Johnny Costa

Best known as the music director for the acclaimed children's television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Pittsburgh-born pianist Johnny Costa was an immensely gifted jazz instrumentalist in the vein of his idol Art Tatum. Initially emerging as a performer in the 1950s, Costa issued several well-regarded albums before joining host Fred Rogers on his television show. From 1968 until Costa's death from aplastic anemia in 1996, he and Rogers made jazz a core focal point of the production, a choice that helped define the show's warm, welcoming tone. While on the show, he continue...