Montauk Pioneer - November 21, 2008

Matt Cossentino, better known to local audiences as "Matt Coss," is a talented young singer, actor, comedian, and impressionist, who has performed on stages from New Jersey to Montauk.

Having grown up in Montauk, Cossentino is a long-time member of the Montauk Theater Productions, and can be seen almost every Thursday night singing karaoke at Gurney's Inn, and almost every Friday night doing the same at Liar's Saloon. He now lives in Springs.

But unlike most other singers his age, of 37, who prefer rock or hip-hop, Cossentino loves the music of the 1940s and 50s He considers himself a "crooner," and loves the romantic music of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, and more recently, of Michael Buble and Harry Connick, Jr.

"I feel connected to the crooners, and this is the era that intrigues me," said Cossentino, who also dons a Fedora hat, a suit and tie, when he does his classy Sinatra act. With his Italian-Irish good looks, he somehow looks every bit the part, seeming mature beyond his years. He likes the romance of the 40s and 50s, which had a hopefulness and an innocence.

"I have to admit I'm a romantic at heart," he adds. And right now, he is excited about releasing his second CD, this December, in which he sings songs of his favorites, including Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Michael Buble.

"My new CD is a tribute to the crooners," said Cossentino, who released his first CD of similar songs about a year ago. When asked the reason for his passion over these 40s icons, he smiles, "Frank Sinatra and these other crooners are the most difficult to sing, because there is so much emotion and the timing has to be right. Sinatra was known for his unique phrasing, and he's hard to copy-he's like another dimension. This was also a way for me to go solo, as opposed to being in a band."

Some of the songs on his new CD include Sinatra's "Summer Wind," and "New York, New York," and also Michael Buble's "Sway."

Cossentino, who uses the stage name of "Matt Coss," has performed on stages from the New Jersey Palasadium, to a kid's musical at the Children's Museum of the East End. He has sung at numerous weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties, private cocktail parties, and holiday events. In addition to wooing audiences with his magical crooner's singing voice, Cossentino is great with comedy acts and impressions, from Elvis, to his favorite actors-Robert DiNiro and Al Pacino.

"If DiNiro reads this and wants me to sing at one of his Montauk parties, I'll be glad to," Cossentino laughed. "I love to perform-it's embedded in my soul. I use my voice as an instrument to uplift people in these trying times."

He noted the connection to the music of the 1940s during the trying and unstable times of World War II, and to those similar times of today.

"I think people need some inspiration today-something to make them smile, and bring a little cheer to their lives, even for just a moment," he said.

Born and raised in Rockville Center, Cossentino first started singing at the choir St. Agnes Catholic School there, with his three other brothers.

"I'm the sixth out of nine children, so I always had others to sing with," said the young crooner, whose father and mother were also in the choir. His grandfather, Tom Denning, was also a singer and actor.

His father, who is now retired, was the Chief of Surgery at Southampton Hospital for 25 years, where his mother was an RN. At 56, she earned her Masters in Psychiatry, which she practiced until she also retired with her husband to Florida.

The Cossentino family bought land in Montauk during the 1960s, and built their home during the 1980s. "I've been coming out to Montauk during the summers most of my life," said Matt, who started attending Montauk Grade School at age 12, where he took drumming lessons. During high school, his family moved to Southampton, where he attended school there, and had several bands.

The musical talent runs in the family, with his brother Steve, of East Hampton, being an acoustic folksinger, and his brother Joe, of Malverne, having his own band called, "Liquid Phase."

When he is not singing or acting, Cossentino's "day job" consists of house painting, landscaping, and auto detailing.

"In my life I wear many hats, but my dream is to be on the big stage," he said, as he quoted his favorite singer: "Fairy tales can come true."

Matt Coss can be reached at 631-276-2665, or visit his website at www.mattcoss.com.