Johnny Costa

Plays Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Jazz Johnny Costa

When Mister Rogers' Neighborhood premiered in the 1960s, no one would have expected it to have the impact it continues to have to this day. One of the things that made it special, was the music. Host and songwriter, Fred Rogers, found his perfect accompanist in pianist, Johnny Costa. The performances, flourishes and embellishments Costa and the band made during the show (all performed live) not only enhanced the experience, they taught viewers something else-they taught them about jazz. In 1986, Rogers and Costa teamed for the last record released on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Records: Johnny Costa Plays Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Jazz. Costa, Carl McViker on bass, and percussionist Bobby Rawsthorne, take an instrumental journey though 13 of Rogers' classic songs, retaining their original compositional intent, but breathing new life into them. The release has been out of print for decades, fetching top dollar on the collector's markets.