The late Daniel Rae Costello has been posthumously honoured with the Manukau Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award will be presented at the 2020 Pacific Music Awards, which is moving to an online format on Saturday 3 October and Saturday 17 October.

Mr. Costello passed away aged 58 in 2019, after a battle with cancer. He was in Cairns, Australia at the time.  

Born and raised in Fiji, Costello’s mother Jessie Rae was of Samoan, Rotuman and Scottish descent, and his father Dan Costello was Irish. They were both born in Fiji. 

Costello had been living in Samoa from 2014 and regularly playing with a band on Friday nights at Le Manumea Hotel, after a career which had him performing around 4,000 times. 

“I’m home,” he told the Samoa Observer at the time. 

He will be supported by Costello’s old New Zealand touring band, T.C.B.

“Costello’s music captured many hearts across the Pacific and the world, with strong influences by the Caribbean sound,” the P.M.A. organisers said in a statement.

The singer and guitarist released 30 albums throughout his career, starting in 29179 with Tropical Sunset. It didn’t take off internationally but his second album, Lania, did. His first major hit, Samba, sold 300,000 times between 1990 and 1993.

He is survived by his wife Corrina Gibson-Costello and his five children.

The 2020 Pacific Music Awards will feature a tribute performance to Costello by Fijian artist Stevie Heatley, who had been a close friend of the legendary musician. 

Costello joins Mavis Rivers, Che Fu, Sole Mio, Ardijah, The Yandall Sisters, and others in winning the Lifetime Achievement award for his contributions to music. 

Also performing at the online event, and for their first time at the awards will be nominees Lani Alo, Church & AP, Disciple Pati and others.

Event Producer Petrina Togi-Sa’ena said she hopes to see the community support the online event.

“Amidst the waves of change, we have kept moving forward and this option allows us to maintain the celebration of our 2020 finalists and award recipients, and the connection with our community at this time,” she said.

“We will film and capture as much live content as we can, and we will absolutely ensure we adhere to the restrictions and guidelines for events; and provide a safe environment for everyone involved,”

Among the Samoan nominees are Punialavaa, Noah Slee and Poetik.