Biography
It's easy to hear the influences in the music of James Casto. Traces of Billy Joel, Phil Vassar, Kenny Loggins , Bruce Hornsby, and Michael McDonald all weave their way into his songs. Casto started his musical career as a drummer doing session work and live performances in Atlanta, GA. His deepest passion, however, was songwriting. But it was years later before he felt confident enough to pursue his dream to write songs.
Not seeing a future in music for himself, Casto earned an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and set out to make it in the business world by starting his own company. In 2000, he sold his enterprise to a multi-national company and went to work for them. Shortly after 9-11 he realized that he was truly miserable because he had forsaken his passion for songwriting. With fear and doubt, Casto left his lucrative corporate job to pursue music in January 2002. The decision has changed his life... for the MUCH better. He quickly became a mainstay in Nashville learning the ropes from successful songwriters. He became a 3-time winner in the Nashville Songwriters Association - Country Music Television Songwriting Contest and a regular performer at the Bluebird Cafe, Douglas Corner, and other venues around Music City. He even found success writing music for companies like Macy's, Mazda, Kroger, nd more. Never truly intending to be a performer, Casto found that the best way to get his songs heard was playing live. Since then, Casto's soulful pop vocals and percussive style of piano playing has earned him fans across the globe.
In 2004 Casto tapped into his business acumen when he started the Nashville Songwriters Tour www.nwst.com The tour consists of three talented Nashville performing songwriters and Casto. James felt that it would be an advantage in the competitive Nashville songwriting market if the four of them created a brand to stand out from the sea of individual writers. The idea worked. The foursome have released three CDs to date. The projects are performed in-the-round style, which simulates their live show. Sell-out audiences and thousands of CDs later, the Nashville Songwriters Tour turned out to be much bigger than anyone expected.
Throughout the year, James Casto combines recording and touring with the NST and managing a busy solo career.
The story of James Casto is about taking a chance, a leap of faith to pursue a passion. Reflecting on the fear and doubt that once held him down, Casto sums up his new life and the lessons he learned in his popular song "Two Inches Deep"... TODAY I'M TAKING BACK MY LIFE, LETTING GO OF THINGS I CANNOT KEEP, ‘CAUSE TODAY I LOOKED UP AND REALIZED I'VE BEEN DROWNING IN WATER TWO INCHES DEEP.
For more information on james casto go to www.jamescasto.com or contact Home By Dark Productions - karen@homebydark.com
RECENT PERFORMANCE VENUES
· Bluebird Café – Nashville, TN
· Douglas Corner Café – Nashville, TN
· The Rudyard Kipling – Louisville, KY
· Uncommon Ground – Chicago, IL
· Kavehaz – New York, NY
· Georgia Tech – Atlanta, GA
· Buisson Arts Center (Music Hall) – Dahlonega, GA
· Moonlight Music Café – Birmingham, AL
· Swallow at the Hollow – Roswell, GA
· University of Notre Dame – South Bend, Indiana
· Village Playhouse – Mount Pleasant, SC
· Ocean Song Café – Isle of Palms, SC
· Chattanooga Market – Chattanooga, TN
· Smiths Olde Bar – Atlanta, GA
· Atlanta Dogwood Festival – Decatur, GA
· Eddie’s Attic – Decatur, GA
· Thompson Park Amphitheater – East Liverpool, OH
· Alpharetta Arts Street Festival – Alpharetta, GA
· Von Braun Center – Huntsville, AL
· Verizon Wireless Amphitheater – Alpharetta, GA
· Atlanta Peach Drop – New Year’s Eve – Atlanta, GA
Instrumentation
Solo shows- James on piano/vocal/loops
Band shows - above with drums, guitar, bass
Discography
Music Credits:
·“Peace On Earth” recorded by country artist Lila McCann – writer/producer
· “Mercy’s On It’s Way” recorded by gospel artist Calvin Nowell - writer
· NHW Songwriters Tour – “Three Men and a Diva” – writer/producer/performer
· NHW Songwriters Tour – “Underdog” – writer/producer/performer
· NHW Songwriters Tour – “Courageous” – writer/producer/performer
· James Casto (solo CD) – “Vol 1”
· James Casto (solo CD) – “Vol 3”
· Carole Ford – “Five” - producer
· Paul and Anna Joseph – “Cries of the Heart” – executive producer
· John Allison –‘Beyond All Love” - writer
· Five Little Monkeys – writer/performer
· Timberman Triathlon CD (compilation) – writer/performer
· Sounds From the Southside 2 (compilation) – writer/performer
Various radio airplay around the country.
Tracks available through i-tunes.
Links
| http://www.jamescasto.com |