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

Biography

Costanzo is of Italian descent, both his parents being from Italy. A composer and drummer, Costanzo is best known for having been a bongo player, and was nicknamed "Mr. Bongo". He visited

Havana Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.Afro-Cuban Afro-Cubans () or Black Cubans are Cubans of full or partial sub-Saharan African ancestry. The term ''Afro-Cuban'' can also refer to historical or cultural elements in Cuba associated with this community, and the combining of native African a ...

rhythms on the bongos and

conga The conga, also known as tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels and classified into three types: quinto (lead drum, highest), tres dos or tres golpes (middle), and tumba or salidor (lowest ...

s. Costanzo started as a dancer, touring as a team with his wife before

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. After his discharge from the Navy, he worked as a dance instructor at

the Beverly Hills Hotel The Beverly Hills Hotel, also called the Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows, is located on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. One of the world's best-known hotels, it is closely associated with Hollywood film stars, rock stars, and ce ...

, where Latin band leader Bobby Ramos 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 (Spanish: ''Muchachos cubanos de Lecuona'') 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 actual ...

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

, 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 ...

from 1947 to 1948 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, alternatively billed as Nat "King" Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's career as a jazz and Traditional pop, pop ...

from 1949 to 1953. He also played with the

Billy May Edward William May Jr. (November 10, 1916 – January 22, 2004) was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music for ''The Green Hornet (TV series), The Green Hornet'' (1966), ''The Mod Squad (TV series), T ...

Orchestra,

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, Perez Prado,

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Pete Rugolo Pietro Rugolo (December 25, 1915 – October 16, 2011), known professionally as Pete Rugolo, 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 ...

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Xavier Cugat Xavier Cugat (; ; 1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990) was an American musician and bandleader who was a leading figure in the spread of Latin music. Originally from Girona, Spain, he spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba, before arriving i ...

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, and

Eddie Fisher Edwin Jack Fisher (August 10, 1928 – September 22, 2010) was an American singer and actor. He was one of the most popular artists during the 1950s, selling millions of records and hosting his own TV show, '' The Eddie Fisher Show''. Actress E ...

. Costanzo formed his own band in the 1950s which recorded and toured internationally. Many Hollywood stars studied bongos with him, including

Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Widely regarded as one of the greatest cinema actors of the 20th century,''Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia''

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, and

Gary Cooper Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, silent 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's

Gilbert Castellanos Gilbert Castellanos (born 1972) is an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, educator, composer, and arranger based in San Diego, California. He was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. He is a former member of the Black Note, the Tom Scott Quintet, the An ...

, 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 :wikt:bulge, 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 b ...

at his home in

Lakeside, California Lakeside is a census-designated place (CDP) in the East County region of San Diego County, California. The population was 21,152 at the 2020 census, up from 20,648 as of the 2010 census. History Lakeside was home to the Kumeyaay prior to ...

, on August 18, 2018, aged 98.

Discography

Albums * 1949: ''Nat King Cole & His Trio - The Forgotten 1949 Carnegie Hall Concert'' ( Hep) 2010 CD * 1954: ''Afro Cuban Jazz North-of-the-Border'' ( Norgan) * 1954: ''Afro-Cubano'' (Norgan) * 1956: ''Mr. Bongo Has Brass'' (Zephyr) 12003 * 1956: ''Jack Costanzo and His Afro Cuban Band'' (

GNP Crescendo The gross national income (GNI), previously known as gross national product (GNP), is the total amount of factor incomes earned by the residents of a country. It is equal to gross domestic product (GDP), plus factor incomes received from n ...

) GNP-19 * 1956: ''Mr. Bongo Afro Cuban Band'' (Palladium) PLP 126 * 1957: ''King of the Bongos'' (Clarity) * 1957: ''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), ...

) 1564 * 1958: ''Latin Fever'' (

Liberty Liberty is the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. The concept of liberty can vary depending on perspective and context. In the Constitutional ...

) LRP-3093 * 1959: ''Bongo Fever'' (

Sunset Sunset (or sundown) is the disappearance of the Sun at the end of the Sun path, below the horizon of the Earth (or any other astronomical object in the Solar System) due to its Earth's rotation, rotation. As viewed from everywhere on Earth, it ...

) SUS-5134 * 1960: ''Bongo Cha-Cha-Cha!'' (Golden Tone) C 4061 * 1960: ''Afro Can Can'' (Liberty) LRP-3137 * 1961: ''Learn–Play Bongos'' (Liberty) LRP-3177 * 1961: ''Naked City & Other Themes'' (Liberty) LST-7195 * 1968: ''Latin Percussion with Soul'' (

Tico Costa Ricans (, colloquially known as ''Ticos'') are the citizens of Costa Rica, a multiethnic, Spanish-speaking nation in Central America. Costa Ricans are predominantly Mestizos, other ethnic groups people of Indigenous, European, African, and ...

) SLP 1177 * 1971: ''Viva Tirado'' (GNP Crescendo) GNPS 2057 (with Gerry Woo) * 2001: ''Back from Havana'' (Cubop) CBLP 028 * 2002: ''Scorching the Skins'' (Ubiquity) CBCD 037 * 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 Records, Capitol label as a 10-inch LP in 1950 then reissued as a 12-inch ...

'' (

Capitol Capitol, capitols or The Capitol may refer to: Places and buildings Legislative building * United States Capitol, in Washington, D.C. * National Capitol of Colombia, in Bogotá * Palacio Federal Legislativo, in Caracas, Venezuela * National Ca ...

, 1943–47

950 Year 950 ( CML) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * Arab–Byzantine War: A Hamdanid army (30,000 men) led by Sayf al-Dawla raids into Byzantine theme Anatolia. He defea ...

* ''

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 ...

'' (Capitol, 1944–47

952 Year 952 (Roman numerals, CMLII) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – At the Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire), Reichstag in Augsburg (assembled by King Otto I (Holy Roman ...

* '' 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-in ...

'' (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 ...

'' (Capitol, 1940–54

955 Year 955 ( CMLV) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * August 10 – Battle of Lechfeld: King Otto I ("the Great") defeats the Hungarians (also known as Magyars) near Augsburg (Germa ...

* '' Kenton with Voices'' (Capitol, 1957) With

Art Pepper Arthur Edward Pepper Jr. (September 1, 1925 – June 15, 1982) was an American jazz musician, most known as an alto saxophonist. He occasionally performed and recorded on tenor saxophone, clarinet (his first instrument) and bass clarinet. Active ...

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'' ( Columbia, 1955) *''

New Sounds by Pete Rugolo ''New Sounds by Pete Rugolo'' is an album by composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo, of performances recorded in 1954 and 1955 for Columbia Records and first released on the budget Harmony label in 1957.- - - Reception ''Allmusic'' rate ...

'' (Harmony, 1954–55

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*''

Percussion at Work ''Percussion at Work'' is an album by composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo featuring performances recorded in 1957 and first released on the EmArcy label.

'' (

EmArcy EmArcy Records is a jazz record label founded in 1954 by Bob Shad for the American Mercury Records. The name is a phonetic spelling of "MRC", the initials for Mercury Record Company. During the 1950s and 1960s, musicians such as Max Roach, Cli ...

, 1957)

Filmography

*''The Delicate Delinquent'' *''Man From the Diners Club'' *''Stool Pigeon Number 1'' *''The Ed Sullivan Show (TV)'', three appearances, 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 ''Visit to a Small Planet'' is a 1960 American black-and-white science fiction comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Jerry Lewis, Joan Blackman, Earl Holliman, and Fred Clark. Distributed by Paramount Pictures, it was produced by ...

'', Percussionist *1965: '' Harum Scarum'', Julna *1965: ''

The Satan Bug ''The Satan Bug'' is a 1965 American crime science fiction suspense film from United Artists, produced and directed by John Sturges, that stars George Maharis, Richard Basehart, Anne Francis, and Dana Andrews. The screenplay by James Cl ...

'', Musician *2006: ''American Masters (TV series documentary) - The World of Nat King Cole'', as himself

References

External links

Jack Costanzo Jack James Costanzo (September 24, 1919 – August 18, 2018) was an American percussionist. Biography Costanzo is of Italian descent, both his parents being from Italy. A composer and drummer, Costanzo is best known for having been a bongo dr ...

at 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 Drummers 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 American people of Italian descent