PERFORMANCES FOR SENIORS
“Renato Caranto is the greatest horn player I’ve heard in my life. I can’t tell you; it’s UN-believable!” --Merle Haggard
“Louis Pain has that authentic organ groove. You rarely hear that anymore.” --George Benson
“Our residents always love it when you guys come to perform. You guys are magical!!!” --Stacey Bianchi, Lifestyle and Leisure, Cogir of Glenwood Place
“Thanks for lighting up our residents’ day yesterday! They LOVED you guys! We look forward to having you back in July!” —Laura McCormack, Life Enrichment Director, Cogir at The Quarry
“The residents were wild for you both!” --Laura McCormack, now Director Of Resident Engagement at The Springs at The Waterfront
“You guys were wonderful; you are very talented musicians!" --Fee Stubblefield, Founder & CEO of The Springs Living
“I recently polled our residents, asking what their favorite activity is. The #1 answer was, ‘King Louie’”! --Kristy Haines, Vitality Director, Cherrywood Village
“We have had King Louie here to play music for our senior community several times. As an activity director, I feel I am exposing our seniors to really hip and cool music when King Louie is here. I suspect very few of them ever listened to live jazz music before. It makes me happy that they ask me to book King Louie again and again. Our residents really look forward to his concerts here because the music makes them feel they've been transported to a swanky jazz nightclub. I strongly recommend Louie to anyone who appreciates jazz music and wants a spectacular event.” —Marti Earhart, Director of Resident Programs, Vancouver Pointe
“So glad you and Renato enjoyed playing for us! Our residents have been emphatically asking for your return. They said it was truly incredible.” —Joshua W. Warren, Live Enrichment Coordinator, Touchmark at Fairway Village (4/26/22)
“Hi Louis! You guys were SOOOOOOOOOOOO GREAT!” --Michelle Avdienko, Life Enrichment Director, Touchmark at Fairway Village (2/27/26)
“Thank you so much Louis and Renato for coming to play for us and for being so wonderful with the residents! They really love being able to ask questions of our guests and you both were so open to letting them talk with you throughout the performance. It was a great event and I am excited that you will be coming back !!!” —Christine Burroughs, Live Enrichment Manager, Willamette View
“The residents absolutely loved you two! Thank you so much!” —Dana Jensen, Life Enrichment Coordinator, The Springs at Lake Oswego
“Thanks again for a wonderful performance yesterday! A couple residents brought it up again this morning that they were so impressed by how talented and gracious you both are.” —Lindsay Liden, Life Enrichment Assistant, Willamette View
“Thank you!! The residents had so much fun!!” --Lisa Gates, Lifestyle 360 Program Director, The Forum At Town Center
Thanks for a FANTASTIC performance, what a wonderful evening we all had! Many thanks for bringing such delicious music to us at Watermark at the Pearl! --Mary Paganelli, Events Coordinator, Watermark at the Pearl
“It was truly a pleasure having you and Renato perform for the Laurel Parc residents--they really enjoyed it, and your performance brought such great energy to the community! I will definitely keep you and your talented group in mind as we plan for next year. You were a huge hit, and I’d love to work together again.” --Elodee Chapman, Corporate Events Coordinator, Central Bethany
“Thank you so much for a lovely evening!” --Fabiana Dal Cero, Life Enrichment Director, Rose Schnitzer Manor
“You guys were perfect!” --Jessie Cortez, Resident Lifestyle Director, COGIR of Tigard
“Thank you for coming to RoseVilla again! The Residents had a wonderful time.” --Lillith DiMaio, Event Coordinator, RoseVilla Senior Living
King Louie & Renato Caranto at Vancouver Pointe
Louis “King Louie” Pain greatly enjoys playing music for seniors and has been doing so for a long time. But it only became a regular thing in early 2022 when Louis began putting the word out that he was interested in bringing his entertaining, high quality professional music to Portland-area retirement communities.
Since that time, Louis has performed at numerous local communities as a duo with his fellow Oregon Music Hall Of Fame inductee--saxophonist Renato Caranto (Esperanza Spalding, Merle Haggard)--or with the wonderful vocalist Sean Holmes. Both Renato and Sean have a knack for connecting with senior audiences, and the response from residents and staff alike has been overwhelmingly positive!
Rates for 1-hour performances:
- As a duo (sax or vocal with keyboard): $350
- As a trio (with drums or vocal added): $475
- Special introductory rate for duo: $300
Rates for 2-hour performances: add $100 to 1-hour rates.
VIDEO LINKS:
When King Louie & Renato Caranto or King Louie & Sean Holmes play for seniors, the music always starts low-key. But the performances often end up feeling more like nightclub gigs or even parties than senior concerts! These videos taken by Louis' wife Tracy capture the fun:
With Renato Caranto:
With Sean Holmes:
Click on this link to hear what the late, great country music legend Merle Haggard said about his saxophonist Renato Caranto!
At one 2022 retirement community performance, a straggler broke into song as Louis and Renato were packing up. That turned into a fun impromptu sax/vocal performance! [video used with permission of the community's Life Enhancement Director]
“King Louie & Sean Holmes”
Sean, Renato, and Louis @ Rose Schnitzer Manor
Louis & Renato had the honor of performing at the 1-year anniversary event for The Springs at Happy Valley
“The Four Kings” performing at The Watermark at the Pearl
The ribbon cutting ceremony for The Springs at Happy Valley!
Following a 2026 New Year's Day performance by King Louie & Renato Caranto & Sean Holmes at Cherrywood Village, ecstatic residents thanked the guys for their music!
King Louie & Renato Caranto were featured in the first issue of The Springs at The Waterfront's in-house magazine, “Lifestyle"
Louis & Renato performing at COGIR of Tigard's 2025 Holiday Celebration
When a quality piano is available, we sometimes use that along with my little bass keyboard
The poster for a Happy Valley Springs-sponsored neighborhood gig
Louis first started performing for seniors from 2011-14, when he worked with the late Jim Miller’s Golden Harvest Music. Miller made successful presentations to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. and to Oregon Health Sciences University, scientifically demonstrating the restorative power of music with seniors. From Jim, Louis learned conversational tools and techniques to further enhance the cognitive benefits of performing nostalgic music for seniors.
Louis also performed for seniors with the late great vocalist “Sweet Baby” James Benton--a senior citizen himself--who was a strong believer in performing for senior communities.
