His song Baby I'm Sorry won second place in the Vocal Jazz Song Winners category and Waiting For Grace was nominated in the R&B Song Category!
Did you know his song Hail Columbia was featured on the album project "Song For America" which featured 50 tracks on 3-CDs and was accompanied by other great artists such as John Mellencamp, The Black Crowes, Martha Wainwright, Andrew Bird, The Wilders, and Take 6?
Check out the amazing story of Hail Columbia by clicking HERE!
Did you know his real name is Steven Kowalczyk, and the last name Santoro comes from his grandfather Libertore Santoro, who was the saxophonist that inspired him to play the same instrument?
Did you know that Mesa/Bluemoon plans on releasing another album with Steven Santoro? Make sure to stay in touch for more information on the upcoming release by subscribing to this blog, following us on Twitter, and becoming a fan of Mesa/Bluemoon on Facebook!
The amazing talents of Steven Santoro are showcased in edited pieces on this YouTube clip. His diversity ranging from R&B, Jazz and Pop sensibilities is exactly why we have chosen to work with this fine artist. We are currently working on a new set of song material to record in May 2010 for a September 2010 release which we believe will capture and merge his true talent — writing great songs and singing from the heart.
Check out this raving quote about Steven Santoro from the "Cadence" journal:
Steven Santoro is a skilled, appealing Jazz singer-songwriter. He possesses maybe the most important quality for someone trying to extend that tradition of the Great American Songbook—a sense of humor. While he takes on romance and discontents as well as a few more serious subjects, he maintains a wry slant on things...I particularly liked “Waiting for Grace,” a soulful gospel flavored slow rocker that looks at the gloomy side. His lyrics tend to be straightforward without any convoluted wordplay or complex rhyme schemes. He tells stories...The music supporting these tales is assured and, in the case of “Hey ThereSunshine,” quite beautiful. -David Dupont
Steven Santoro - has listened to a great manysingers, it seems, given the diversity of his output. He’s got a great voice and a great new CD - Whisper My Name (s/r), acompelling combination of romance and brio. As is often the case with young jazz singers, his is not an unadulterated art form. But when it comes to the hybridization of Pop, R&B and Jazz, Santoro gives a convincing argument for its viability as a legitimate child of the Jazz genre. - Suzanne Lorge
...Whether you know this vocalist as Steven Kowalczyk or Santoro, you should know that "Whisper My Name" is indeed one elegant piece of jazz vocals performed by a talented songwriter with a gifted voice, highly recommneded. - Ed Blanco
In order to properly introduce ourselves, we must let you know about our artists. We are pleased and honored to have released Whisper My Name with Steven Santoro.
Steven Santoro, born Steven Kowalczyk, from Milford, Massachusetts, did not have to look far to find his new name. His grandfather, Libertore Santoro was a saxophone player and inspired Steven, the fourth grader, to play the horn as well. But during his freshman year in High School , Steven’s musical interests took a turn. Even though he loved playing classic Big Band charts like Count Basie’s “Queen Bee”, he truly found himself while sitting in front of a piano writing songs. Soon his band director was lending him the keys to the Grand piano in the auditorium.
Steven’s songwriting and singing addiction eventually led him to the University of Massachusetts to study Afro American Music and Jazz with Dr. Horace Boyer. While learning to sing and improvise on classic 32 bar songs made famous in the Jazz and Swing eras, Steven wrote and arranged his own pieces. Some were inspired by the form and tone of the classics and others continued on the ever changing path of the pop music that pervaded.
Steven’s ability to authentically juggle the two styles is what years later, caught the ears of Ahmet Ertegun, the legendary founder of Atlantic Records. After a stint of teaching Special Education classes in Los Angeles, Steven recorded his first album, “Moods And Grooves”, for Atlantic Records with producers Ertegun and Shane Keister. Released worldwide, it rose to #20 on the Jazz Radio Charts in the USA while Kowalczyk toured the country as an opener for FOURPLAY ( Bob James, Nathan East, Lee Ritenour, Harvey Mason). After parting with Atlantic Records, Steven played to eager audiences in London and “Moods And Grooves” shot to #1 on United Kingdom’s Jazz FM Radio.
Back home, Steven performed in New York’s club scene and worked as a studio session singer, lending his voice to many national and international ad campaigns. He also produced and arranged for other independent recording artists and kept on writing the songs he loved to write. At the same time he was able to take part in his other love, teaching. The Public School Repertory Company, a performing arts alternative High School located in the heart of Times Square, tapped into the talented, now more experienced Steven Kowalczyk. For three years he taught Songwriting, Music Theory and Vocal Technique to a creative and restless crew of NYC’s Hip Hop culture. Under his guidance, his Songwriting class won the award for Best Original Song in the National Gospel Choir Competition.
Meanwhile, While on a session at Signature Sounds Studio in Massachusetts, Steven called in some of NY’s heaviest players (James Genus, Clarence Penn, Nathaniel Townsley, Marc Ciprut, Jon Cowherd, Jeremy Manasia, Jon Smith, more…) to lay down the tracks to some of his original tunes. He took on his grandfather’s name and this time with himself as producer, Steven Santoro created the album, “Soul Of The Night .” Here he infused the sophisticated harmony of Jazz with the sexy rhythms and vocal sounds of R and B and Pop. He sings of the pain and beauty of childhood, love, and life in the city. The album drew thousands of listeners online.
Now Steven has packaged two new albums of originals. “Where I Come From” is an homage to the R&B inflected sound of the 70’s. “Whisper My Name”, is the newest studio endeavor, which brings Steven back to his Swing/Adult Contemporary roots. The songs, simply produced by Steven with quartet James Genus, Clarence Penn, Jon Cowherd and Marc Ciprut, are swinging and romantic, simple yet sophisticated.
Thirty Tigers/BMG invited Steven to arrange and perform a cut on the “Song of America” release ( Sept ‘07) in which he and other artists such as Take 6, John Mellencamp, Black Crowes, Andy Bey and more, present a history of classic American songs that span 2 Centuries. And in the Fall of ‘07, “Ivory Joe Cole,” A new musical for which he is the lyricist, is being presented in workshop in conjunction with the William Morris Agency, under the direction of Kenny Leon (”Raisin In The Sun” with Sean Combs and Phyllicia Rashad). Steven is currently on faculty at the famed Berklee College of Music.
