Johnny Costa

[Blahblobify]

I used to wait for the end credits to hear Costa cut loose and go crazy as they panned out, he managed to squeeze in some great jazz riffs at the end of each show.

[MariluHennerArtist45]

@Blahblobify I did the exact same thing. Pre-79 or modern.

[GraphicChickX1]

I know u will not believe me but Johnny Costa was my grandfathers father! If u have seen all mister rodgers neighborhood my fater with his dad were featured on it but if u do not believe me it is ok i didnt think anyone would but i swear to God that is my great grandfather

[BiProxyHotPocket]

He is awesome - what other kids show had a jazz band on it. So influential in my love for music!

[sjh362]

perhaps the greatest piano player that ever lived

[m0tAguy]

@sjh362 Your right. Many pianists play complicated songs or pieces and memorize them, and people say these pianists are just pro. But with Costa, he doesn't memorize anything, he just improvises with his own ideas on the spot. Costa is a legend.

[Adkins194]

no reason why this shouldn have over a billion views

[firecat6232]

@Adkins194 --- AMEN!

[grands1am]

What a fantastic face he pulls at 1:56

[narnia0100]

What's that song called at 0:47?

[m0tAguy]

It took me forever but i also learned how to do that crazy jazz scale @ 2:33

[m0tAguy]

I figured out Costa's C pentatonic scale @ 2:29 of his improvising !!! =)

[Hodenkat]

The dude blows me away every single time I watch him or hear him play!

I wonder if his son has any of his talent . . .?

[BJBlitzstein]

This is the exact clip I was looking for! I had to figure out again that it's Johnny Costa, then it was easy.  Thanks for posting.

[Cameragirl803]

Really enjoyed this post tonight!!! I always thought that piano was fantastic!!!! And now I see where it came from!! Thanks so much:) *****

[elnino559]

as children we take for granted all the hard work that goes into these types of shows

[NousChristou]

Art Tatum called him "the white Art Tatum" and no wonder! Clearly see the similar styles. A good friend (Keith Stebler) worked with him for years and like Tatum, was blind (although Tatum wasn't totally blind). What a talent! I wish there more recordings of him!

[vendenplasXJ6]

Johnny Costa you are amazing..

[brightbite]

When I was a kid watch Mister Rogers, I thought Johnny was kind of sexy, and I only had to hear him play to know that. ha ha

[Doommaster1994]

Johnny Costa is the Steve Vai of Piano.

[ewkraai]

thanks for posting this. as a child growing up outside pittsburgh, i only knew johnny as this incredibly kind family friend. i had no idea of the enormity of his talent. he has several recordings, including one called "flying fingers."

[GraphicChickX1]

this is my grandpap's father not kidding I swear on my life i'm related to him!!!

[helmut4lyfe]

Rivaled only by Peterson and passed only by Tatum. Pure genius

[bhinderbinder]

Even as a little kid, I noticed the amazing piano playing, of course not knowing it was 'jazz'. Now I've come full-circle, switching to piano as an adult and appreciating genius like Johnny's...Thanks for coming to earth, Johnny!

[mizzareed]

Because of Mr. Rogers and Johnny Costa I can sing in any key and love it!!!! Thank you so much for posting this piece of genius.

[realbleamer]

this is truly awesome. i never realized that each version of the song was different? 'course I was about 5 years old when I watched this show...

[Cinemastique]

Is this part of a larger documentary? If so, where can I find the rest of it? Also, where is the full version of that performance at the end?

Thanks to anyone who can help!

[MrSaltmusic]

@Cinemastique Yes. It is "Fred Rogers: America's Favorite Neighbor". The cool thing is that it's hosted by actor Michael Keaton, who had one of his first jobs as a stagehand on the show. I checked it out for free at a local library. It's definitely worth watching.

[teggenkamp]

@Cinemastique Yes, Fred Rogers, Americas Favorite Neighbor

[spaisflex]

I've loved jazz my whole life, and this man is the reason why. He really mastered Good Feeling. That tune would make a great standard, but I don't think anyone else would dare touch it.

[Relax298]

@spaisflex I agree. Johnny is the best of the best when it comes to jazz, but you are wrong to say that you dont think any1 has 'dared touch it'. For months I have been listening to his arrangements of Good Feeling, and success ! but I have only 100% mastered the part when fred sings "Its Sucha Good Feeling, A very good feeling.." -the way Costa would play it. I hope to make a video of it soon! :P

[allanfisch]

I didn't realize he had died...his intro for Won't You Be My Neighbor is one of my favorite pieces of music.

[stvynix]

Thank you for this video! Someone had posted it once before, then it was taken off, Thanks for reposting!

[thesangster]

They were both blessed with each others talent and have easy access to each other. God bless them both. Johnny Costa was a really great jazz pianist. I know the show has a CD of their songs, I wonder if he really plays in that CD. I may order it soon.

[MegaZoneEXE]

man...is there a album of his music from the show??????

[swaregirl]

@MegaZoneEXE, yes there is. Johnny Costa Plays Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. I managed to find the LP on Ebay for $50. It is also out on CD but I have yet to come across a copy.

[videoguy3268]

@swaregirl Johnny Costa Plays Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Jazz has only been released on cassette and vinyl LP. It's not available on CD. The CD you are referring to, called "Neighborhood" is a re-release of Johnny's first LP. Hopefully his Mister Rogers' Neighborhood album will be released on CD or download at some point.

[swaregirl]

@videoguy3268, actually, there is such a CD entitled Johnny Costa Plays Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

Google "johnny costa plays mister rogers neighborhood" and select the 1st result. 

[TonyBtheEG]

Incredible.

[MegaZoneEXE]

any got johnny costa/music from the show?

[Major2219]

Oh my goodness! What a Genius! He's the reason I play the way I do today!

RIP Johnny Costa!

[StrideBatty76]

he was a monster!!!

[jetzine00]

Nobody will ever know how heavy this guy was.

[rayjr62]

@jetzine00 Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett both knew who Johnny Costa was. In fact, I heard Keith talk about him on NPR awhile back.

Rest Assured, and even though he is dead, the music industry knew who Johnny Costa was.

[jimsjazzz]

Johnny Costa and Vince Guaraldi both had a big impact on exposing young people to this art called jazz. I only wish Costa could have recorded more.

[keybobrob]

yes my friend...ditto...i read that he just loved to be there more for his family instead of the international fame he could have easily achieved if he went that route. God Bless Him....and RIP Mr. Costa...and RIP for Mr. Rogers for being true to his own resounding words..." You're Special...and..I like you just the way you are"....he sure liked Mr. Costa just the way he was!! (then what person in his right mind wouldn't...lol) :) RIP TO THEM BOTH!!

[uninoculated]

Branford Marsalis, "Mr. Rodgers is the finest jazz show on the air anywhere..."

I used to, as an adult, set my alarm clock early so that I would wake up in time to watch Mr. Rodgers because Costa was that influential on me. There are some episodes where his playing will make your jaw drop to the floor.

[swaregirl]

@uninoculated Me too.  In the midst of my storm, his tunes calmed me.

[GregLile]

The other genius behind the success of the show.