A native of Hoboken, New Jersey, Stephen Costantino developed a passion for music at a young age, when he drew notice
for playing guitar, singing & songwriting. It's a pattern that has continued to this day.
Soon after moving
to California in 1978, he began studying martial arts in Los Angeles with Hugh van Patten, who introduced him to another young
musician in one of his classes,
Corey Dee Williams, son of the actor and painter
Billy Dee Williams. Stephen and Corey hit it off immediately and started a band they called Incognito. Later it would reincarnate
as Atmosphere.
When Billy Dee was readying his character Lando Calrissian for movie “Return of the Jedi,
he asked Corey to be his stand-in when the film company went on location in Yuma, AZ. Stephen was invited to come along
so that he and Corey could continue to play and write music.
Before long, he was recruited for a part in the film;
he was to portray a Gamorrean Guard in service to Jabba the Hutt, fighting Luke Skywalker in defense of his despicable master.
Stephen has played guitar on sessions with Crazy Town, New Edition, Bel Biv Devoe, and the Black Eyed Peas, working
with resident music producer Brett "Epic" Mazur at Scotti Brothers Records.
Another one of his most enduring
musical partnerships has been with actor/director Billy Wirth, still haunting as a vampire in "Lost Boys."
They formed a band called The Cronies in the early '90s and continue to write songs and perform them at venues throughout
Southern California.
In addition to providing songs for film soundtracks ("Me & Will," "Last
Lives," "Looking for Jimmy," "Java Heads," "Starlight"), Stephen has ventured into movie
making himself, having served as a producer of the documentary "Walking After Midnight" and the short "Lone
Greasers" and the feature "Starlight."
In 2012, Stephen will be releasing a CD of his songs which
he has been producing and mixing to showcase his myriad talents and interests.
