Kostas performed in Montana as a singer and songwriter throughout the 1980s. Eventually, he was discovered by record producer
Tony Brown, who was searching for new material for country singer
Patty Loveless. Kostas' first cut as a songwriter, "
Timber, I'm Falling in Love", was recorded by Loveless; released as a single in 1989, it went to number one on the
Billboard country charts, becoming Loveless's first number one hit.
Dwight Yoakam also recorded several songs written by Kostas, including "Nothing's Changed Here", "Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose", and "Send a Message to My Heart" (a duet with Loveless), all of which were released as singles from Yoakam's 1990 album
If There Was a Way. Yoakam's 1993 album,
This Time, included another song co-written by Kostas: the single "
Ain't That Lonely Yet", which earned Yoakam a
Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance - Male in 1994. During the early 1990s, Kostas also wrote singles for
McBride & the Ride,
Travis Tritt,
Holly Dunn,
Martina McBride, and
The Mavericks. CCMA and Juno Award-winning Canadian
country music group
Prairie Oyster recorded songs written by Kostas on two of their most popular albums. As a result, Kostas developed a sizable following in Canada, which has enabled him to tour and perform in several provinces. In 1980, Kostas released a self-titled album on First American Records. In 1994, Kostas signed to
Liberty Records as a recording artist.
X S in Moderation, was released that year. The album, which included his own renditions of the singles that he had written, was part of a special songwriters' series by Liberty. ==Partial credits==