Transcript
Danny Costello, as he was commonly known, was born in Lautoka in 1961.
His love for music started at a very young age, meeting George Moore at the age of six.
The two would become best friends and go on to make hit music together.
Moore, who played the bass guitar for Danny Costello and the Cruisers, says their first real gig was performing for tourists at the Costello family-owned Beachcomber island resort in the Mamanuca group.
"I've known him since 1967 - started from class one (grade one) He went to high school in Whangarei in New Zealand. Then every holiday we would meet. Then we started a band - Danny Rae played the guitar and I played drums at the time and Rounds played the bass. Every holidays we would go to Beachcomber Island."
Moore says Costello's love for music gave him the opportunity to share his talents with the rest of the world - performing before tens of thousands of fans.
But Moore says there was more to 'Danny Boy', (as he called him), than the music.
"His music, his recordings. He has a lot of messages in his songs. He's a man who likes to get the job done. Pinpoints all the small points in the music - has to be precise. And the tones, the voices, the background. He picks up all these minor stuff. He's a man of many talents with machines, computers when it comes to music. He creates great songs, beautiful songs - songs that we can relate to. I think it shows by all the people around the world that have sent messages of condolences."
Moore says he named one of his sons and a grandson after his best friend.
Another artist with connections to Costello is Inoke Kalounisiga - better known as Knox - who says he is forever grateful to Costello for introducing his music to the world by helping him record Jah Love Jah Crucify.
"Twelve years ago, I had a bunch of songs and I've been wanting to get them recorded but studios were expensive and I was at a point in my life where I couldn't couldn't afford that. Danny was like, 'okay, let's see what you've got.' I played him a few songs and he said 'I'll help you'. Now that's the kind of person Danny was."
Knox's dream of providing a platform for young musicians resulted in the birth of the Thurston Food and Music Festival in Suva - an event founded by him and his wife.
The director of the Fiji Performing Rights Association Laisa Vulakoro says Costello's death is a loss not only for Fiji but for the Pacific music industry.
"He's left a legacy. His music is still well liked amongst the old and the young people. His music lives on forever. But we are very sad and we've sent our condolences to the family. He did alot to shape the music industry in Fiji. He was a good-hearted musician who helped a lot of people."
Vulakoro and Costello both started their careers competing at a national talent quest in the 1970s.
She says Costello won that battle and went on to produce 20 albums and numerous hit songs including Take me to the Island, Dark Moon and Samba, which are heard on radio stations, nightclubs and family gatherings across the Pacific to this day.
"He actually helped me in my second album way back in 1990. I'm always grateful for Danny and he also involved me in his big hit 'We are Fiji' the victory song for the sevens way back in 2005 - the Fiji 7s team."
Danny Costello will be farewelled by his family in a private service in Cairns.
A memorial service to celebrate the music legend's life will be held next month at the Lautoka Christian Outreach Centre in Fiji.
