American singer-songwriter James Casto is a busy man.James…
Performs his addictive percussive, piano-pop tunes in 200 plus shows a year.
Hosts and produces one of the most popular songwriter concert series in America,
Records and performs with the Nashville Songwriters Tour.
Serves on the Membership Committee for the Atlanta Chapter of the Recording Academy.
Casto has had songs cut by country, gospel, and indie artists and written music for Macy’s, Kroger, Mazda, Mercy Ships International, and more.He’s released five solo CDs and still claims, “I’m just a songwriter…with a bunch of side jobs"
About
James started playing piano in high school on an old, dusty, out-of-tune, upright piano in his parent’s basement near Atlanta, GA.He remembers writing his first song: “Yeah, it was a song called “Toto” and it was horrible JIt had a Wizard of Oz object lesson woven throughout it, kind of, you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.As bad as the song was, I fell in love with the process of writing songs.”That started the incredible journey, which lead him to a life of music, a life without music, and then back to stay. After years of struggling as musician, James decided to leave it all and pursue a life in business.He earned a 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 as a Senior Director for the company.Shortly after 9-11 he realized that he was truly miserable because he had forsaken his passion for songwriting.With a lot of fear and doubt Casto left his lucrative corporate job to pursue music in January 2002.The decision has changed his life forever.He quickly became a mainstay in Nashville learning the ropes from successful songwriters.He became a 3-time winner in the Nashville Songwriters Association Songwriting Contest and a regular performer at the Bluebird Cafe, Douglas Corner, and other venues around Music City.Never truly intending to be a performer, Casto found that the best way to get his songs heard was playing live.And that has led him to where he is today.Casto's soulful pop vocals and percussive style of piano playing has earned him fans across the globe.New York City, Chicago, Charleston, Nashville, and other cities have become regular stops as James shares a consistent message of hope through his songs.
In 2004 Casto tapped into his business acumen when he started the Nashville Songwriters Tour. 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. Casto had his first major songwriting cut in 2006 with “Peace On Earth” recorded by platinum selling artist Lila McCann.In addition to cuts by numerous independent artists, Casto has written music for Mazda, Kroger, Macy’s, Mercy Ships International, the City of Alpharetta, GA, and many others.
In 2007, James started the Chukkar Farm Concert Series. The outdoor series consistely sells out as James welcomes in two additional writers for each show. Guests rent tables and watch the shows on this incredible 170 acre farm in the equestrian sector of Alpharetta, GA. Guest writers have included Pat Terry, Billy Montana, Victoria Banks, Marcia Ramirez, and many, many more. The story of James Casto is about taking a chance, a leap of faith to pursue a passion. Casto sums up his new life and the lessons he learned in his 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.
