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Some might remember her simply as Dawn.
The stage name belonged to former pop crooner Joni Capetola — now Casta — who cracked the Billboard top-50 during the 1960s and ’70s with hits such as “Can’t Get Him Off of My Mind” and “I’m Afraid They’re All Talking About Me.”
The former resident of the 2000 block of South 27th Street has remained active in the music industry — these days on the management end. Her focus is a 20-year-old country singer from Washington Township, N.J., who also happens to be her niece — Liv Devine. The duo have been working together for 17 years.
At 8:30 p.m. Saturday, the proud aunt will be in the cheering section as Devine performs with former “American Idol” finalist Bucky Covington at Prospector’s Steakhouse and Saloon in Mt. Laurel, N.J.
“She has an amazing gift. All I’ve done is nurture it,” Casta, who also serves a vocal coach, said of Devine. “I just tell her over and over, to believe in herself and develop as an artist, which she has.”
The up-and-coming talent also has penned some of her own lyrics to songs such as, “Not So Country Girl” and “Hero Song for the Brave.”
Like her niece, the ’69 grad of St. Maria Goretti, 10th and Moore streets, was introduced to music at a very young age. Casta was signed to the Philadelphia-based label Swan Records at age 8, the same year it released the Beatles hit single, “She Loves You.”
By age 15, Casta, now 58, landed on the Billboard charts with her song, “Can’t Get Him Off of My Mind,” which cracked the top-50 and received a lot of local play.
Casta noted she never intended to go any further than being a vocal coach, but that was prior to discovering her niece’s “immense natural talent and presence.” Casta was compelled to use her connections and past experiences to help Devine secure a record deal.
“I have a lot of talented students, but Liv was the total package; she had the ‘it factor’ and that is what sparked me to manage her,” Casta said.
Tickets for Liv Devine’s April 10 performance are $20 to $25 at the door. Call 856-235-1121.
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