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.