Louis Cato’s path to becoming bandleader of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert began long before he set foot in the Ed Sullivan Theater—starting at age two, when he first took to playing the drums. Immersed in gospel and contemporary Christian music, he honed his craft from a small town in his native North Carolina all the way to the Berklee College of Music, where his deep musicality and versatility would begin to set him apart, and eventually land him in New York City. 

Since then, Cato has built a reputation as a Grammy-nominated, internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, producer, singer, and songwriter, celebrated for his rare ability to shape sound into timeless work. He has collaborated with an eclectic range of artists, including Bobby McFerrin, James Taylor, Q-Tip, Jon Batiste, and St. Vincent, among many others. 

After two decades spent elevating others’ music, Cato stepped forward with his own voice on his debut solo album Starting Now (2017), followed by Reflections (2023). In 2024 he brought his popular weekly Instagram cover series to streaming audiences with Cato Covers, Vol.1. The momentum continued in 2025 with the release of his singles “Space” and “Black Man Blues”, the latter arriving on Juneteenth, each track showcasing his signature approach of playing every instrument himself. 

Alongside his nightly role on The Late Show, Cato continues to bring his music to audiences across the country: from headlining sets at the Newport Jazz Festival to rocking with Dave Matthews Band at Madison Square Garden. Cato continues to maintain a steady output of original music.

Don’t miss this intimate, one-night only event with Louis and his trio.