Sean Costello: 1979-2008
It was confirmed earlier today that the esteemed Atlanta-based guitarist Sean Costello was found dead in an Atlanta hotel yesterday morning. Born in Philadelphia in 1979, Costello was just short of his 29th birthday, and an adored part of a grieving Atlanta music scene.
Costello was widely regarded as one of the leading young blues performers in the southeast. He started playing guitar soon after moving to Atlanta at the age of 9, and released his first record, Call The Cops, at the age of 17. Costello spent much of his 20s touring relentlessly, teaming up with Susan Tedeschi for a while. He was known for giving high-energy performances that were also deeply rooted in the blues tradition. He would go on to release four more CDs, the most recent of which, We Can Get Together, came out just this past February.
“Sean Costello was the most gifted young Blues guitarist on the scene” said local blues rock legend Tinsley Ellis, “He was a triple threat on guitar, vocals and as a songwriter. He was a dear friend and will be greatly missed.”
Costello, who at various times shared the stage with B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Pinetop Perkins and Bo Diddley during his career, had recently said, “All I’ve ever wanted to do was play the guitar well. I’ve been fortunate to be able to make a living doing it, and I plan to keep it up for the rest of my life.”
His life will be celebrated tonight when the Northside Tavern hosts a special evening of music in honor of his memory. Fans are invited to share their thoughts and memories at Costello’s MySpace site.
Source – Jambands.com
