The music and lyrics of Bill Cantos have been recorded by artists spanning the worlds of pop, jazz, theater, gospel, and world music: Ramsey Lewis, Lea Salonga, Patti Austin, Brenda Russell, Herb Alpert, Cheryl Bentyne, The Imperials, Flora Purim, Clay Crosse, Helen Baylor, Mark Winkler, and many others. He has written songs (with Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Mari Falcone) for the new musical CHASING MEM’RIES, which recently premiered at the Geffen Playhouse in LA.
Since 2008, Bill has collaborated live and in the recording studio with Herb Alpert & Lani Hall, contributing to six albums including the Grammy-winning STEPPIN’ OUT . He also performed with Burt Bacharach as keyboardist and featured vocalist from 2011 until Burt's final live show in 2019. He was a backing vocalist on three world tours with Phil Collins and has also toured with Diane Schuur, David Foster, Deniece Williams, Debby Boone, Freddie Hubbard, Vikki Carr, and Rita Coolidge; the artists with whom he has recorded include Elton John, Leon Russell, Josh Groban, Tony Bennett, Barry Manilow, Bob Dylan, Brian Bromberg, Jay Graydon, Andrae Crouch, Clint Black, and Kirk Whalum.
Bill sang and co-wrote the main title song “All Right Day” for the film HOME RUN SHOWDOWN. He has sung on the soundtrack of over sixty films including FROZEN 2, SING & SING 2, STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE, WALL-E, RIO & RIO 2, and contributed to the music for the Oscar-winning documentary 20 FEET FROM STARDOM. He can be seen performing with Dick Van Dyke in the HBO film IF YOU’RE NOT IN THE OBIT, EAT BREAKFAST.
Bill was a member of the cast (singer/pianist) of the world premiere production of the Cy Coleman/ Alan & Marilyn Bergman musical LIKE JAZZ at the Mark Taper Forum. He also has a deep love for Brazilian music, and has worked extensively with some of Brazil’s best-known artists, including Dori Caymmi, Sergio Mendes, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, and Gal Costa. In addition, he has produced albums for Lisa Ono, Steve Amerson, Tony Guerrero, Deniece Williams, and Lillias White.
Growing up in San Diego, Cantos received a Masters in Jazz Studies from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he studied piano with Fred Hersch. In 2011, he received their Distinguished Alumni Award. He is currently director of the Commercial Voice Dept. and director of the East End Vocal Jazz Choir at Azusa Pacific University
His new album, SENSIBILITY, will be released in July 2023.
Bill CANTOS
BIO
QUOTES
“Bill comes up with songs I wish I had written. He's also a great performer.
Look out for Bill Cantos. These songs are built to last.”
-Johnny Mandel
“Bill Cantos is an all-around musician:
He plays, he sings, he writes – all with wit and style. His songs are original and inventive!”
-Alan & Marilyn Bergman
"Bill's immense talent is rich and life affirming.
His songs are perfect gems, joyously performed with seductive and fluid vocal charm.
I love his music!"
- Michael Feinstein
"Bill's music has a warm kind of cool that just makes me feel good."
-Brian Stokes Mitchell
“Bill’s songs, and the effortless way in which he delivers them,
makes you feel like you’ve landed upon some undiscovered classics—
only to learn that they’re all brand new songs... “
-Dave Koz
“Truly a gifted musician, singer, and songwriter.
Bill has a way with his music that paints a picture of the life we all have lived.
Bill Cantos is the new standard for the next millennium."
-Brian Bromberg
“Bill Cantos is a very talented musician, great singer, and strong composer.
He has a seemingly endless wealth of ideas....
I am deeply inspired by his music.”
-Flora Purim
“I think that if my heart could sing, it would sound just like Bill Cantos –
and sing it does every time Bill Cantos chooses to do so.”
-Larry Gelbart
"Bill is one of my favorite songwriters on the planet, and a beautiful soul.
His lyrics are so clever, honest, and very romantic.
His melodies and piano playing are mesmerizing.
Apart from being an excellent writer, he's an outstanding vocalist as well;
simply said, Bill Cantos is what I call a true genius...”
-Brenda Russell