Uploaded May 2013 | Updated September 2026, 39 minutes ago
Johnny Costa was called "a phenomenal pianist" (Dick Hyman), "the Mozart of jazz piano" (Leonardo Meledandri), and "the White Tatum" (Art Tatum). Johnny Costa was admired by many jazz giants: Benny Carter, Dave Brubeck, Tommy Dorsey, Gillespie, Scott Hamilton, Dick Hyman, Jack Teagarden, Mel Torme, Teddy Wilson, among many other legends.
Here you can read more on him:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_...
http://www.hankonealphoto.com/blog/20...
johnnycosta.com
He was the pianist for the show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood from 1968 until his death in 1996 as he played these songs for. Remember Costa always played LIVE and totally unedited, as mentioned he rarely did second takes unless it was just to play new ideas.
Listen here as he plays Won't You be My Neighbor?, most likely in the mid/late 1960s.
---Note Costa played this tune many times at the end of the show, this is just the album version. I plan to upload all of his amazing outros as well.
Johnny Costa was called "a phenomenal pianist" (Dick Hyman), "the Mozart of jazz piano" (Leonardo Meledandri), and "the White Tatum" (Art Tatum). Johnny Costa was admired by many jazz giants: Benny Carter, Dave Brubeck, Tommy Dorsey, Gillespie, Scott Hamilton, Dick Hyman, Jack Teagarden, Mel Torme, Teddy Wilson, among many other legends.
Here you can read more on him:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_...
http://www.hankonealphoto.com/blog/20...
johnnycosta.com
He was the pianist for the show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood from 1968 until his death in 1996 as he played these songs for. Remember Costa always played LIVE and totally unedited, as mentioned he rarely did second takes unless it was just to play new ideas.
Listen here as he plays Won't You be My Neighbor?, most likely in the mid/late 1960s.
---Note Costa played this tune many times at the end of the show, this is just the album version. I plan to upload all of his amazing outros as well.
