A composer, conductor, drummer and bandleader of Jack Costanzo & His Orchestra, Jack Costanzo is best known as a bongo player, and is nicknamed "Mr. Bongo". He visited Havana three times in the 1940s and learned to play Afro-Cuban rhythms on the bongos and congas.
Costanzo started as a dancer, touring as a team with his wife before World War II. After his discharge from the Navy, he worked as a dance instructor at the Beverly Hills Hotel, 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, Desi Arnaz, and Rene Touzet.
Costanzo toured with Stan Kenton from 1947–48 and occasionally in the 1950s, and played with Nat King Cole from 1949 to 1953. He also played with the Billy May Orchestra, Peggy Lee, Danny Kaye, Perez Prado, Charlie Barnet, Pete Rugolo, Betty Grable, Harry James, Judy Garland, Patti Page, Jane Powell, Ray Anthony, Martin & Lewis, Frances Faye, Dinah Shore, Xavier Cugat, Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtis, 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, Keenan Wynn, Van Johnson, Tony Curtis, Betty Grable, Vic Damone, and Gary Cooper.
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, 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 an aneurysm at his home in Lakeside, California 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) LRP-3137
Learn–Play Bongos, Liberty LRP-3177
Jack Costanzo and His Afro Cuban Band, GNP Crescendo 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
1950's: Mr. Bongo Has Brass, (Zephyr) 12003
1950's: Mr. Bongo Plays Hi-Fi Cha Cha, (Tops) 1564
1950's: 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
Stan Kenton's Milestones (Capitol, 1943–47 [1950])
Stan Kenton Classics (Capitol, 1944–47 [1952])
Encores (Capitol, 1947)
A Presentation of Progressive Jazz (Capitol, 1947)
The Kenton Era (Capitol, 1940–54, [1955])
Kenton with Voices (Capitol, 1957)
With Art Pepper and Conte Candoli
Mucho Calor (Andex, 1957)
With Pete Rugolo
Rugolomania (Columbia, 1955)
New Sounds by Pete Rugolo (Harmony, 1954–55, [1957])
Percussion at Work (EmArcy, 1957)
Jack Costanzo is known and responsible for the popularity of the bongos all over the world. He introduced bongos into American music when he was with the famous Stan Kenton Band, which shot him to jazz fame overnight. Jack recorded with Stan such favorites as The Peanut Vendor, Bongo Riff, Cuban Carnival and about fifty other recordings.
He was also featured at the famous Carnegie Hall with Stan Kenton in concert, which broke all attendance records. Jack next joined the late great Nat King Cole which caused the King Cole Trio to be changed to Nat King Cole and the Trio, featuring Jack Costanzo. Jack recorded on many of King Cole's hits, including Calypso Blues, Lover Come Back To Me, Lush Life, Alakazam and Yes Sir That's My Baby. Jack stayed with Nat almost five years, appearing all over the world, including the world famous Palladium. They also did The Ed Sullivan Show three times, Jack was featured on each show.
After Nat King Cole, Jack joined Peggy Lee and was prominently showcased by Miss Lee in her act throughout the country.
Jack Costanzo also worked and was featured with Betty Grable and Harry James, Judy Garland, Jane Powell, Ray Anthony, Martin & Lewis, and the never to be forgotten record breaking engagement at the Hollywood Interlude and Crescendo with the frantic Frances Faye, who featured Jack throughout her whole act, giving him ample opportunities to play wild bongos.
Mr. Bongo finally started his own band from which he opened a whole new era for himself. He appeared with Dinah Shore as a featured artist at least seven times, the year Dinah Shore's Show won every award there was to win in a musical category. Jack also appeared with Marlon Brando on the Edward R. Murrow Show three days after Marlon won his first Academy Award Oscar, for On The Water Front.
Recording offers started coming in, and Jack recorded his first album for Crescendo Records called Jack Costanzo (Mr. Bongo) And His Afro Cuban Band, (which has been re-released recently on a CD) Jack then signed with Liberty Records and did seven great albums for them.
Leonard Feather, the late famous jazz critic named Costanzo "Mr. Bongo". Jack Costanzo has appeared as an actor and musician in many motion pictures. To name a few, Jerry Lewis - Visitor to a Small Planet and The Delicate Delinquent. Danny Kaye's - Man From the Diners Club. Red Skelton's - Stool Pigeon Number 1. Pat Boone's - Bernadine. The Satin Bug. Costanzo's last movie was a picture called Harem Scarum staring Elvis Presley, featuring Jack musically and as an actor throughout the whole picture.
Mr. Bongo's television appearances number so many that we can only name a few. The Hollywood Special on Jazz, The Hollywood Special on Latin and It's Influence on Jazz, The Art Linkletter Show, during which Jack did a five minute solo coast to coast. He also was highlighted with Ann Miller on the Dinah Shore Chevy T.V. Show, which received rave notices. They later appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Jack appeared with his own show, featuring Gerrie Woo, at the famous Sands and Tropicana hotels in Las Vegas. They also did a Far East tour ending at the El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico.
Mr. Bongo's fans, some of which studied bongos with him, reads like a Who's Who in Hollywood. They include: Marlon Brando, Rita Moreno, Carolyn Jones, Hugh O'Brien, Keenan Wynn, Van Johnson, Tony Curtis, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Betty Grable, Vic Darnone, and the most unlikely Gary Cooper, who was one of Jack's most avid pupils.
Jack Costanzo is one of the world's greatest percussionists on Bongos & Conga Drums!!!
Caravan
Jack Costanzo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The myst'ry of their fading light
That shines upon our caravan
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Across the sand so I may keep
The mem'ry of our caravan
You are so inviting
Resting in my arms
As I thrill to the magic charms
Of you beside me here beneath the blue
My dream of love is coming true
Within our desert caravan
In Jack Costanzo's song Caravan, the lyrics evoke a sense of mystery, excitement and romance as the singer describes a journey across the desert in a caravan. The first lines of the song set the scene, describing the night sky with its bright stars and the fading light. The imagery is both beautiful and somewhat eerie, setting the tone for the rest of the song. The singer then sings about his partner sleeping on his shoulder as they travel across the sand, creating a sense of intimacy and closeness between the two. The singer speaks about the memories of their caravan and how it is an exciting adventure. He speaks of how the magic of his partner is enticing and how it is a dream coming true to be with this person beneath the blue sky.
The lyrics are reflective of the popular fascination with the exotic cultures of Africa and the Middle East that was prevalent in Western popular culture in the 1950s and 1960s. The song is famously associated with Duke Ellington, who wrote the instrumental version, and many other musicians including Stan Kenton, Izzy Belmonte, Maynard Ferguson, and Carlos Santana have covered the song. The song has been used in movies such as Stormy Weather (1943) and the James Bond film License to Kill (1989). The exotic aura and the haunting melody of the song have made it a classic among music lovers.
Line by Line Meaning
Night and stars above that shine so bright
The singer is in the desert, marveling at the beautiful sight of the bright stars overhead.
The myst'ry of their fading light
The singer is intrigued by the mysterious way the stars seem to fade as the night goes on.
That shines upon our caravan
The stars are shining down on the singer's caravan, which is a magical experience.
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
The person the artist is with is resting on their shoulder as they travel slowly through the desert.
Across the sand so I may keep
The artist wants to remember this moment forever and is trying to take it all in.
The mem'ry of our caravan
The singer wants to remember this experience of traveling through the desert together.
This is so exciting
The singer is feeling excited by the adventure they're on.
You are so inviting
The person the artist is with is attractive and making the experience even more enjoyable.
Resting in my arms
The artist is holding the person close to them as they travel together.
As I thrill to the magic charms
The artist is being enchanted by the beauty of the desert and the company they're in.
Of you beside me here beneath the blue
The person the singer is with is with them under the bright blue sky of the desert.
My dream of love is coming true
The artist is filled with love and happiness because they're with the person they care about most.
Within our desert caravan
The singer is savoring every moment of the journey they're taking together through the desert.
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RACHEL MARY BERKELEY PORTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
giovanny buitrago
Cuando la música era eso: música
Bill Economopoulos
I live to listen these music's 💥💥
kevin johansen
The whole album is great
Oscar Ortiz Rada
Tremendo tema :sabrosisimo
Luzestellasierra sierra
musica para endulzar tus oidosssss
Robin Blanco
Produccion del año 55, en el Piano : Eddie Cano
Hunter Mann
Que sabroso!
Myron Ort
This track and this album is all about pianist EDDIE CANO!
4Finance
Great
TheMandalorianerin
Special it´s great