Daniel Rae Costello
Born(1961-06-17)17 June 1961
OriginSuva, Fiji
Died22 July 2019(2019-07-22) (aged 58)
InstrumentsGuitar

Daniel Rae Costello (17 June 1961 – 22 July 2019) was a Rotuman Fijian guitarist based in Samoa.[1][2][3]

Personal life

Born in Suva, Fiji, Costello, along with his brother, attended high school in Whangārei, New Zealand. His mother, Jessie Rae was of Rotuman and Scottish descent whereas his father, Dan Costello, was Irish; both were born in Fiji. He was brought up in Tavua. His father owned a cattle ranch. He moved with his family to Lautoka when he was 5 and lived there for the rest of his life. He and his younger brother Vince started a band called The Fleet Swingers when he was in Grade 7; his brother was the lead singer.

Costello completed his last year of school in Suva, Fiji, at Marist Brothers High School, where he won that year's talent contest.[4] He later performed at Suva Grammar School as a guest artist, and there met his future wife, Corrina.[5] After winning a few talent contests,[6] he joined a small group called The Beachcomber Boys who performed daily at the Beachcomber Island Resort.[3][6]

In 2014, Costello moved permanently to Samoa.[7]

Music

In 1979, Costello recorded his first solo album, called Tropical Sunset, which flopped. Three years later, his album, Lania which was a huge success in Fiji and around the Pacific. After his mother died in 1985, he changed his name to Daniel Rae Costello. He moved to Australia a few years later because of the 1987 Coup where he wrote two songs, Samba and Take me to the Island and returned to Fiji and started his own Studio and Production Suite called "Tango Sound Productions" and recorded his first big hit album, Samba.

Costello recorded 30 albums. He was an accomplished songwriter, composer, arranger, audio engineer, vocalist, musician and producer in the Pacific region. He recently recorded an album with Toni Willé from the Dutch group Pussycat, called Let The World Sing. The first single, originally a hit for Pussycat Georgie gained numerous airplays on Fiji radio.

At the 2020 Pacific Music Awards, Costello was posthumously awarded a lifetime achievement award.[8][9]

Discography

  • 1979 Tropical Sunset
  • 1982 Lania
  • 1993 Jungle Walk (WMR)
  • 1994 Rockin Island Hits
  • 2004 The Beach Party
  • 2007 Moondance
  • 2008 Let The World Sing
  • 2008 Cruzin'
  • Footprints In The Sand
  • Wind Of Change
  • Calypso Man
  • My Island Home Rotuma

References

  1. ↑ Brown, Jason. ""Samoa is now my home base" — Costello". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  2. ↑ "Pacific music legend Daniel Rae Costello dies". RNZ. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  3. 1 2 Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (23 July 2019). "Legendary Daniel Rae Costello passes away". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  4. ↑ nicolette chambers and waisea nasokia (24 July 2019). "Moce Danny Costello, Your Music Lives On". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  5. ↑ Charles Chambers (30 July 2019). "Danny Costello Will Forever Be Remembered For His Music". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Fiji music loses an icon in Danny Rae Costello". RNZ. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "Costello: Samoa Is Now My Base". Fiji Sun. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  8. ↑ Sapeer Mayron (30 September 2020). "Lifetime achievement award for Daniel Rae Costello". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  9. ↑ "Fijian guitarist Daniel Rae Costello to be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award". Pacific Music Awards. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
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