Dominick P. "Don" Costa (June 10, 1925 – January 19, 1983) was an American conductor and record producer. He discovered singer Paul Anka and worked on several hit albums by Frank Sinatra, including Sinatra and Strings and My Way.
Career
Costa was born in Boston, Massachusetts, United States,
In 1959, Costa, Lawrence, and Gormé left ABC for United Artists Records. Costa became A&R director. He arranged and produced albums for others and released his own instrumental albums. His hits included the theme songs from Never on Sunday and The Unforgiven. The song peaked at No. 27 in the United Kingdom in late 1960 and No. 13 in Canada, while the theme from The Unforgiven ("The Need For Love") peaked at No. 27 on the U.S. Hot 100 and No. 15 in Canada. In Cash Box magazine, Costa was voted the best pop orchestra leader of 1960.
During this time, Frank Sinatra formed Reprise Records and hired Costa to arrange the album Sinatra and Strings, released in 1962.
Between 1964 and 1968, Costa arranged four Columbia 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.
Later years and death
Costa was conducting for Sinatra in Las Vegas as well as arranging his records when Costa suffered a heart attack and required bypass surgery. After recovering, he started working with Mike Curb at MGM Records, producing and arranging material for the Osmond Brothers, as well as having a hand in Sammy Davis Jr.'s "The Candy Man" (1972), "We Can Make it Together" by Steve & Eydie featuring the Osmonds (1972), and Petula Clark's cover of "My Guy" (1971).
In 1980, Costa received his fourth Grammy nomination for orchestrating what became another signature song for Sinatra, "Theme from New York, New York". Costa then scored a hit in 1981 with his daughter Nikka, titled "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.
Selected discography
- Music to Break a Sub-Lease (ABC-Paramount, 1958)
- The Theme from "The Unforgiven" (United Artists, 1960)
- Magnificent Motion Picture Music (United Artists, 1961)
- Hollywood Premiere! (Columbia, 1962)
- Days of Wine and Roses (Harmony, 1966)
- Modern Delights (Verve, 1967)
- The Don Costa Concept (Mercury, 1969)
See also
- List of jazz arrangers
- List of music arrangers