“Ode to Jimmy”

When I was a music student at the University of Oklahoma in the early 70’s, a fellow violinist and his girlfriend invited me to a house warming party at their new apartment. As we were sitting around listening to music, in walked a young man with long, dark hair, baggy blue jeans, intelligent eyes, and an engaging laugh. That’s when I first met Jimmy Costello. At some point in the group conversation he mentioned the Beatles, and I admitted I had never really listened to them. I thought he would fall off his chair. Thus began my education in expanding my musical taste from strictly classical, to Carole King, James Taylor, and yes, the Beatles. Jimmy never judged or patronized me. He was simply so enamored of the artists he loved that he felt impelled to share the joy.

That’s who Jimmy was. He pushed the envelope in whatever way he could. His thought and vision just naturally expanded, and if you were in his presence, you got to take that journey with him.

Here’s proof of that. When Jimmy started at the University of Oklahoma, he wasn’t majoring in any of the arts. As I recall, it was engineering. If it wasn’t that, it was something similar. One day he told me how that changed for him. He woke up one morning and suddenly knew he was supposed to compose music. He immediately got up and walked across campus to change majors to composition. The music school told him he couldn’t just do that. He asked why not? Whatever their reasons, he just kept pushing back. Ultimately, a composition faculty member decided to champion him. Jimmy had to take an instrument and perform a final piece to pass the course. In one year, he learned the flute well enough to pay a movement of a Mozart Concerto. Some of the jury members accused him of lying to them, that he had previously studied the flute. He just laughed about it. He told me that if you wanted to push forward, you had to be so fantastic they couldn’t deny you. When the requirement to take a piano class became necessary, he went to the faculty and said it was a ridiculous requirement. They insisted piano proficiency was needed in order to compose. He told them it had nothing to do with how he composed. He heard the music and wrote it down. The outcome of this conflict? The department changed their rules. They changed them for him, because they knew his value and respected it.

This pushing of the boundaries was a foundational element of his career. He ate up one discipline, developed a broader vision and moved on to the next. I don’t think Jimmy truly realized the positive impact he had on those around him. When I found myself part of the faculty at the University of Oklahoma in the mid 90’s, guess who was there? Jimmy’s composition mentor. He recognized me and immediately asked if I was in touch with Jimmy, what is he doing, how did things turn out for him?

That faculty member is not the only one. The violinist friend whose party I attended when I first met Jimmy, my musician family members who knew him at Indiana University, my daughter who knew him and remembers him well, though she was only 4 years old at the time, — we all remember him. We all were inspired by him and admired him.

The last year Jimmy and I were in music school, his girlfriend invited me to their place for his birthday. My contribution was to make him a New York style cheesecake. He was thrilled. It was many, many years later when he told me he had made a tradition of eating cheesecake on his birthday because of the one I had given him. So I guess it worked both ways with our friendship. He expanded my view of life and of myself and hopefully I did the same for him.

Jimmy, I can still hear your laughter and feel your presence. Wherever you landed, I know you’re still pushing that envelope and expanding the horizon all around you. I’ll be along shortly to get back on that ride. In the meantime, I’ll have a piece of your cheesecake.

THIS SATURDAY MARCH 1ST

Celebration of Life for

❤️JAMES COSTELLO ❤️

November 12, 1950 - January 13, 2024

Dear Community, Friends & Family. It is with deep love that we announce the passing of my father James Costello, who was an accomplished composer, artist, writer, and director. He was a beloved father, brother, friend and college. We invite everyone to join us in honoring and celebrating his life.

Memorial will be on

Saturday March 1st, 2025 from 2 - 6 PM PST. At the First Baptist Church of North Hollywood located at 11210 Otsego St North Hollywood, CA 91601. For those who would like to attend virtually, you can watch the service live & recorded at https://youtube.com/@fbcnoho7….

The service will be led by Pastor Mike and Monica Costello. Special music will be brought by Naomi Nektare. Repass meal will be provided by the Chavez Family in the dining hall and a showing of the family movie “Legend of Secret Pass” produced by Jc2 Animation will be shown in the chapel.

We hope you can join us as we come together to celebrate my father’s life and the warmth he brought into the world. With love from the Friends & Family of the Costellos. View Online Memorial Here; https://everloved.com/life-of…

So very saddened to hear the belated news today about Jimmy's death.  He always remembered my birthday at the end of November and so we had communicated about a month before he died.  But  I had no idea that his health was deteriorating.   My heart goes out to his daughter Monica and to his family members who I remember well:  his brother Gary and his cousins in New York.  When I am back in the USA  in late September/early October, I will see if I can find some photos from the late 70's/early 80's and will post them here.   He was a big part of my life for many years and was like a father to my daughter Morna when the three of lived in Texas and then New York together.

Rest in peace, dear friend.  I'll keep singing this song for you  . . .

The way you wear your hatThe way you sip your teaThe memory of all thatNo no they can't take that away from me

The way your smile just beamsThe way you sing off keyThe way you haunt my dreamsNo no they can't take that away from me

We may never never meet againOn the bumpy road to loveStill I'll always, always keep the memory ofThe way you hold your knifeThe way we danced till threeThe way you've changed my lifeNo no they can't take that away from meNo they can't take that away from me