Exclusive Q&A: Catching Up with Larry Costa

Buddy Beaverhausen: Hi, Larry! So good to talk with you again. You have so much going on with your career that I felt it was time to catch up. First, tell us about your new album, Crooner.
Larry Costa: Yes, I agree, I have so much news to share that it is perfect timing for us to connect again. I have been working on the album Crooner. Crooner has a collection of songs from the American Songbook, plus one original song, “A Time For You And Me”, written by JR Bryan. The experience of putting this album together was fantastic. A live orchestra was used for the recordings and the vibe is a modern Latin feel which was influenced from my time that I lived in Brazil. The ocean breeze, the mountains, and the local flavor is reflected in this album. I suggest listening to Crooner while driving a convertible a sundown.

BB: What is the sci-fi film you were recently in where you played a scientist trying to save the planet. And from what exactly?
LC: Funny you should ask. There are actually two films that are coming out soon in the sci-fi genre. First we have E-19 virus, the entire planet gets wiped out except for a few kids and zombies. I play a scientist who is attempting to assist with the development of the anti-virus. Do I succeed in saving the planet? I can't say, but I will tell you to watch my last scene very closely or you will miss what happens next! Yummy! Next, we have Apex Rising, this film is an epic, two years in the making. I fly planes, I sing a song, I fight zombies, I save the world (maybe) all while looking great as CIA Agent Brandon.

BB: Didn't you recently do a sitcom pilot, playing a dad? Tell us about that.
LC: This pilot is for CBS, I cannot divulge the plot, or the name, or when it is coming out, or anything really, due to a confidentiality agreement that I signed, but I can say that it's the first time I was Dad to a teenage boy. Which brings me to the real life news that I am in the process of adopting a teenager through the foster care system. The process is long and extensive and I had a few bumps in the road, but nothing I could not overcome. I'm looking forward to the final day when I can open my home and life to this wonderful teenager that needs a chance in life.

BB: What's this project from PBS I understand you're a part of?
LC: The project is still under wraps, but this is a documentary that is following the lives of a few up and coming actors in New York City. Over the course of ten months, with bi-weekly video updates, we see what actors go through today to gain recognition and make a living in entertainment. The interesting change in the way that actors take control of their career is so different these days compared to about 10 or so years ago is that each one can be his/her own agent, marketing pro, booker, and manager. We are one stop shopping for career advancement.

BB:Pretty full plate. What else might be on it?
LC: There is a really cool TV show coming out soon, again, I can not say the title or plot, but I can say that I am in good company with Jane Hagerty (Tommie Hilfiger's neice), and Casey Bartolucci of Larry Ravioli fame, and you will be seeing me sing with puppets and Barbra Streisand (or not Barbra Streisand). Watch and find out! Additionally, I am working on two new albums, a Christmas album and an original song album that should be out next year.

BB: Am I right that I read something about you and Liz Taylor's jewelry?
LC: Im impressed that you found out about this. Back in the day, I was an undercover agent working for insurance companies, Liz was celebrating her 60th birthday at Disney. Her jewelry was stolen and I was responsible for finding out what happened. Not only did I find the jewelry, but I had to go to Mexico to get it. It was such a crazy case, everyone was really uptight and on edge. I did get a nice ring as a thank you from Liz though.

BB: If you had to choose between a career in acting or one in singing, which would it be?
LC: Although I love both mediums of entertainment, I would have to choose singing. Acting is wonderful, but there is something more about singing. Singing is acting. I tell the story through song and I get a “release” from my soul when I complete a song. I bring emotion to the table and tell it like it is. Singing completes me.

BB: Did you get to relax at all this summer?
LC: Wait a minute, did summer start yet? I haven't had one minute to myself this year. I did travel a lot doing appearances, so, when I have to fly out, I consider the time on the airplane as my quiet time, but then I start thinking again and come up with five more things I have to add to my To Do list.

BB: Larry, we're looking forward to Crooner. What do you think sets this apart from previous albums you've done? And how many have you recorded now?
LC: Crooner is now available for digital download or physical cds shipped to you directly from the record label. Crooner is number four in the lineup of albums. I had such a great time putting this together, especially with the live big band and arrangements. The songs are covers of classic tunes but the music gives it a breath of fresh air. The artistic cover and album art was shoot from famed photographer Barbara Sklar in Warwick NY. We set up camp at a wonderful eatery called Grappa for the photo shoot. I suggest if you live anywhere nearby to stop in and tell them Larry sent you. I can also tell you that the first three albums will no longer be available for purchase, when Crooner goes global distribution in November of this year, so if you have an earlier album. hold on to it, might be collectors items in the future. You can check out free songs and the album art at https://tatemusicgroup.com/store/album/847726099020
and you can watch the TV commercial here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3tQFOUJKLE&feature=youtu.be

BB: How's Larry Ravioli?
LC: Oh how I love Larry Ravioli! He was one of the most fun characters I have ever played. The cast and crew were wonderful to work with and I learned so much on that set. At present, I am in talks with Hulu for a short series, but I have to admit that I might be dead before this happens, everything takes forever in this business. Larry Ravioli needs to see the light of day and shared with the world, he is the poor man's James Bond that the audience roots for and ultimately he lets everyone down. He just cant help being so adorably lost and out of the loop.

BB: Any last shout-outs?
I just want to thank you, my friend, for the opportunity to do this interview with you. I love what I do and I love all of the people I have met along the way. We are all friends and I feel the love.
I also want to mention that I am also a published author with two books sold globally so far and I thought you guys might like to have a look and see what they are all about. The first book is
MASSAGE MIND AND BODY by Penguin/ DK and the other is REVERSING THE INVISIBLE PERSON COMPLEX. These can be found in stores and on the internet. So, until next time, I wish you well and let's make some magic!

Exclusive Q&A with Singer/Actor Larry Costa

This is my second interview with the always interesting (not to mention tall, dark and debonaire) Larry Costa, keeping up with his career. (Our first Q&A can be found at my companion blog, Blab It to Beaverhausen. http://blabittobeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/09/q-with-larry-costa.html) This time we talk about Halloween, Monster Mash, zombies, Barbra Streisand and her wigs, and more!

Dj BuddyBeaverhausen: Halloween is coming, as we all well know. Tell us about your decision to do Monster Mash for the season.
Larry Costa: What a great song Monster Mash is. As we know, most of the material I record is based during the Hollywood Heyday of the 1950’s and 60’s. I am known for singing Christmas songs but I have not recorded any other holiday type songs. I do have a wild sense of humor and when I set out to find a new holiday song to sing, I suddenly remembered Monster Mash from the 60’s. Originally, it was released as a straightforward creepy Halloween song, but I performed it as a comedic number that works for today's audience. I remember singing this song as a youngster with my brother and we would mimic the scary voice in the song. I bring some of that back to life in my new rendition of this Holiday classic.

DBB: Last Q&A we did, you said you started your showbiz career playing the Devil. Any other horror or Halloween-oriented work on your resume?
LC: Oh my God! Yes! There is a fabulous film called Apex Rising directed by famed director Jim Terriaca to be released early 2015. I play a government official from the white house that must find the antidote to turn zombies into human. Something like that. I don’t want to spoil it. I can tell you that in one scene I am in an airplane overlooking Long Island and taking matters into my own hands. The film is already being compared to the great horror flicks that become instant classics. There is another film in which I am the lead called THE SICKNESS. I play a character named Larry Costa who is a washed up singer and has to answer clues.

DBB: I'm sure you've heard Streisand's Partners and Gaga/Bennett Duets. What do you think of each? LC: I think it's a wonderful thing to have these types of performances. We are bridging the gap of listeners and merging fans from 50 decades of entertainment into one big barrelful of love for this type of music. Twenty-year-olds are listening to music that their grandparents listened to and love it. My dream is to record a duet with one of the greats like Streisand or Bennett. I did, however; sing with a surprise guest on a TV show pilot that has yet to be released. I cannot tell you which one of the American treasures I sang with due to contract restrictions until the show is released but I can tell you that I recently began communications with Vic Damone, Will something come of this? Only time will tell. Here is a fun tidbit about Streisand, I am the owner of the world’s only collection of Barbra Streisand Wigs that includes over 30 items from her movies, and performances. The wigs are going to auction the first week of December and I am donating a portion of the proceeds to my favorite cancer research charity.

DBB:I understand you have not one, but two new albums. Can you tell us something about each?
LC: Albums are a tricky thing these days and a lot of artists are releasing single songs rather than albums because of the way music is sold these days as single downloads, so albums are becoming a thing of the past. The first album is called CROONER. It is being produced by in Oklahoma City of all places and will be distributed globally through Sony Distribution. This album will have a collection of jazz and ballads from the American Songbook. I am also working with JR Music in Florida and will produce original songs written for me for theme compilation albums. These albums will comprise different works intended for use in television and film and will become part of a music library as well as the Larry Costa catalog. Recently, I have been selected to provide my music to Emerge Media in the UK to stream music to hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and any place music will be heard.

DBB: Were these worked on simultaneously?
LC: Yes! I am working on all of these projects at the same time. I am learning new songs never released before while perfecting cover songs at the same time. I love to be busy. The process to create just one song is difficult; writing, re-writing, editing, scoring, re-scoring, singing, re-singing… it's a creation of something that will never change once its finalized and recorded, it must be as close to excellence as I can get it.

DBB: What do you look for in choosing your material?
LC: Song selection is the hardest part of creating an album, the songs should flow from one to the next and have the same thought behind the lyrics that blend together so that there is 30 to 40 minutes of continuous bliss. The problem with song selection is that after three months of brain wracking and finalizing the selection list, I usually remember a song I had heard or the writer comes up with a hit that must be included and then the process starts all over again. I always need to step back once the songs are chosen and try not to hear any other music until the album is done.

DBB:Where can we see you “LIVE” this social season? Will you be dancing the Monster Mash for us through the month?
LC: I have live gigs lined up until April 2015, I enjoy working in private affairs as well as commercial venues in front of an audience. The private shows are so much fun. I will be singing at masquerade balls this month with a Great Gatsby theme and a private gala event at a membership Golf Club on Long Island. Christmas is my favorite holiday and to be able to sing Christmas songs at Lincoln Center this year is a dream come true.

DBB: Favorite horror flicks?
LC: Well, I love the horror flick I am in, heheh! There is a fabulous film called Apex Rising directed by famed director Jim Terriaca to be released early 2015. In it, I play a government official from the white house that must find the antidote to turn zombies into humans… or something like that.... I don’t want to spoil it. But I can tell you that in one scene I am in an airplane overlooking Long Island and taking matters into my own hands. The film is already being compared to the great horror flicks that become instant classics. There is another film in which I am the lead called THE SICKNESS. In it, I play a character named Larry Costa that is a washed up singer and has to make a deal with the devil or the angel, I won’t tell you his choice. Oh, and on a side note, I recently became friends with a gentleman that goes by the name of Doc. He was one of the featured zombies in the original classic horror film, Night of the Living Dead.

DBB: How's Larry Ravioli doing?
LC: I love Larry Ravioli, it’s such a fun and innocent movie that reminds me of the TV sitcom shows from the late 60’s that endure the test of time. I was talking with Netflix about a possible web series on Larry Ravioli, but these type of things take years sometimes to actually come to fruition. So, on Larry Ravioli, its time to begin working on the sequel, LARRY RAVIOLI MEETS THE GHOST, which will be based on an old Abbott And Costello film, HOLD THAT GHOST. I can't wait!

DBB: Thanks again, Larry! Any last shout-outs to your fans?
LC: I talk to the fans all the time, usually on Facebook or my YouTube channel, LarryCostaTV. We have conversations and I answer all their questions, and they are my friends. I sometimes meet up with fans for a quick meet and greet, recently I met up with Raymond, Joanne, Jackie, and Jose, but unfortunately, I was unable to meet one of my best supporters, Rebecca when she visited NYC from Vancouver as I was working on a gig. I was actually upset that I could not say hello.