by Debbie Tuma

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."

"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.

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