The Matt Cook Show
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What would Matt Cook be without the music? Interestingly enough, the Middletown, New Jersey native found the answer inside a Brian Wilson/Tony Asher lyric to a famous Beach Boys song. God Only Knows, indeed.
Of course music was something that was always enjoyable as a whole throughout Cook's childhood, but as he hit those awkward teenage years, he learned that going with the crowd was not always a good thing. At thirteen years old, Matt Cook learned he had to listen to what he liked and that involved searching through his parents' vinyl collection. Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys were the first to heavily influence the sound Cook would later go on to pursue himself.
While Cook's formal piano training began at the young age of five and continued for the next several years under the instruction of two different teachers, it wasn't until he resumed his training at thirteen under the watchful eye of the late/great Lee Donow. Learning chord progressions and structure, Cook found himself playing what he really enjoyed; popular music. Within months, Matt Cook's ability excelled to the point where he could play any of those songs he heard in that vinyl collection, including songs by the Beach Boys and the Beatles.
High school proved to be the real genesis of Matt Cook as a well-rounded musician. Becoming increasingly fascinated with 1960's folk music, he took the necessary steps towards teaching himself how to sing and play the guitar. Inspired primarily by folk acts like Bob Lind, Paul Simon and Phil Ochs, and even his own father who had written some songs back in the day, Cook was writing songs by the age of fifteen.
Recording and performing was what Matt Cook's latter years in high school were all about. Cook wrote, recorded, and produced two full-length albums, The Natural in 2001 and Folk Agency in 2002. While neither of the projects were officially released, the ears of those closest to Cook could all hear something much different than his contemporaries. Most teenagers do not even know what Bob Lind's Drifter's Sunrise and Phil Ochs Pretty Smart On My Part are, let alone have the sense to cover them. The folk-rock spirit found within those tracks made their way onto the other twenty originals Cook had done for those projects, and all of sudden, Matt Cook had a style.
Taking the stage became a routine thing, as Cook jumped at every opportunity. Whether it be at the high school Acoustic Nights, Band Nights at the local church, or even Open Mic at the local coffee houses, Matt Cook performed intensively. Cook even had a chance to simply show off his piano chops, playing in the pit-band for his high school's performance of Godspell.
Cook combined his talents along with best friend and aspiring songwriter Jeff Ulrich and performed with him for nearly two years after high school. Along with their buddy JD Leath on the drums or djembe, the boys adopted the pseudo name JD, Cook and Jeff. The trio would even occasionally play worship music together at their local church. Inside of Ulrich's home recording studio, the group often experimented. Cook's other friend, Ulrich's brother, Dave Ulrich, would often participate in the boys' projects. Some of those early tracks from the songs Come Follow and Pittsburgh, PA would eventually land on Cook's main recording project to date.
In the spring of 2004, the opportunity to move to Southern California presented itself. It almost seemed fitting to go where Brian Wilson wrote all his great Beach Boys music. While much thought went into the decision, Cook decided it would be best for his career to make the move. Not, however, before he would make the decision to record his first professional album before departing the Garden State for good. At nineteen years old, Matt Cook set out to record his debut album, Coast To Coast.
Teaming with friend and co-producer Pete Andrews, Cook spent four grueling months inside Pete's JerkRecords Studio. Twelve original songs were recorded in all and after much hard work and anticipation, Matt Cook released the Coast To Coast album in June 2005.
Now based out of Orange County, California, Matt Cook's acoustic/folk-rock sound is being spread throughout the west. At only twenty-two years old, the possibilities seem endless for this young American singer/songwriter.
Matt Cook "Coast To Coast" NOW AVAILABLE at mattcookmusic.com!!
Download Matt Cook "Coast To Coast" with Apple iTunes!
ALSO available at CDBaby!!
Matt Cook "Coast To Coast" now available!!
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