Artist description Quixotic, Innovative, Entertaining, Powerful, Original and Sexy, it all adds up to Zappacosta. His career has spanned 20 years, yet we have only caught a glimpse of his talent until now! From writing for his own production company, to the rock band Surrender, to going solo on his own label, to Evita, Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar, then A-Z, the Dirty Dancing Soundtrack, Quick...Don't Ask Any Questions, Innocence Ballet and now - Dark Sided Jewel, Zappacosta is all this and more. With Two Junos, Most Promising Male Vocalist, Album of the Year and an American Music Award for Most Popular Album of the Year to his credit, Zappacosta and his voice have long been the talk of the music industry. His emotional delivery of a song has been hailed a masterpiece prompting prestigious artists from all over the world to come and hear him sing. His live performance is spellbinding. From the first notes of a song, he sets the mood and the tone for the evening. His renditions of I’ll Be The One and Me & Mrs. Jones command complete silence and leaves the audience amazed at the depth of emotion that Zappacosta gives to this art. His latest work sees Zappacosta maturing even further placing him among one of the world’s premier songwriters. Born in the small town of Sora, Italy, an hour south of Rome in 1953, Alfie Zappacosta, yes, that's his name, moved to Toronto with his parents when he was six months old. Deciding upon a music career in his teens, Zappacosta set his sights upon being a guitarist until his vocal prowess was uncovered. His recording debut came in 1979 as frontman for the five piece Toronto band Surrender. Releasing a self-titled album prompted radio airplay of Find Your Way, Turn Down The Mission and Buddy, the band went on the road, touring Canada to sold out crowds. In 1981, Surrender released a four-track EP called No Surrender. The song Start Again became a staple of adult contemporary radio, and the simple honestly of It's All Been Done Before presented Zappacosta's undeniable songwriting and musical talents- launching a recording career that has spanned over 20 years. In 1983, Zappacosta made a break from Surrender and went into the studio to record his first self-titled solo effort. Zappacosta was released in 1984, yielding the singles Passion, a reprised version of Start Again and the 1985's top Canadian chart hit We Should Be Lovers. Zappacosta's vocal talents were immediately apparent and in 1984, he accepted a Juno as Most Promising Male Vocalist. 1985 saw Alfie accepting new challenges and his portrayal of Che Guevaera in the hit musical Evita, staged at the Neptune Theatre in Halifax. He also added his voice to the Tears Are Not Enough African famine relief project. In 1986, Zappacosta was signed to EMI of Canada and released A-Z, his second solo album. Helped along by the hugely popular singles When I Fall In Love Again and the Zappacosta/David Foster co-written ballad Nothing Could Stand In Your Way, the A-Z album went on to attain significant airplay and sales. Then, Walt Disney's Danger Bay producers approached Alfie with a script written specifically for him. The episode Rock Star features another song off the A-Z album I Think About You. In 1987, Zappacosta focused his attention on radio profile with the release of Over 60 Minutes With...Zappacosta. In the same year, he penned Overload, which was written and performed exclusively for the multi-platinum soundtrack Dirty Dancing and Loverboy recorded That is Where The Money Goes for their Wildside album. In 1988, he was awarded a Juno for Album of the Year, an American Music Award for Most Popular Album of the Year and the Canadian Publishers Music Associations Best Rock Star. Not resting on these accomplishments, 1990 saw Zappacosta and long-time cohort Gerry Mosby (The MOZ) back in the studio co-producing Quick!...Don't Ask Any Questions, for A-Zee Records Inc. (his own label), and signed a distribution agreement with Capital Records. His new sound demonstrated his versatility as a vocalist, musician, writer and now producer. The ease with which Zappacosta slides from Letter Black into the timeless of Nothing To Do With Love, Simple Words To Say and I'll Be The One confirms undeniable artistic depths. This project continued the radio airplay that Zappacosta desired. 1994 and 1995 found him in Edmonton and back in the theatre portraying Christ in Jesus Christ Superstar and the lead role in Hair. Falling in love with the quiet culture, he decided to re-locate his family and business to Edmonton. During the production of Hair, Zappacosta finalized a distribution agreement with Los Angeles based Sindrome Records. His 5th album Innocence Ballet was released in the United States. The singles Orlando, Show Me, Lombard Street, Me and Mrs. Jones and Someone were eagerly picked up by US radio stations and Innocence Ballet received enthusiastic airplay-the Gavin Report regards it as the 4th most added. The sold out audiences embraced Zappacosta. Innocence Ballet was being picked up by more and more radio stations and CD sales began to rise. In 1996, on one of his tours in California, Zappacosta began to feel ill. Finishing the tour and returning home, he was informed by his doctor that he needed a critical operation immediately. The operation was a success but the road to recovery was long. It was a time for reflection and soul searching for Zappacosta. Alfie returned to his music in 1999 with his launch of Dark Sided Jewel. His new music spoke volumes. Alfie is Jazz. With a new focus in direction, he returned to the stage and set his sights on a new career. While promoting Dark Sided Jewel with releases in Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Halifax, Zappacosta has been busy with other commitments as well. He wrote and performed the opening song for the Canadian Special Olympics, performed at an AIDS benefit at Second City in Toronto and completed a highly successful run of Jesus Christ Superstar in Halifax. Alfie returned to Edmonton in April 2002 to portray the role of Che Guervera in Evita. He is currently preparing for his East Coast Tour and the recording of two new CDs and a DVD taking place in Toronto in the summer of 2002. Zappacosta, artist, musician, actor, songwriter, producer and premier vocalist. He is comfortable and competent in all of these roles and will deliver an evening of entertainment that will not be easy to forget. Do not miss the opportunity to experience Zappacosta. The effect will linger long after you have left the performance. For interviews: Contact: Anne Oakley Phone/Fax 902.463.4273 anneoakley@ns.sympatico.ca

Music Style Jazz/Smooth Jazz/Pop/Easy Listening

Musical Influences Michael MacDonald; Steely Dan, Old Neopolitan Songs from Italy

Artist History Zappacosta – A History CDs Dark Sided Jewel 2002 Innocence Ballet 1995 Quick… Dont Ask any Questions 1990 Over 60 Minutes with Zappacosta 1987 A-Z 1986 Zappacosta 1984 Surrender 1981 Singles Adilina 2000 Someone US Release –1995 Me and Mrs. Jones US Release -1995 Lombard Street US Release -1995 Show Me US Release -1995 Orlanda US Release -1995 Simple Words to Say 1991 Ill Be The One 1991 Letter Back 1990 Nothing To Do With Love 1990 Nothing Can Stand In Your Way 1987 When I Fall In Love Again 1986 Start Again 1986 We Should Be Lovers 1985 Passion 1984 Buddy 1980 No Surrender 1980 Turn Down The Mission 1979 Find Your Way 1979 Other Songwriting Credits Where the Money Goes Recorded by Loverboy - Album Wildside 1987 Midnight Mirage Recorded By Jennifer Rush 1986 Nothing Can Stand in Your Way Co-Write David Foster 1987 Dirty Dancing Soundtrack Overload 1988 Videos Ill Be The One 1991 Letter Back 1990 Turn It On 1990 When I Fall in Love Again 1986 We Should Be Lovers 1985 Awards Juno – Album of the Year 1988 American Music Award – Most Popular Album of the Year 1988 Canadian Publishers Music Association – Best Rock Recording 1988 Juno - Most Promising Male Vocalist 1984 Acting Credits Evita Portraying Che Guevaera Edmonton 2002 Jesus Christ Superstar Portraying Jesus Neptune Theatre Halifax 2001 Hair Lead Role - Berger Edmonton 1995 Jesus Christ Superstar Portraying Jesus Edmonton 1994 Walt Disneys Danger Bay Episode – Rock Star 1986 Evita Portraying Che Guevaera Neptune Theatre Halifax 1985 Notable Highlights Tears Are Not Enough – African Relief Project 1984 Canadian Special Olympics Wrote, Produced and Performed the Anthem We Are Making History Let The Games Begin Children Hospital – Toronto Profiled their theme song Easter Seals – Television. Performed their Anthem 4th most added singles Innocence Ballet The Gavin Report – California

Instruments Guitar

Albums Surrender; Zappacosta; A-Z; Over 60 Mintues with Zappacosta; Quick... Don't Ask Any Questions; Innocence Ballet; Dark-Sided Jewel

Press Reviews EVITA The Reviews Are In…The Headline reads: Zappacosta carries Evita. Consistently the best thing on stage. Alfie Zappacosta shows us the most perfect expression of what Jazz ans Smooth Jazz has become -irresistable, catchy, confident and cool - John beaudin, Night-Lite programming - QM-FM-BC, An amazing voice,a writing style that transforms complex emotions and feelings into words, and a gracious, vibrant personality. Our viewers were convinced Alfie Zappacosta was singing just to them. - Maritimes Today Zappacosta is a natural entertainer. he mesmerorized the audience leaving them wanting more. Encore, Encore. -Stayner's Wharf, Halifax, NS. The review went on to say "The show begins with the narrator, a fellow named Che, coming to Evita's funeral. Great way to start because Che is Alfie Zappacosta, who is everything the role demands and then some. The onetime rocker is in complete control of his character, pumping needed charisma into the production every time he is on stage - which is, luckily, for most of the show. Sardonic yet jaunty, and blessed with a strong, lilting voice, he is consistently the best thing on stage. " COLIN MACLEAN, EDMONTON SUN FREELANCE

Additional Info 2-Time Juno Award Winner - Most Promising Male Vocal, Album of The Year / Americian Music Award Winner,

Location Edmonton, Alberta - Canada

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