bios

BILL CANTOS

Keyboardist, singer, songwriter, arranger, producer - Bill thrives on variety. Among his current projects, he is working with music legends Herb Alpert and Lani Hall, who recorded two of his songs on their latest album, ANYTHING GOES.  He was a part of Phil Collins' "First Final Farewell Tour" (2004-2005) and appears in the upcoming concert DVD featuring music from Phil's new album, GOING BACK; he also contributed backing vocals to the new Elton John/Leon Russell album scheduled for release later this year.  He's also toured and/or recorded with Alan Bergman, Diane Schuur, Lisa Ono, Kirk Whalum, Bob Dylan, Brian Bromberg, Barry Manilow, Clint Black, Jay Graydon, David Foster, Kevyn Lettau, Deniece Williams, Debby Boone, Freddie Hubbard, Vikki Carr, 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 been fortunate to work 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). JAZZIZ magazine singled out Bill as an artist to watch and SMOOTH JAZZ NEWS called him a “bright new star”. He's currently putting the finishing touches on a new album, and writing new songs with Johnny Mandel, Alan & Marilyn Bergman, and others.

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 legendary "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 Iron Man 2, Spiderman 3, WALL-E, Ice Age: 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 with his wife, Mari Falcone.

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MARI FALCONE
Mari's multi-faceted career (pianist, keyboardist, musical director, conductor, composer, arranger) defies boundaries and encompasses the musical worlds of classical music, theater, pop, gospel, jazz, and R&B.

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.

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.

Her current projects include a classical/jazz collaboration with mezzo-soprano Juliana Gondek, bassist Abraham Laboriel, saxophonist Doug Masek and violinist Movses Pogossian on a suite of Latin American dance pieces (to be performed in concert and recorded in 2011); she is also developing several musical theater projects.

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.