Press
Bryan Cole hails from Western Pennsylvania among the ghosts of a former steel town and blue-collar community. He began his love for music at the age of seven, where he performed in front of ten thousand people. His childhood was no different than any other young man; with the exception that Bryan was gifted with truly exceptional vocal and musical abilities. He knew very early on what his life calling was and he would approach this calling with the utmost tenacity, drive and spirit.
Throughout his early teenage years, Bryan performed with many local bands and honing his craft. He was branded “The Little Steve Perry” among his hometown fans, due to his fantastic vocal range and clarity. By the age of 23, he was befriended by rock superstar guitarist Reb Beach (Winger, Whitesnake, Alice Cooper) and asked to front Reb’s solo act. Bryan jumped at the chance to tour and play in front of large audiences. Although his heart was in Country music, he knew this would be a fantastic opportunity. Bryan dazzled audiences with his amazing stage presence and talents.
After five years in the rock scene, Bryan decided to take a chance and go back to his upbringing in Country music. He took a brief vacation to Nashville, where his late Grandfather suggested he’d go for many years. Bryan was welcomed with open arms by the Nashville music community and he knew that’s where he belonged.
Bryan began an all out search for quality material to put together his debut album. This would be a long road, since he had no record deal or producer at the time. He later teamed up with songwriter/publisher Tom Paden, who wrote for Reba MacEntire, Kevin Sharp and many others. Paden, took notice of Bryan’s abilities and began writing songs and helping find songs for Bryan’s CD.
After finally deciding on the material he was truly excited about, Bryan began the grueling search to find a producer and a budget to record his CD. He recorded demo versions of the material at his home studio and began playing local bars regularly, gaining a large fan base almost overnight. Bryan’s demo found it’s way into the hands of the Program Director of Froggy Radio in Pittsburgh, PA. Froggy wanted to play one of Bryan’s songs “It All Comes Back To Me”, a song co-written by Kent Blazy, who penned several major hits for Garth Brooks, one of Bryan’s heroes. Bryan was interviewed briefly by a Froggy DJ and placed on a Hometown Country CD along with Brad Paisley, Bret Michaels and others. The response from listeners was fantastic and Bryan was asked to open for Montgomery Gentry, Hank Jr, Reba MacEntire, Brad Paisley and other top selling acts. His tenacious search for funding also paid off as he finally found outside investors to bring this dream into a reality of making a industry standard product ready to sell to fans.
Bryan met Grammy Award winning Producer/Engineer Chuck Ainlay through a mutual friend in Nashville. At the time, Chuck was busy putting the finishing touches on the Dixie Chicks’ “Wide Open Spaces” record. Bryan was certainly aware of Chuck’s incredible list of credits and their personalities clicked right away. Bryan knew he found his producer. He began tracking “Wide Open Road” at several major Nashville studios, with some of the industry’s top musicians and session players.The CD was then mixed by Ainlay at Sound Stage Studios and mastered by Brian Foraker.
Currently, his debut single “It all comes back to me”,is beginning to recieve national airplay. He has secured national distribution with Transworld/Stretch The Skies, placing him in FYE/Sam Goody Stores. He has also endorsement deals with GEEZER CABINETS, WRANGLER JEANS, GHS STRINGS, IN TUNE GUITAR PICKS, BAILEY HATS and ROCKTRON EFFECTS. He plans to begin touing in 2008 in support of Wide Open Road. Bryan resides in Nashville, TN and Pittsburgh, PA with his beautiful wife Molly and their cats.
