Jack Costanzo (September 24, 1919 – August 18, 2018) was an American percussionist.

Biography

A composer, conductor and drummer, Costanzo is best known for having been a bongo player, and was nicknamed "Mr. Bongo". He visited

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

three times in the 1940s and learned to play

Afro-Cuban Afro-Cubans or Black Cubans are Cubans of West African ancestry. The term ''Afro-Cuban'' can also refer to historical or cultural elements in Cuba thought to emanate from this community and the combining of native African and other cultural el ...

rhythms on the bongos and congas. Costanzo started as a dancer, touring as a team with his wife before

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. After his discharge from the Navy, he worked as a dance instructor at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where Latin band leader

Bobby Ramos Roberto Ramos (born November 5, 1955) is a Cuban former professional baseball player and coach in Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed 'Sugar Bear'. Ramos was a catcher. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the seventh round of the 1974 ama ...

heard Costanzo playing bongos in a jam session and offered him a job. Throughout the 1940s, Costanzo worked with several Latin bands, including a revived version of the

Lecuona Cuban Boys The Lecuona Cuban Boys was a popular Cuban orchestra which toured the world for over forty years. The band was founded by Ernesto Lecuona, whose role was that of a patron-entrepreneur. He did not actually play with the band, but sometimes gave a p ...

Desi Arnaz Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III (March 2, 1917 – December 2, 1986) was a Cuban-born American actor, bandleader, and film and television producer. He played Ricky Ricardo on the American television sitcom '' I Love Lucy'', in which he c ...

, and Rene Touzet. Costanzo toured with

Stan Kenton Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though K ...

from 1947–48 and occasionally in the 1950s, and played with

Nat King Cole Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's music career began after he dropped out of school at the age of 15, and continued f ...

from 1949 to 1953. He also played with the Billy May Orchestra, Peggy Lee, Danny Kaye, Perez Prado,

Charlie Barnet Charles Daly Barnet (October 26, 1913 – September 4, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. His major recordings were "Skyliner", " Cherokee", "The Wrong Idea", "Scotch and Soda", "In a Mizz", and "Southland Shuffl ...

Pete Rugolo Pietro "Pete" Rugolo (December 25, 1915 – October 16, 2011) was an American jazz composer, arranger and record producer. Life and career Rugolo was born in San Piero Patti, Sicily. His family emigrated to the United States in 1920 and settle ...

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Harry James Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American musician who is best known as a trumpet-playing band leader who led a big band from 1939 to 1946. He broke up his band for a short period in 1947 but shortly after he reorganized ...

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. While critically acclaimed for many different roles throughout her career, she is widely known for playing the part of Dorothy Gale in '' The ...

, Patti Page,

Jane Powell Jane Powell (born Suzanne Lorraine Burce; April 1, 1929 – September 16, 2021) was an American actress, singer, and dancer who first appeared in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musicals in the 1940s and 50s. With her soprano voice and girl-next-door image ...

Ray Anthony Raymond Antonini (born January 20, 1922), known as Ray Anthony, is an American bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter, and actor. He is the last surviving member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Biography Anthony was born to an Italian family in Ben ...

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Frances Faye Frances Faye (November 4, 1912 – November 8, 1991) was an American cabaret and show tune singer and pianist. Born to a working-class Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York City, she was a second cousin of actor Danny Kaye. Career Born as Fran ...

Dinah Shore Dinah Shore (born Frances Rose Shore; February 29, 1916 – February 24, 1994) was an American singer, actress, and television personality, and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1940s. She rose to prominence as a recording artist during ...

Xavier Cugat Xavier Cugat (; 1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990) was a Spanish musician and bandleader who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a leading figure in the spread of Latin music. In New York City ...

, Frank Sinatra,

Tony Curtis Tony Curtis (born Bernard Schwartz; June 3, 1925September 29, 2010) was an American actor whose career spanned six decades, achieving the height of his popularity in the 1950s (Kansas Raiders, 1950) and early 1960s. He acted in more than 100 f ...

, and Eddie Fisher. Costanzo formed his own band in the 1950s which recorded and toured internationally. Many Hollywood stars studied bongos with him, including Marlon Brando, Rita Moreno, Carolyn Jones,

Hugh O'Brian Hugh O'Brian (born Hugh Charles Krampe; April 19, 1925 – September 5, 2016) was an American actor and humanitarian, best known for his starring roles in the ABC Western television series ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'' (1955–1 ...

, Keenan Wynn,

Van Johnson Charles Van Dell Johnson (August 25, 1916 – December 12, 2008) was an American film, television, theatre and radio actor. He was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during and after World War II. Johnson was described as the embodiment o ...

Vic Damone Vic Damone (born Vito Rocco Farinola; June 12, 1928 – February 11, 2018) was an American traditional pop and big band singer and actor. He was best known for his performances of songs such as the number one hit "You're Breaking My Heart", and ...

, James Dean, and

Gary Cooper Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, quiet screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and had a further three nominations, ...

. Costanzo was in retirement until 1998 when he decided to make a comeback and in 2001 recorded ''Back From Havana'' under the Ubiquity Records umbrella. This album featured the likes of

Black Note Black Note were an American jazz ensemble formed in 1991. The band released four albums, on Columbia Records, Impulse! Records, Red Records and World Stage. They won first prize at the John Coltrane Young Artist Competition in 1991.

's Gilbert Castellanos, Steve Firerobing and the Panamanian singer Marilu. In 2002 he released another album with the same cast called ''Scorching the skins'' this time he also added Quino from Big Mountain. Costanzo has continued to tour and perform in California and abroad. Costanzo died of complications from a ruptured abdominal aortic

aneurysm An aneurysm is an outward bulging, likened to a bubble or balloon, caused by a localized, abnormal, weak spot on a blood vessel wall. Aneurysms may be a result of a hereditary condition or an acquired disease. Aneurysms can also be a nidus ( ...

at his home in

Lakeside, California Lakeside is a census designated place (CDP) in San Diego County, California. The population was 20,648 at the 2010 census, up from 19,560 as of the 2000 census. History Lakeside was home to the Kumeyaay prior to European contact, who cal ...

on August 18, 2018, aged 98.

Discography

Albums * ''Bongo Cha-Cha-Cha!'', (Golden Tone) C 4061 * ''King of the Bongos'' * ''Bongo Fever'', ( Sunset) SUS-5134 * ''Afro Can Can'', (

Liberty Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom. In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...

) LRP-3137 * ''Learn–Play Bongos'', Liberty LRP-3177 * ''Jack Costanzo and His Afro Cuban Band'',

GNP Crescendo The gross national income (GNI), previously known as gross national product (GNP), is the total domestic and foreign output claimed by residents of a country, consisting of gross domestic product (GDP), plus factor incomes earned by foreign ...

GNP-19 * ''Vivo Tirado'', GNP Crescendo GNPS 2057 * ''Mr. Bongo Afro Cuban Band'', (Palladium) PLP 126 * 1949: ''Nat King Cole & His Trio - The Forgotten 1949 Carnegie Hall Concert'', Hep 2010 CD * 1954: ''Afro Cuban Jazz North-of-the-Border'' * 1954: ''Afro-Cubano'' * 1958: ''Latin Fever'', Liberty LRP-3093 * 1950s: ''Mr. Bongo Has Brass'', (Zephyr) 12003 * 1950s: ''Mr. Bongo Plays Hi-Fi Cha Cha'', (

Tops Total Operations Processing System (TOPS) is a computer system for managing railway locomotives and rolling stock, known for many years of use in the United Kingdom. TOPS was originally developed between the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP), S ...

) 1564 * 1950s: ''Naked City & Other Themes'', Liberty LST-7195 * 2001: ''Back from Havana'' * 2002: ''Scorching the Skins'' * 2003: ''Latin Percussion with Soul'' * 2005: ''Versatile Mr. Bongo Plays Jazz, Afro and Latin'' Selected singles * A: "Mambo Costanzo" B: "Mr. Bongo" 1954 * A: "Barracuda" B: "I Got A Bongo" 1959 * A: "Viva Tirado" B: "Guantanamera" With

* ''

Stan Kenton's Milestones ''Stan Kenton's Milestones'' is an album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton compiling performances recorded between 1943 and 1947 and originally collected on the Capitol label as a 10-inch LP in 1950 then reissued as a 12-inch LP with additiona ...

'' (Capitol, 1943–47

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* ''

Stan Kenton Classics ''Stan Kenton Classics'' is an album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton compiling performances recorded between 1945 and 1947 and originally collected on the Capitol label as a 10-inch LP in 1950 then reissued as a 12-inch LP with additional t ...

'' (Capitol, 1944–47

952 Year 952 ( CMLII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – At the Reichstag in Augsburg (assembled by King Otto I), joined by German nob ...

* '' Encores'' (Capitol, 1947) * ''

A Presentation of Progressive Jazz ''A Presentation of Progressive Jazz'' is a 1948 jazz album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton. Background The album features performances recorded in 1947 and originally released on the Capitol label as four 78rpm discs, reissued as a 10-inc ...

'' (Capitol, 1947) * ''

The Kenton Era ''The Kenton Era'' is a compilation album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton featuring recordings from 1940 to 1954 which was originally released in two limited edition box sets, as fifteen 7 inch 45 rpm discs and four 12 inch LPs, on Capitol i ...

'' (Capitol, 1940–54,

955 Year 955 ( CMLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * August 10 – Battle of Lechfeld: King Otto I ("the Great") defeats the Hungarians (also ...

* ''

Kenton with Voices ''Kenton with Voices'' is an album by bandleader and pianist Stan Kenton featuring performances recorded in 1957 and released on the Capitol label.Vosbein, PStan Kenton Discographyaccessed April 16, 2016Art Pepper and

Conte Candoli Secondo "Conte" Candoli (July 12, 1927 – December 14, 2001) was an American jazz trumpeter based on the West Coast. He played in the big bands of Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Benny Goodman, and Dizzy Gillespie, and in Doc Severinsen's NBC Orc ...

*'' Mucho Calor'' (Andex, 1957) With

*''

Rugolomania ''Rugolomania'' is an album by composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo, featuring performances recorded in 1954 and 1955 and released on the Columbia label.Minn, MMaynard Ferguson Discographyaccessed October 6, 2016Smith, P. GJulius Watkins ...

'' (Columbia, 1955) *''

New Sounds by Pete Rugolo ''New Sounds by Pete Rugolo'' is an album by composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo, featuring performances recorded in 1954 and 1955 for Columbia Records and first released on the budget Harmony label in 1957.Minn, MMaynard Ferguson Disc ...

'' (Harmony, 1954–55, 957 *'' Percussion at Work'' (EmArcy, 1957)

Filmography

*''The Delicate Delinquent'' *''Man From the Diners Club'' *''Stool Pigeon Number 1'' *''The Satin Bug'' *''The Ed Sullivan Show (TV)'', three times as himself *''The Art Linkletter Show (TV)'', as himself *''The Edward R. Murrow Show (TV)'', as himself *1950: ''King Cole and His Trio with Benny Carter and His Orchestra, a Universal-International featurette'', musician *1956: ''G.E. True Theater (TV series) - Judy Garland Musical Special'', Musician *1956: ''Riddles in Rhythm (short)'', as himself *1957: ''The Nat King Cole Show (TV series)'', musician on song "Caravan" *1957: ''Bernardine'', as himself *1957: ''The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (TV Series) - Episode No. 2.10'', as himself *1959: ''The Danny Thomas Show (TV Series) - Terry Goes Bohemian'' *1959: ''Johnny Staccato (TV Series) - Nature of the Night'', Musician *1960: ''Visit to a Small Planet'', Percussionist *1965: ''Harum Scarum'', Julna *2006: ''American Masters (TV series documentary) - The World of Nat King Cole'', as himself

References

External links

* Jack Costanzoat Allmusic.com *http://www.spaceagepop.com/costanzo.htm *http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182447/
Jack Costanzo Interview
NAMM Oral History Library (2004)

Alex Pertout MPhil ANU (2007) {{DEFAULTSORT:Costanzo, Jack 1919 births 2018 deaths American expatriates in Cuba Musicians from Chicago American jazz drummers American jazz percussionists Bongo players Latin jazz drummers Verve Records artists Ubiquity Records artists Conga players 20th-century American drummers American male drummers Jazz musicians from Illinois 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians King Cole Trio members