“Passing by one of Zappacosta’s events in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, I heard his voice and stopped dead in my tracks,” says Toby Reinhart. “I didn’t know who was singing, at first, but I was captivated by the vocal prowess. It was hard to believe that caliber of music could be found outside a bigger stage, say, like in Las Vegas.”
So inspired by his music, she contacted him and soon became his promoter on Vancouver Island; Toby had no public relations experience at the time. Little wonder she was impressed; Alfie Zappacosta was a huge talent and pop-rock star in the 1980s. It didn’t take long for her to recognize his distinctive baritone vocals.
Born in Italy in 1955, he came to Canada at six months old and has spent his life here, although he still speaks Italian. His family settled in the Toronto area and Alfie’s love of music and abilities soon came to the fore. He began his music career in the late ’70s as a founding member of Canadian five-piece rock band, Surrender, scoring two successful 1981 singles with “It’s All Been Done Before” and “Start Again.” Surrender quickly became a sought-after group and made three albums in the early 1980s.
Alfie then embarked on a solo career, continuing to write, sing and play guitar but on his own terms.
“I’m a writer and I like to write as many different kinds of songs as I can,” he says. “Record labels want you to have a certain style, but now I can do anything I want.” Today, he writes everything from opera to rap.
In 1984, he released the album, Zappacosta, which ignited two Canadian hits with “Passion” and the chart topping “We Should Be Lovers.” This success earned him a 1985 Juno award for ‘most promising new male vocalist.’ He was not yet 30, but already a star.
During his appearance on the 1986 Northern Lights benefit song ‘Tears Are Not Enough,’ organized by David Foster, he met many big names like Joni Mitchell. “I found that they’re all human, just like the rest of us,” he says. Shortly after, he released his second solo album A-Z, which featured the hit singles “When I Fall (In Love Again)” and “Nothing Can Stand in Your Way.” Following this, Alfie’s song “Overload” was included on the 1987 Dirty Dancing soundtrack, which became one of the best-selling albums of the 1980s.
Then, 1988 became a golden year as he was awarded JUNO awards for Album of The Year and Most Promising Artist. He also received an American Music Award for Most Popular Album of The Year and was named the Canadian Publishers Music Association’s Best Rock Star. He had arrived!
At the time, Alfie also dabbled in acting. In 1986, he was selected to play one of the lead roles in Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musical Evita. He spent about four months strutting the stage as Che Guevara at the Neptune Theatre in Halifax. Soon after, he was picked for the lead role in Jesus Christ Superstar, another popular Andrew Lloyd Weber musical, this time playing in Edmonton at the Mayfield Dinner Theatre. In between, he starred in Danger Bay, a special Walt Disney TV feature, filmed in BC and the Aquarium in Vancouver.
“Although I had opportunities in the acting business, it frightened me,” he says, “I felt like Forrest Gump, lost among all the professional actors that had had theatrical training.”
Then life slowed down. Zappacosta — he used only his last name during his early career — continued to record in the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s but he never duplicated the success he had in the early ’80s.
Opposed to the commercialization of music, he took a step back and began reinventing himself. The release of the 1996 album, Innocence Ballet, had an international feel with strong jazz stylings and romantic ballads.
“The album was absolutely pivotal in my embarking on a new Alfie
direction,” he says. He continued to write and sing, producing a new album every couple of years.
From his meteoric success of the ’80s to redefining himself as a musician had its challenges. Drugs and alcohol became a coping mechanism — a reflection of the times and the industry — and it took a toll on his health.
Alfie became very ill with type 2 diabetes and a pancreatic disease that nearly ended his life. His stamina and will to live brought him back to the stage in Edmonton two years later. Astounded by his recovery, his medical team attended his performance. They named him “the miracle guy.”
“I don’t think anyone expected me to make it,” he says.
The acting in Edmonton brought him to a city he fell in love with.
“Toronto was too hectic with lots of diversion, such as drugs and alcohol. Edmonton is great for family life,” he says, into which Alfie has settled very comfortably. He overcame his drinking problem and he and his wife had two children, a son and a daughter, and now four grandchildren.
He plays frequently at the Blackbird Café, which is only minutes from his home. The North Saskatchewan River valley park system is nearby and draws him for long walks almost every day when he is not on tour.
His talent is what made him a superstar in the 1980s, and he continues to hone his chops. His vocals are better than ever, covering two octaves. A true artist, his passion for music and his genuine respect for his audience motivates him to continue.
Alfie is also an accomplished guitarist and studied with renowned guitarist Hank Monis for several years. But although at the pinnacle in both singing and guitar playing, his greatest gift is his writing talent. Fans love his powerful storytelling, which makes an emotional and long-lasting impression. Of the nine songs on his latest album, Saved, which came out last year, he wrote both the lyrics and melodies for all of them except two, which were co-written.
“I take regular things and describe them,” he says. “It just comes naturally.”
It must, as he has written hundreds of songs during his career.
“I’ll get an idea, then think out a melody and then put words to it. I work with my guitar to build a base structure with chords. Then I usually bring in a bass player and we work together to further build the structure until I feel it’s time to bring in other instruments and enter the production and recording part.”
Alfie’s success philosophy remains grounded: “I have good respect for money, but it doesn’t mean a lot to me,” he says. “I just need enough to get by. The important thing in life is to be happy. I enjoy what I’m doing and will keep doing it.”
Tours to the eastern and western regions of the country are planned for 2022. Another album is in the works.
“I just want to keep busy making music,” says Alfie. “I don’t want to retire.”
Listening to his silken voice explaining his outlook on life, I couldn’t help but think, now with the pandemic ending, that Zappacosta will have a late-life comeback and his star will rise again.
Sidebar Questions
If you were to meet your 20-year-old self, what advice would you give him?
“Get a real job,” he says, laughing. “But seriously, learn your craft. Study music. Study vocals. Most people at 20, have no idea of what they want to be, of where they want to go, so get a mentor, someone who has been through it, and can lead you.”
Who or what has influenced you the most? And why?
“I don’t have any specific person or experience. You know, I bounced around like a pin ball and have not led a normal life. Really, life has been the most influential. Just getting up every day, and learning.”
What does success mean to you?
“To me success is just being happy. The best thing in life is to get up in the morning and be happy to be here.”
What are you most grateful for?
“I’m very grateful that my kids are happy. I love spending time with children and family, and seeing the kids are happy. It’s so good to know that I helped, and they’re better off than I was. At one time, I could have gone on the road for years, pursuing my career, but I’m glad I didn’t, and spent time with them. Of course, now that they’ve left the house and are independent, I can now live selfishly. I’m free now.”
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