About Me
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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 to be a musician.
Currently Steven (Kowalczyk) Santoro’s arrangement and performance of Hail Columbia can be heard on the “Song Of America†ablum (Sept 2007 on Sony/BMG) along with other artists such as John Mellencamp, Take 6, Black Crows, Blind Boys of Alabama, Mavericks, Janice Ian, Ben Taylor, Beth Neilson Chapman and more…
Steven has been on Berklee College of Music’s Voice faculty since September 2002.
Under the name of Steven Kowalczyk, Atlantic Records released his first CD of original songs as a solo artist, produced by the legendary Atlantic founder and producer, Ahmet Ertegun with Shane Keister. “Moods And Grooves (Steven Kowalczyk) reached 1 on jazz radio in the UK and charted high on US radio stations. Ahmet was most impressed with Steven’s ability to authentically sing and write in both Jazz and Pop styles. This record gave him his second opportunity to tour the US and UK, pleasing critics and new fans along the way. He first toured the US, years before, with Columbia Artists Management. As Steven Santoro (an easier name ? ) he self produced and independently released Soul Of The Night. Steven will be releasing his third and fourth albums in 2007 (Where I Come From / I’ll Be Here).
Ivory Joe Cole, a new musical Steven co-wrote with Michael Tavera (film score composer - Land Before Time, more…) and Kelly Ward (Grease – the movie, The Big Red One) will be going into workshop in NYC in January 2008. The piece combines Othello with Swing Era style music. It was invited into the New York Musical Theatre Festival for Sept. 2007 but will be workshopped privately in NYC this October instead - directed by ( huge director that will not be named here).
While playing the NYC clubs such as The Jazz Standard, Firebird, Bottom Line, Fez, Arthur’s Tavern, 88’s, etc., Steven was busy as a session singer for national and international ads such as Olive Garden, Subway, Talbots, Canon, NBC, Nickelodeon, and more… He still sings a jingle from time to time. He also produces and arranges for various record projects and artists (Kate McGarry – Palmetto and many Signature Sounds projects. He has placed original songs in movies and with other artists, including Gold-selling European Pop Idol winner, Jamai, (BMG). Steven’s songs and voice are also featured on a major book publishing company’s companion CD for teaching English to young students around the world.
Steven is a member of SAG and ASCAP.
Press Quotes:
He's a wildly accomplished performer with a soulful intensity and movie-star sex appeal. Kowalczyk takes risks and lands on his feet every time. I can't imagine who his idols are because he sounds completely original. - Rex Reed ( NY Observer)
…the album - is at once intimately conversational and uncontrivedly hip. combining the improvisational imagination and rhythmic flexibility of jazz with the emotional appeal of pop. – The (London) Times
Steven, who may be the best male jazz singer you’ve never heard of, brings both timeless standards and fresh originals to his continuing gig at the FireBird. – New York Post
This high energy Tyrone Power in a workshirt is knocking out audiences and winning high praise. - Andrew Velez (Time Out New York)
He writes uncommonly fine songs in a jazz-pop vein...and the prettiest high notes around. - Lloyd Sachs (Chicago Sun Times).orangetext15
