Cos Natola
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cos Natola is an award winning Canadian pianist, vocalist, composer and arranger from Vancouver, British Columbia. After winning numerous competitions as a teenager, Natola took the Grand Prize at the Esso Talent Festival held at the Pacific National Exhibition, and telecast live by CBC Television.
Two years later, following the suggestion of Canadian music legend Juliette, Natola entered the Du Maurier Search For Stars Competition held in Toronto. After adjudicators selected 720 professional entrants from thousands of screened applicants from all across Canada, Natola was named as a Top-18 semifinalist, and eventually was declared an overall winner.
These awards led to more appearances on CBC TV, and Natola shared the stage with many artists including Bobby Hales, Shari Lewis, Jim Carrey, Vikki Carr, Bob McLean, Pat Boone, Paul Williams, Louise Mandrell, Patsy Gallant, Leon Bibb, members of the famed Boss Brass, Dal Richards, Red Robinson, Rick Honey, Iona Campagnolo and others. These appearances garnered positive reviews in both provincial as well as national publications.
Natola also maintains a very busy recording career. His first single featured two original songs, Think of Me, & More Today Than Yesterday, and was soon followed by his first album, Dreams Never Die. His second album was entitled The Immigrant, and its title track reached Number 1 on the hit parade of WEAW Chicago. Natola's next album was called A Hopeless Romantic. RCA Records then released a Cos Natola single: Tutta La Vita & Being Free. His next album was entitled And On The Third Day, and was followed by two children's albums, and two compilations: Reflections, and Now and Then.
Natola sang the lead vocals on the songs appearing in the Len Kowalewich feature film Dead Wrong, and the movie went on to garner numerous Genie Award nominations, including Best Music. He later composed source music for the Rex Bromfield feature film, Cafe Romeo. Recently, Natola has been commissioned to compose the musical score for Thysia Productions' brand new feature film Anacka's Eyes, currently in pre-production.
Among Natola's fondest studio memories are the times he worked alongside his mentor (as Natola, himself refers to him), composer & producer Bobby Hales on projects such as jingles, documentary film soundtracks, and, of course, music for the long running CBC TV series The Beachcombers.
Charity work has always been a priority for Cos Natola, and he has often given his time to organizations such as CUSO, the B. C. Lions Club, and numerous other fundraising societies.
Natola continues to perform, compose, arrange, and produce recording sessions. He has also become an avid playwright, and many of his scripts have been performed to favourable reviews. These productions include The Girls of St. Mary's, Casa Leoni, Homeless, Once Upon a Love, Wendy, The Immigrant, Hoedown, My Father's Son, When the Wind Blows Westward, Manila, Titanic: The Aftermath, Four Seasons, Save the Nugget, Murder at Baxter Manor, and The Apple Tree.
In November of 2000, Natola was Musical Director of the Christ The King Jubilee Catholic Mass held at Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum, and attended by over 16,000 people. This celebration of liturgy was one of the largest events ever staged by the Vancouver Archdiocese. Natola played the piano, conducted the ensemble, and arranged and orchestrated all of the selections which were performed by a 250 voice choir and orchestra.
Natola holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, a Professional Teaching Certificate, and a Master of Education Degree all from the University of British Columbia. He was also accepted into the Simon Fraser University doctoral program.
