Louis Cato’s journey to becoming the bandleader of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert began long before he ever set foot in the Ed Sullivan Theater: it started when he picked up the drums at the age of two. Immersed in gospel and contemporary Christian music, he honed his craft from a small town in his native North Carolina to Berklee College of Music, where his deep musicality and versatility began to set him apart and eventually led him to New York City.
Since then, Cato has established himself as an internationally acclaimed and Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist, producer, singer and songwriter, recognised for his exceptional ability to transform sound into timeless works. He has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Bobby McFerrin, James Taylor, Q-Tip, Jon Batiste and St. Vincent, among many others.
After two decades spent enriching other artists’ music, Cato stepped into the spotlight with a voice of his own on his solo debut album, Starting Now (2017), followed by Reflections (2023). In 2024, he brought his popular weekly Instagram cover series to streaming platforms with Cato Covers, Vol. 1. His upward trajectory continued in 2025 with the release of the singles “Space” and “Black Man Blues” — the latter released in celebration of Juneteenth — tracks that exemplify his signature approach: performing every instrument himself.
Alongside his steady output of original music, Cato continues to bring his work to audiences across the country, from headline performances at the Newport Jazz Festival to high-energy concerts with the Dave Matthews Band at Madison Square Garden.
