Renato Caranto arrived in the U.S. from his native Philippines and toured the West Coast for over a decade with a Top 40 band. He settled in Portland, Oregon in 1992 and began playing the kind of music he loves: blues, soul and jazz. Gradually Renato became more well known throughout the region appearing with top Portland players such as Mel Brown, Ron Steen, Tom Grant, Dan Balmer, Louis “King Louie” Pain, LaRhonda Steele, Norman Sylvester, Linda Hornbuckle, Michael Allen Harrison, and so

many others. Later he earned international attention while recording and touring with Grammy-winning artist Esperanza Spalding and the late, great Merle Haggard.

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Renato is an in-demand recording artist with contributions to more than 100 recorded projects for himself and others. He has performed at all the popular venues and major music events in the area including the Waterfront Blues Festival, the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival and more than 20 years at the long-famed Jimmy Maks club with the Mel Brown B3 Organ Group. His soulful playing and remarkable versatility have also earned him significant recognition with a lifetime achievement

award from the Cascade Blues Association and an induction into the Oregon Music Hall

of Fame.