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MORE ON THE LOSS OF SEAN COSTELLO

posted on April 16th, 2008

Atlanta blues guitarist Sean Costello found dead

By RICHARD L. ELDREDGE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/16/2008

Atlanta blues guitarist and singer Sean Costello has been found dead, one day shy of his 29th birthday.

Piedmont Talent, the critically acclaimed musician's booking company in Charlotte, N.C., confirmed Costello's death to the AJC Wednesday.

A birthday celebration had been planned Wednesday night for the popular Atlanta performer.

The musician's body was discovered Tuesday at the Cheshire Motor Inn where he was staying as a guest. When the singer didn't respond, a call to 911 was placed.

An immediate cause of death is not known.

Cheshire Motor Inn general manager Lorraine Williams was on duty when Costello, an occasional guest there, checked in with a friend Tuesday.

"I knew he was a well-known entertainer," Williams said Wednesday. "We would talk when he would come in. Yesterday was a bad day for me. It hit me hard. When they found him, I just had to walk away. . . "

Costello's Myspace page page posted a blog entry under the heading: "Sean Costello, April 16, 1979 to April 15, 2008: With a heavy heart we have to announce that Sean Costello passed away early this morning, Tuesday April 15."

Below it, dozens of grieving fans have begun posting messages.

When fans access the social networking Internet page, Costello's trademark guitar licks and growling vocals greet them, performing "Can't Let Go."

"I'm stunned," said Bryan Cole, an Atlanta blues record producer and musician. Cole got word of the singer's death via e-mails circulating Wednesday in Atlanta's music community. "Sean was an immense talent. He had the fire of Buddy Guy. He had his whole career way in front of him. He'll be missed."

On Wednesday, friends and fans privately reflected on Costello's crowd-pleasing barroom blues tunes.

Tonight, the owners of Northside Tavern, Costello's longtime Atlanta musical home, will pay tribute to the singer and guitarist with an informal gathering of friends and fellow musicians starting at 10 p.m.

Piedmont Talent representatives said they would issue a formal statement on Costello's death later Wednesday.

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