He’s already

Music

He’s already living in Paradise

By Aniltra Chaudhari

OOH, that’s Danny Costello,” cooed the normally perfectly composed Royal Tongan Air lines receptionist. Danny had just completed his Superstar tour of the South Pacific last year, and the immacu late young woman had been reduced to a quivering mass within seconds.

Nonetheless, she regained her com posure enough to coyly sidle up to the lead singer of the Cruzcz and ask for “a tape, an autograph .. . anything like that”.

Danny was all out of tapes, but no doubt the smile he gave her would do just as well as a treasured memory.

In the South Pacific, wherever his adoring fans hear his songs, they know him as Danny Rae Costello. In his own :ountry, Fiji, he is known as Danny Costello Junior, and his family and friends call him Danny Boy.

He was virtually unknown until a few rears ago but today, in places like Honiara, his voice can be heard and his tapes are sold over the counter in many South Pacific countries.

Success hasn’t affected the friendly and down-to-earth singer, though. When FIM arrived at his home in Lautoka on \ hot summer day in February, he swung nit to greet us with his daughter in his irms. On the porch, some red drums ignallcd the home of a musician.

Danny was wearing a white t-shirt and )ld, but obviously much-loved, red )icycle pants. They were as bright as his mile which welcomed us into his home, md we were soon talking as if we had mown each other for years.

A few minutes later his beautiful wife, florrina, emerged from the kitchen and nquired brightly whether we would like offee. It soon became clear that the tartnership between Danny and Corrina las a lot to do with his success.

Nonetheless, Corrina and even their oung daughter arc publicity-shy, and refer to remain behind-the-scenes.

Despite our many and varied requests d entice her into the photographs later i the day, Corrina declined politely, wo-year-old Chelsea screeched when ic camera was focussed on her and )addy, but calmed down the second it as pointed away from her.

The bond between the three was bvious, however, in the cosiness of their

home. Comfortable-looking chairs, some figurines displayed in one corner of the sitting room, lots of pictures of Danny and Corrina in one corner, and a big radio in another. Corinna joined us while we chatted, and Danny recounted his early days as a musician.

When he started strumming he was only six, way back in 1966, Danny said.

His dad did not mind when he strummed away on his ukclele. Danny Senior even taught his son a few chords.

From that time, Danny Junior has

been strumming.

“I live music. My whole life is music.

As other people think thoughts, I think music,” Danny said. By now his daughter, Chelsea, had lost interest in our

conversation and ran outside in the bright sunshine to play with cousin, Wayne Gibson, Danny was greatly influenced by Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder and initially Elvis Presley but nowadays, it is reggae, Latin American and Calypso music on which he concentrates, He first became known when he recorded his Tropical Sunset album, re leased in 1979. He received a gold disk for selling over 16,000 copies for the album Place in the Sun.

After that it was the Lania album in 1981, with its hit song Angel of My Dreams. Living in Paradise was released in 1985.

His first television performance was in

Living for music: Costello in action with the Cruzez

Picture: Asaell Lavs

Singapore for the Asia Pacific Popular Song Contest in 1985. Pie sang Moonlight Tango. Although he didn’t win a place it was a good experience, he said.

In 1986 he won third prize for Birds of Summer on the same show, but this time in New Zealand. The album of he same name was released in 1986. But it was in 1987 that he made the prize catch of his life. That year he met his future wife.

He was sunbathing at his father’s Beachcomber Island resort off Lautoka.

when the real-life An gel of his Dreams wal ked past.

“1 saw her

Other people think thoughts, I think music

and knew this was it,” says Danny with a big grin.

But Cor-rina Gibson, then an air hostess with Air Pacific, was not that easily won over. “Since he was my host on the island I thanked him for the great day that I had before boarding the boat to go home,” she said.

Danny quickly interjects: “But one month later I said ‘those words’,” grinning as widely as he could.

“But I felt I was not ready for marriage yet,” continues Corrina.

However, a few months later she

resigned from work and went to Australia. Danny was there and the couple were married in Sydney in March, 1989. They lived in Cairns for three months then returned to Fiji in July the same year.

There is an element of fate that goes back before their meeting at Beachcomber, however. Danny and Corrina were born in 1961 in the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva, just three days apart. “Our mothers knew each other and we used to play with each othel; when we were * / mal ; . says Corrina.

Teased Danny: “I always chased her even then, but she always ran away from me ”

I When the couple returned from Austrnlia in 1989, Danny set up his own company - Tango Sound Productions.

Sam ba was recorded in his own studio in late 1989, became a major hit through out the Pacific . and > s stlll g o '»g str °«g- It was so popular we went touring to promote the album in Rarotonga, Pagopago, Apia and Tonga late last year and money has started to roll in,” says Danny. His other major song was Tequila Nights recorded in 1991.

Going overseas is no longer such a big lure. While still struggling to make his name as a singer in the early 1980 s Danny had gone to Hawaii to attend a

music school, “but somebody pointed a gun at me and I returned home”.

He then went to Australia and sang in restaurants and bars as a solo artist.

“I knew I’d make it one day,” says Danny. He still misses Australia’s Ken tucky Fried Chicken, but these days his music and family fill his life.

His interests: “Wearing sandshoes,” joked his wife. He also does spearfishing and water-skiing when he has time.

But all this is in between making music and becoming a star.

Does Corrina feel jealous when other girls go weak in the knees over him?

“Not at all,” she says with a smile, “I’m proud he’s my husband and I’m glad he’s my husband. I’m glad he’s popular with both sexes and I totally admire and respect his career. He has my total support.”

This must be welcome, because Danny acknowledges there is still a long way he can go. He also is now promoting other artists and has produced a Fijian album Bnla Ogo for artiste Delai. He also does advertising commercials and jingles.

“All I want to do is create music,” says Danny, although it goes unsaid that family is a big priority. Bad luck for all those doey-eyed fans who might be hoping to make Danny into the Angel of their Dreams this man is already Living in Paradise. □