“I love playing the guitar," Sean Costello says. “As a kid I was definitely obsessive over the instrument," he explains, “and for years I felt I could express myself better through the guitar with my own voice. But right now I'm equally driven towards writing songs and expanding my vocal direction," he adds.
Delta Groove chief Randy Chortkoff says, “I first saw Sean five or six years ago in Chicago, when he was playing in a barbecue restaurant that I just happened to walk into to get a meal. I ended up staying for two whole sets just to hear him - I was stunned at how good he was even then. Even though Delta Groove didn't exist yet, I knew I wanted to work with him eventually. So I'm absolutely thrilled to be able to bring him into the Delta Groove family."
Sean Costello's Delta Groove debut will consist of 13 tracks produced by Costello himself. Chortkoff says, “I love the job Sean did in the studio. In addition to being a very gifted songwriter and performer, he's developed into an excellent producer. He knows his sound and his strengths better than anyone, and did a great job."
Costello was born in Philadelphia in 1979, and moved with his family to Atlanta at the age of 9. Soon after, he picked up the guitar. Within a few short years he'd already won the Memphis Blues Society's new talent award and was on the road with his own band. In 1996, the precocious 17 year-old released his first album, “Call The Cops". Real Blues Magazine called it “an explosive debut." Around this time Costello joined up with fellow blues guitarist Susan Tedeschi, touring with her and laying down some tasteful lead guitar work on her Gold-certified Tone-Cool debut “Just Won't Burn".
In 2000, when he released “Cuttin' In" on Landslide Records, Costello wasn't even 20 years old and he already had a gold record on his wall. “Cuttin' In" earned him critical acclaim as well as a prestigious W. C. Handy Award nomination for 'Best New Artist Debut.' The album received a four and a half star review from the AllMusicGuide, and Blues Revue Magazine exclaimed, “Sean Costello blows in like a gust of fresh spring air!" The LA Weekly praised the guitar player by printing, “Costello is the real deal!"
With 2002's “Moanin' For Molasses", also on Landslide, came a Blues Revue cover story touting Costello as “the top contender to be the next blues star - and soon." Costello's hometown paper The Atlanta Journal-Constitution called his guitar playing “masterful" and of “remarkable maturity." The paper also compared him to such legends as B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
In 2005, the self-titled “Sean Costello" was released by Artemis Records. Produced by Steve Rosenthal (The Rolling Stones, Suzanne Vega, Freedy Johnston), it was the guitarist's fourth release and by far his most diverse and adventurous, as Costello blended his blues with a crafty mixture of soul, funk, upbeat rock. He was joined by some very special guests: Levon Helm of The Band sits in on two tracks, as does his daughter, Amy Helm, with her group, Ollabelle. Steve Jordan, Willie Weeks and the Conan O'Brien horn section also appear.
Costello, who has been fortunate enough to earn the respect and admiration of many of his own idols, has had the opportunity to sit in with these mentors. He has already shared stages with B.B. King, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Pinetop Perkins, and Bo Diddley among many others. “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," says Costello. As the newest addition to the growing Delta Groove talent roster, Sean Costello is poised to join the pantheon of his heroes.
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