unforgiven"* ([United Artists](/source/United_Artists_Records), 1960)

- *Magnificent Motion Picture Music* (United Artists, 1961)

- *Hollywood Premiere!* ([Columbia](/source/Columbia_Records), 1962)

- *Days of Wine and Roses* ([Harmony](/source/Harmony_Records), 1966)

- *Modern Delights* ([Verve](/source/Verve_Records), 1967)

- *The Don Costa Concept* ([Mercury](/source/Mercury_Records), 1969)

## See also

- [List of jazz arrangers](/source/List_of_jazz_arrangers)

- [List of music arrangers](/source/List_of_music_arrangers)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-LarkinGE_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-LarkinGE_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-LarkinGE_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-LarkinGE_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-LarkinGE_1-4) [Larkin, Colin](/source/Colin_Larkin_(writer)), ed. (1992). *[The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music](/source/Encyclopedia_of_Popular_Music)* (1st ed.). [Guinness Publishing](/source/Guinness_Publishing). p. 565. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85112-939-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85112-939-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Paul Anka Interview: So Square That He's Hip (at 80)"](https://bestclassicbands.com/paul-anka-interview-7-28-166/). *Best Classic Bands*. July 30, 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210730183931/https://bestclassicbands.com/paul-anka-interview-7-28-166/) from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-The_Book_of_Golden_Discs_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-The_Book_of_Golden_Discs_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-The_Book_of_Golden_Discs_3-2) Murrells, Joseph (1978). [*The Book of Golden Discs*](https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/123) (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins. p. [123](https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/123). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-214-20512-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-214-20512-6).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-UPI-obit_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-UPI-obit_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-UPI-obit_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-UPI-obit_4-3) ["Bandleader Don Costa dead at 57"](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/01/20/Bandleader-Don-Costa-dead-at-57/4991411886800/). *UPI*. January 20, 1983. Retrieved February 4, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** King, Carole (2012). *A Natural Woman: A Memoir*. New York: Grand Central Publishing. pp. 66–69. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4555-1261-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4555-1261-4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Don Costa Biography"](http://www.spaceagepop.com/costa.htm). *Space Age Musicmaker*. Retrieved February 2, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums_7-0)** Roberts, David (2006). *British Hit Singles & Albums* (19th ed.). London, UK: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 122. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-904994-10-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-904994-10-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["CHUM Hit Parade - September 19, 1960"](http://chumtribute.com/60-09-19-chart.jpg).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Whitburn, Joel](/source/Joel_Whitburn) (2013). *Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles: 1955–2012* (14th ed.). Record Research. p. 195.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["CHUM Hit Parade - July 4, 1960"](http://chumtribute.com/60-07-04-chart.jpg).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Results of 1960 Operator Poll"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Cash-Box-IDX/60s/1960/CB-1960-12-03-OCR-Page-0008.pdf) (PDF). *The Cash Box*. December 3, 1960. Retrieved August 28, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [Bogdanov, Vladimir](/source/Vladimir_Bogdanov_(editor)); Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2002). *All Music Guide to Jazz: The Definitive Guide to Jazz Music*. [Backbeat Books](/source/Backbeat_Books). p. 92. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0879307172](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0879307172).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Callahan, Mike. ["DCP/Veep Discography"](https://www.bsnpubs.com/ua/DCP-Veep.pdf) (PDF). Both Sides Now Publications. Retrieved August 28, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Don Costa"](https://www.grammy.com/artists/don-costa/10969). *Grammy Awards*. Recording Academy. Retrieved August 28, 2024.

## External links

- [Don Costa](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/don-costa-mn0000796192) at [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic_(identifier))

- [Don Costa](https://www.discogs.com/artist/270262) discography at [Discogs](/source/Discogs)

- [Don Costa](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182134/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Italy Czech Republic Spain Netherlands Poland Israel Belgium Artists MusicBrainz Grammy Awards People Deutsche Biographie Other SNAC Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Don Costa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Costa) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Costa?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.