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Thursday, March 28, 2024

20 questions with Alfie Zappacosta

Meet multi-award winning singer-songwriter, Alfie Zappacosta.

Zappacosta will perform May 26 at the Orpheum Annex in support of his No Avoiding Clichés release tour. The multi-award winning singer-songwriter, famous for hits like “We Should Be Lovers, “When I Fall (In Love Again)” and “Overload” (on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack) has mined the wealth of his extensive catalogue for this project. Tickets are available online.

Meet Alfie Zappacosta

Alfie Zappacosta is undeniably one of Canada’s premier songwriters and performers with chart topping hits and a recording and acting career that has spanned 40 years.  He continues to evolve as an artist by “doing it his way”, an effort that has been rewarded with an impressive song catalogue and a discerning loyal fan base.

Zappacosta decided on a music career in his teens and set his sights upon being a guitarist. When his vocal dexterity and song writing proficiency were uncovered by a publisher while writing for his first original band “Surrender”, events would be put in motion to champion Zappacosta (dropping his first name) as a solo artist and bring him to the world’s attention. “Start Again”, “Passion”, “When I Fall in Love Again” and “Nothing Can Stand In Your Way” became staples on Canadian adult contemporary radio and Zappacosta became a personified Rock Star.

In 1987, Walt Disney’s Danger Bay would bring Zappacosta an episode written specifically for him titled “Rock Star”. In the same year, he penned and sang “Overload” exclusively for the multi-platinum soundtrack “Dirty Dancing” and Loverboy would record Zappacosta’s “That’s Where The Money Goes” for their Wildside album. In 1988, he was awarded JUNOs for “Album of The Year’ and “Most Promising Artist”, an American Music Award for “Most Popular Album of The Year” and named the Canadian Publishers Music Association’s “Best Rock Star”.

Zappacosta’s distinctive baritone voice did not go unnoticed by artistic directors and in 1990, he was called to deliver his greatest challenge of his career – singing Andrew Lloyd Webber. Alfie’s portrayals of Christ in Jesus Christ Superstar and Che Guevara in Evita would bring a new audience and support his efforts to delineate his pop/rock image – a moniker that never reflected his authentic personality.

The release of “Innocence Ballet” in 1996 would introduce Alfie Zappacosta (taking back his first name) and give center stage to his true rich vocals, his mastery at romance, his astute take on relationships and his advanced knowledge of music. Alfie is rewarded for his efforts with numerous award nominations in the Smooth Jazz genre and a performance with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra in 2005. Alfie Zappacosta has polished his live concert performances exposing his sophisticated, intimate and intense personality. His performances deliver a blend of acoustic, jazz and pop music prompting the listener to engage soulfully.

20 Questions with Alfie Zappacosta

1. Your first job.

Sweeping floors and wiping mirrors and windows in my fathers barbershop. I was 8 yrs old.

2. The job you always wanted as a child.

Airplane pilot, then a hairdresser.

3. Your pet peeve.

Assuming things, I usually assume wrong

4. Your hero.

Superman.

5. Your biggest indulgence.

Cheesecake.

6. One thing no one knows about you.

For years I was terrified to be on stage.

7. Three things you would want with you on a deserted island.

Rick, my Dog, a guitar and a Handywoman.

8. The one word your best friend would use to describe you.

Artistic.

9. If you were not pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing right now?

Anything that would make me feel happy.

10. Hero or villain?

A lot of both!

11. Your life’s motto/mantra.

Find happiness and live there.

12. Your favourite song.

No favourite, my mood dictates songs.

13. The last book you read.

Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.

14. If you were a cartoon character what cartoon character would you be and why?

Popeye the sailor, he’s loved by a Goon.

15. What will it say on your grave marker?

It’s been a great ride!

16. Who would you most like to have dinner with?

My Mom, my Dad and Sonny.

17. Your idea of happiness.

my two hour walks in the river valley with my dog, Rick, without a thought in my head.

18. The one thing in your life that makes you most proud.

My kids like me.

19. If you could go back in time, what would you tell your 20-year old self?

Think like a 60 year old.

20. To be or not to be?

I Am!

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