bios

BILL CANTOS

Keyboardist, singer, songwriter, arranger, producer - Bill thrives on variety. Among his current projects, he plays and tours with music legends Herb Alpert and Lani Hall, who selected his "I Feel You" as the title song of their new CD; two of his songs also appear on their 2009 release, ANYTHING GOES.  He appears in Phil Collins' 2010 concert DVD GOING BACK and was a part of Phil's "First Final Farewell Tour" (2004-2005).  He's also toured and/or recorded with Alan Bergman, Burt Bacharach, Elton John & Leon Russell, Diane Schuur, Lisa Ono, Kirk Whalum, Bob Dylan, Brian Bromberg, Barry Manilow, Jay Graydon, David Foster, Kevyn Lettau, Deniece Williams, Debby Boone, Freddie Hubbard, Vikki Carr, Steve Amerson, Tony Guerrero, and Rita Coolidge, among many others.

His songs have been covered by Ramsey Lewis, Lea Salonga, Patti Austin, Brenda Russell, Janis Siegel and Cheryl Bentyne, to name a few. Bill has a deep love for Brazilian music, and has worked extensively with many of Brazil's best-known artists, including Sergio Mendes, Dori Caymmi, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, and Gal Costa. Bill has released six solo CDs; the most recent is LOVE WINS: NEW STANDARDS FOR THE NEW MILLENIUM, a collection of new songs written in the style of classic jazz standards (click here to read quotes and reviews). He's currently putting the finishing touches on a new album, planned for a fall 2011 release.

Gospel music is also a passion for Bill; he leads worship, has written songs for Clay Crosse, Maranatha Music and Helen Baylor, performed for half a million people as musical director/keyboardist of the Promise Keepers worship band, and appears on CDs by Donnie McClurkin, Tommy Walker, and Andrae Crouch. For nine years he was heard on the "Haven" radio broadcast as a member of their vocal quartet.

Theater is another avenue for his talents; he appeared in the LA world premiere of Cy Coleman/Alan & Marilyn Bergman's musical, LIKE JAZZ, and has written an one-act musical, "The Little Room". He has performed on the soundtracks for dozens of films including Rio, Tangled, Mars Needs Moms, Iron Man 2, Spiderman 3, WALL-E, Ice Age 3: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs, Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself & Polar Express.

Growing up in San Diego, California, Cantos received a Masters in Jazz Studies from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he studied piano with Fred Hersch. He currently resides in Los Angeles working on new projects with his wife, Mari Falcone, including writing new songs with Alan & Marilyn Bergman and Johnny Mandel.

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MARI FALCONE
Mari's multi-faceted career (pianist, keyboardist, musical director, conductor, composer, arranger) defies boundaries and encompasses the worlds of classical music, theater, pop, gospel, jazz, and R&B.  Among her current projects, she is part of Danciòn, a collaboration with mezzo-soprano Juliana Gondek, bassist Abraham Laboriel, saxophonist Doug Masek and violinist Movses Pogossian performing classical/jazz arrangements of Latin American dance pieces.

As composer/arranger/lyricist: “The Garden Ballet”, commissioned by the Florence Dance Company, Florence, Italy; Debby Boone’s album for children “The Snow Angel” (composer/producer); projects for theater, TV and film, including "Louise Duart: The Secret Life Of Barry's Wife" (Showtime), “Catskills On Broadway”, and the short film "Jillian's Vantage" (winner, Damah Film Festival); songs recorded by gospel/CCM artists Helen Baylor, Haven, and Maranatha Music; orchestrations for Donna Summer and Vikki Carr; wrote the theme song for "Couples Who Pray", a live project based on the book by Louise Duart and Squire Rushnell; specialty music and lyrics for a variety of artists; songwriting with various collaborators, including Johnny Mandel and Alan & Marilyn Bergman; developing several musical theater projects.

As performer/recording musician: three CDs as solo artist (And All This, Embrace The Cross, and Unto Him This Christmas, aka Christmas Peace); duo concerts across the US and Europe with her husband, Bill Cantos; co-producing Bill’s last four albums as well as her own releases; musical director, pianist and conductor for Amy Grant, Nell Carter, Donna Summer, Debby Boone, Kim Hill, Vikki Carr, and Deniece Williams; musical director for Off-Broadway, touring musicals, and many L.A. theatrical productions, including serving as musical director for the legendary Groundlings improv comedy troupe; honored as the first female conductor at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas; many television appearances, including the Grammy Awards (twice), “The Tonight Show”, variety specials, and countless other shows, including an ABC sitcom (which shall remain nameless) where she appeared as a piano-playing nun.

As playwright: member of AOPW (All Original Playwriting Workshop), which staged her short plays “New Christmas Traditions” and “Divorcing Mike” (excerpts); one-act musical “The Little Room” (co-writer, book); her short play “The Dieter” was premiered in LA in April 2010.

Masters degree in classical piano performance, University of Miami (student of Rosalina Sackstein); born and raised in the Chicago area, still a Windy City girl at heart, now living in Los Angeles, would move to Italy tomorrow if she could.