Biography
Sean Costello (April 16, 1979 – April 15, 2008) was an American blues musician renowned for his fiery guitar playing and soulful singing.[1][3] Born in Philadelphia, Costello moved to Atlanta at age nine, where he quickly became obsessed with the guitar after discovering Howlin' Wolf's 'Rockin' Chair Album.' At fourteen, he entered and won a talent contest sponsored by the Beale Street Blues Society in Memphis, launching his professional career while still in high school.[1] By age sixteen, he had already recorded his debut album, 'Call The Cops' (1996), which displayed what music historian Tony Russell described as 'a flawless command of 1950s blues guitar.'[1] His early work on Susan Tedeschi's gold-selling album 'Just Won't Burn' (1998) brought him national exposure and established him as a rising star in the blues community.[1]
Throughout his brief but prolific career, Costello released five critically acclaimed albums that showcased his evolving artistry and refusal to be confined by blues purism.[1][4] His second album, 'Cuttin' In' (2000), earned him a W.C. Handy Award nomination for Best New Artist Debut, while 'Moanin' For Molasses' (2001) drew praise for his ability to mesh blues, R&B, and soul.[1] His self-titled album 'Sean Costello' (2005) marked a significant evolution, blending soul, funk, and rock influences.[2] His final album, 'We Can Get Together' (2008), was widely acclaimed as his best work, earning two Blues Music Award nominations and featuring guitar work described as 'incendiary,' 'searing,' and 'blistering red hot.'[1] Costello's musical journey was profoundly influenced by his relationship with Levon Helm of The Band, who encouraged him to explore beyond traditional blues into country, rock, and other genres.[1]
Costello's career was tragically cut short when he died of an accidental drug overdose on April 15, 2008, one day before his twenty-ninth birthday, in Atlanta.[1][4] Despite his brief thirteen-year career (1995–2008), he left an indelible mark on the blues community as one of the most gifted and innovative young guitarists of his generation.[1] His legacy continues through posthumous releases, including 'Sean's Blues: A Memorial Retrospective' (2009) and 'In the Magic Shop' (2014), and through the Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research, established to honor his memory and support mental health research.[1]
Fun Facts
- At age fourteen, Costello created a stir in a Memphis guitar shop when an employee recognized his talent and tipped off his father about a Beale Street Blues Society talent contest, which Costello entered and won.[1]
- Costello was a primarily self-taught guitarist who received his first guitar for his ninth birthday after moving to Atlanta with his family.[6]
- Despite his success in traditional blues, Costello faced significant pushback from blues purists who objected to his exploration of soul, funk, rock, and other genres beyond hardcore blues.[4]
- Costello died exactly one day before his twenty-ninth birthday in a shabby motel room in Atlanta, having had numerous concert dates scheduled in the U.S. and abroad running into November 2008.[2][4]
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Levon Helm - Americana musician and former member of The Band who encouraged Costello to expand beyond traditional blues into multiple genres including country, rock, and R&B (Influenced Costello's approach on 'Sean Costello' (2005) and 'We Can Get Together' (2008)) [Mid-2000s]
- Hubert Sumlin - Blues guitarist whom Costello deeply revered and studied; Costello wept during conversations with Sumlin about his musical approach (Influenced Costello's guitar technique and emotional playing style throughout his career) [1990s-2000s]
- Otis Rush - Blues legend whose playing style and emotional depth profoundly influenced Costello's approach to the instrument (Influenced Costello's overall blues aesthetic and soulful vocal delivery) [1990s-2000s]
Key Collaborators
- Susan Tedeschi - Blues guitarist with whom Costello collaborated and toured while still in high school; they were romantically involved during this period ('Just Won't Burn' (1998) - Costello played all guitar solos on this gold-certified album) [1998]
- Amy Helm - Member of Ollabelle who introduced Costello to her father Levon Helm, facilitating a key mentorship (Facilitated musical connection that influenced Costello's later work) [Mid-2000s]
- Steve Conn - Producer who worked with Costello on his self-titled album and subsequent recordings, helping him explore beyond traditional blues ('Sean Costello' (2005) and unreleased album recorded at The Magic Shop (2005)) [2004-2005]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| We Can Get Together | 2014-11-25 | Album |
| Cuttin' In | 2000-06-01 | Album |
| Sean Costello | 2005-01-25 | Album |
| In the Magic Shop | 2014-10-21 | Album |
| Moanin' For Molasses | 2001-10-01 | Album |
| At His Best - Live | 2011-11-15 | Album |
| Sean's Blues | 2009-09-29 | Album |
| Call The Cops | 1998 | Album |
| We Can Get Together | 2014-11-25 | Album |
| In the Magic Shop | 2014-10-21 | Album |
| In the Magic Shop | 2014-10-21 | Album |
| At His Best - Live | 2011-11-15 | Album |
| Sean's Blues | 2009-09-29 | Album |
| We Can Get Together | 2008-02-19 | Album |
| Sean Costello | 2005-01-25 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Double Trouble (Cuttin' In)
- Anytime You Want (We Can Get Together)
- I'm a Ram (Sean Costello)
- Don't Pass Me By (Sean Costello)
- Can't Let Go (We Can Get Together)
- Have You No Shame (We Can Get Together)
- Hard Luck Woman (We Can Get Together)
- Going Home (We Can Get Together)
- Same Old Game (We Can Get Together)
- How In The Devil (We Can Get Together)
External Links
Heard on WWOZ
sean costello has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 26, 2025 | 15:34 | its my own faultfrom in the magic shop | Sittin' at the Crossroadw/ Big D |