Alfie Zappacosta - A Man for all Genres
He's a lot of things to a lot of people - rock to some, smooth to others, AC to many. Alfie is established enough that he's just Alfie - an incredibly gifted talent beyond any genre tag.
He has long been considered one of the best vocal talents in Canada, yet we know very little about Alfie Zappacosta and his music. Sure you know his chart topping singles, Nothing Can Stand in Your Way, Passion, When I Fall in Love Again, We Should Be Lovers (plus many more), and the fact that he has two JUNOs and an American Music Awards for his contribution of Overload to the Dirty Dancing Soundtrack, and is currently nominated for Two Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, but how much do you really know about the artist himself?
Alfie Zappacosta has a distinguished career and still today, he continues to write compelling lyric and melody. Yes Alfie Zappacosta is a songwriter! He is also an accomplished guitarist, premier vocalist and actor. In 1995, Zappacosta left his pop stardom behind to pursue a more intimate style of writing and performing.
The roots of his new sound started when Zappacosta began playing solo before crowds at a Toronto club. Playing only guitar, he explored new harmonies and melodies, later combing rootsy elements such as harmonica and accordion, which eventually manifested itself in a contemporary Jazz/AC sound. “The difficult part was finding an audience that was willing to sit and listen to my songs.” states Zappacosta. I had to believe that a legitimate artist was allowed to grow and could be appreciated and accepted for producing music that was heartfelt and not what the industry felt was appropriate for the times.”
“The older I got, the more uncomfortable I became.” Zappacosta confesses. “There were always elements of what is on the current project in my music. I wanted to get back into a form of music that I knew I was not only capable of doing but also a style of music that would fulfill me both artistically and spiritually. I realized that chasing down fads is really a losing proposition.” His passion for beautiful melodies and grand songs manifested into three stunning CD's - Innocence Ballet, Dark Sided Jewel and is latest recording Start Again.
Zappacosta penned 10 new songs for Start Again, which was produced by renowned Canadian composer Glenn Morley (Gino Vanelli), and recorded them at Toronto’s Tambre Productions. Zappacosta signed a multi-CD deal with Toronto-based Marquis Records and secured a licensing deal with EMI Music Canada. He has just finished his latest video Start Again.
Written nearly 30 years ago, the message behind the album’s title track “Start Again” remains relevant today, which explains its ongoing popularity and makes it the perfect title for this recording. “It’s about not giving up or being afraid of change, which can be scary,” says Zappacosta. “The emotional part of that message is timeless and universal.”
Gone are the spandex pants and 7 piece bands. Today Zappacosta is a class act adorned in tailor made suits and Italian charisma. An evening with Zappacosta is presented as a trio with Cuban pianist Silvio Pupo and Italian virtuoso Claudio Vena on viola and accordion. The music is rich, powerful, polished and romantic. And while you will find some of his most popular songs in the mix, you will not hear the huge production that once accompanied these classics. The songs are stripped down showcasing why a great song needs only an incredible voice and a masterful delivery.
Zappacosta has two Juno Awards, for Most Promising Male Vocalist and Album of the Year, and an American Music Award, for Most Popular Album of the Year. He has written for his own production company; gone solo on his own label; fronted the rock band Surrender; performed lead roles in Evita, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar and Frankenstein, collaborated on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, released eight original albums including Dark Sided Jewel, Innocence Ballet and most recently, Start Again and appeared in movies and television. His latest work sees Alfie maturing even further placing him comfortably among the world's finest artists /entertainers.
