Bill Cantos

As Bill Cantos, singer/songwriter/pianist, says about his new CD,Love Wins: New Standards For The New Millennium, "I'm not trying to be presumptuous in calling these songs 'new standards' — just the opposite. It's my way of paying tribute to all the great music, classic songs, and amazing writing that's come before me." You can hear it in the music; thirteen of Bill’s originals in the style of classic standards, passionate and smooth, performed by an all-star band.

JAZZIZ magazine singled out Bill as an artist to watch. His songs have been recorded by Ramsey Lewis, Flora Purim, Brenda Russell, Kevyn Lettau, and Cheryl Bentyne (of Manhattan Transfer); his piano and vocals can heard on albums by countless artists, including Phil Colllins, Helen Baylor, Dori Caymmi, John Patitucci, Brian Bromberg, Jay Graydon, Lisa Ono, Justo Almario, Clint Black, and Kirk Whalum.

His versatility has enabled him to tour with an amazing variety of artists, including Phil Collins (worldwide First Final Farewell Tour), Sergio Mendes, Diane Schuur, Herb Alpert, Lani Hall, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, Marc Antoine, Rita Coolidge, Gal Costa, Debby Boone, Deniece Williams, and Vikki Carr.

Gospel music is also a love for Bill; he leads worship and has recorded a worship CD with Mari entitled Embrace The Cross; has had his songs recorded by Maranatha! Music, Helen Baylor, Clay Crosse, Steve Amerson, Damaris, and Calvin Hunt; appears on CDs by Donnie McClurkin, Tommy Walker, Steve Green, and Andrae Crouch; performed for over half a million men as musical director at Promise Keepers conferences nationwide; and is heard around the world daily on the Haven Today radio broadcast.

Theater is another avenue for his talents; he appeared in the Los Angeles world premiere of the Cy Coleman/Alan & Marilyn Bergman musical, Like Jazz, and has written a musical, The Litle Room.

After growing up in San Diego, CA, Cantos received a Masters in Music from the New England Conservatory in Boston, where he studied piano with Fred Hersch. He currently resides in Los Angeles.