GARY DANIEL COOK

THE EARLY YEARS

Growing up in the South was the beginning of my early musical education through osmosis. I was exposed to a wide variety of music thanks to my older siblings, AM radio, and a funky bus driver that cranked "sweet soul music" on his 8-track stereo during the ride home from school each day. Those early years were filled with great music. I listened to everything from The Beatles to Motown to Led Zeppelin.

In those days, we entertained ourselves with record albums and an electric keyboard/organ that was stashed away in my sister's room. I quickly discovered the sound of the I-IV-V chord progression using the 12 small round buttons located on the left side of the keyboard. It was easy! One finger could blast out major and minor triads in any key. It wasn't long before I began adding an occasional Minor to the I-IV-V progression. I wrote my first song on that keyboard at the ripe old age of 6.

Several years later my older brother got a Yamaha acoustic guitar for Christmas. I took one look at that guitar and was convinced that it was the instrument for me. I was only 9 or 10 years old, but I would have gladly traded my new orange bike for that guitar! 

GUITAR CLASS

My family returned to New Mexico and set roots in Santa Fe. It was there that I signed up for guitar class (top row 3rd from the left) in junior high school and really discovered a love for the instrument.

My older brother let me borrow his steel string acoustic for a few months until we scrounged up enough money to buy my own.

I formed my first rock band (Midnight Fire) and began writing songs in 8th grade. Our debut gig was at the school talent show. We finished in third place and earned $10.00 for our effort. The following day the boys in the band marched down to the local music store to purchase an 8-foot curly guitar cord!

BASEMENT JAMS

I was fortunate to learn a couple of riffs here and there from my brother and his hippie friends. The "basement jams" were a ton of fun! I used to sneak down to play guitar with my brother and other musicians that happened to be passing through town. One of my more memorable moments was when we were jamming with Johnny Winter's guitarist and I broke the E String on his acoustic.

At age 13, entering my freshmen year of high school, I auditioned for the advanced guitar class with my own acoustic rendition of "Tuesday's Gone" by Lynyrd Skynrd. It wasn't long before I transitioned from acoustic to electric guitar after purchasing a Black Les Paul copy from a classmate for $25.00. My life of rock n roll began!

THE HAIR DECADE

For the next several years I played the Albuquerque club scene - six nights a week. It was a great experience and taught me to be a more consistent musician.I was amazed at how each band provided their own concert sound and lighting systems - with paid engineers to boot! Local shows rivaled that of small touring bands. 

During my 1980s "club era", I entered an original song "Time Again" in the MCA Records/Stroh's beer nationwide talent search. It was one of ten songs chosen for a local compilation album. "Time Again" won the Stroh's Talent Search in New Mexico and made it's way to the Western regional finals. Although the hairstyles changed, my Les Paul was always hanging over my shoulder. The music always came first in my life of rock and roll!

CITY OF ANGELS

While living in Los Angeles I continued my career in the music industry with primary emphasis on songwriting, recording and producing. A few milestones include credits as songwriter with Neal Schon on "Pirahna Blues CD", sonic architect guitar for Sting on his "Brand New Day" CD, New Orleans Jazz Festival with Joni Mitchell, various sessions with Grammy nominated producers Mike Elizondo (Dr Dre, Eminem), numerous compositions for television and film, blues-rock release on Bruton/Zomba label and many other projects in L.A. studios.