Music was more than a hobby for Danny Rae Costello. It was a passion he believed he was born to pursue, with dreams of taking Fiji’s musical talent to the international stage.
In a report published on May 9, 1991, The Fiji Times profiled the 30-year-old musician, whose love for music was evident from the moment visitors stepped into his home.
Naturally, music was the first thing that greeted the newspaper team when they visited him.
At the time, Costello was preparing to perform with his four-member band, Danny Costello & the Cruzez, at the National Gymnasium that Saturday to promote his record, Samba, which had been on the market since January.
The band was Costello’s brainchild and, over the years, had welcomed several singers and musicians. For those who played alongside him, being part of the group was an honour and an opportunity to develop their musical talents.
Among them was 24-year-old percussionist Mosese Tokailagi, who joined the band in December 1990.
Tokailagi said Costello’s music had a way of moving him, both physically and emotionally, inspiring him to become part of the group.
“Every time I heard Danny play, I could feel my body move, and as I was a music lover, I decided to join his band to improve and expose my talents in music,” he said.
Having started playing music while attending LDS Technical College about nine years earlier, Tokailagi described music as “food for the soul”.
“I was happy with the type of music Danny plays, and I want to be part of it.”
Another member was 30-year-old George Moore, a bass player who had spent half his life playing music but still regarded it as a hobby.
For Moore, however, music offered more than personal enjoyment. It also provided a means of earning a living.
“You see, the thing is that while music brightens my life, it also helps me to secure my financial life so I can lead a decent life,” he said.
Moore had been associated with the band on and off for nine years, sharing Costello’s passion for music while balancing it with the practical demands of everyday life.
Costello himself had been playing the keyboard and guitar for 15 years by the time of the interview. Described as easy-going and a loving father to his daughter, Chelsea, he was determined to make his mark beyond Fiji.
“I was born a musical man, and I always wanted to make it big on the international scene,” he said.
His ambition extended beyond personal success. He wanted Fiji’s music industry to gain wider recognition and believed local performers deserved greater opportunities to showcase their abilities.
“We aim to bring Fiji up into the international music scene and expose more talents that are in the country but have not had the opportunity to get the backing.”
That vision was part of the motivation behind the National Gymnasium performance, which was expected to be one of the biggest local music shows held in Fiji at the time.
Costello acknowledged the support of Coca-Cola and FM96 in helping bring the event to the stage.
At home, he had a special room filled with musical equipment, reflecting the dedication he brought to his craft. He assured fans that the upcoming performance would deliver good music and an enjoyable night out.
The program was scheduled to begin at about 5pm with a performance by Exodus, followed by Danny Costello & the Cruzez.
Tickets cost just $3 and were available from Caines Jannif, the MH foyer and SPR Suva.
For those considering a night out, Costello had one final message for the audience — come prepared to dance.
“I’ll have you all dancing,” he promised.
