David Kyle Cook (born August 29, 1975) is an American musician best known as a member of the band
Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty (also known as Matchbox 20 and MB20) is an American rock band formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995. The group currently consists of Rob Thomas (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Brian Yale (bass guitar), Paul Doucette (drums, r ...
, serving as the
lead guitarist,
banjo
The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and usually made of plastic, or occasionally animal skin. Early forms of the instrument were fashi ...
player, backing and occasional lead vocalist.
Career
Matchbox Twenty
Kyle Cook joined Matchbox Twenty on lead guitar right as the band's other members transitioned from their previous work as Tabitha's Secret, in 1995. He has remained a stable member of the band to this day. Apart from playing guitar, he also sings backing vocals. He plays piano on the song "Hand Me Down" from the album ''
More Than You Think You Are
''More Than You Think You Are'' is the third studio album by American rock band Matchbox Twenty, released on November 19, 2002. The album is again a departure for the band as the album has more of a focus on harder rock than the band's two previo ...
'' and sings lead vocals on the track "The Way" from ''
North
North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating Direction (geometry), direction or geography.
Etymology
T ...
''.
In an Instagram post from April 9, 2016, Cook announced his departure from Matchbox Twenty, citing "deterioration of communication, disagreements on when, where and how we tour and a general breakdown of democracy within the group." However, less than a year later on March 27, 2017, Cook announced Matchbox Twenty's North American co-headlining summer tour with
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band from San Francisco, California. Formed in 1991, the band consists of guitarist David Bryson, drummer Jim Bogios, vocalist Adam Duritz, keyboardist Charlie Gillingham, David ImmerglĂĽck, bass guitarist Mil ...
, and that his side project Rivers and Rust would be the opening act. Regarding Cook's status in the band, Matchbox Twenty member
Paul Doucette
Paul John Doucette (born August 22, 1972) is an American musician best known for being the drummer, rhythm guitarist, and backing vocalist of the band Matchbox Twenty.Erlewine, Stephen ThomasMatchbox Twenty Biography, AllMusic, retrieved 2011-0 ...
replied, "Kyle is back!" in response to a fan's question on Twitter.
The New Left
After releasing their third album, ''
More Than You Think You Are
''More Than You Think You Are'' is the third studio album by American rock band Matchbox Twenty, released on November 19, 2002. The album is again a departure for the band as the album has more of a focus on harder rock than the band's two previo ...
'', in 2002, and spending the next year touring the globe, the members of
Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty (also known as Matchbox 20 and MB20) is an American rock band formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995. The group currently consists of Rob Thomas (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Brian Yale (bass guitar), Paul Doucette (drums, r ...
began to work on separate musical projects. Guitarist Kyle Cook reconnected with his former bandmates—drummer
Brett Borges and bassist
John Kibler. The three had met during high school in rural Indiana. Under the name Downpour, the group had played proms and parties, but had parted ways once graduation came around. After Cook became part of Matchbox Twenty, the trio had kept in touch and recorded demos during Cook's time off from touring. Adopting the new The New Left, they added guitarist and singer-songwriter Eamon Ryland.
The group's only release was the EP ''Let Go'', released in 2004 during Cook's hiatus from Matchbox Twenty. It was recorded at Cook's studio in
Orlando, Florida
Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County, Florida, Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Greater Orlando, Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, acco ...
, and it includes six original blues-tinged rock tracks.
Solo work and other projects
Cook contributed to
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English singer and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band the Rolling Stones. His ongoing songwriting partnershi ...
's song "Visions of Paradise" on the English rocker's 2001 record ''
Goddess in the Doorway'', and he played guitar on
Rob Thomas' 2006 single "
...Something to Be".
He co-wrote, performed, and produced several songs on
John Waite
John Charles Waite (born 4 July 1952) is an English musician. As a solo artist, he has released ten studio albums and is best known for the 1984 hit single " Missing You", which reached No. 1 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and the top ten on ...
's 2011 album ''Rough & Tumble'', and he co-wrote
Love and Theft's 2013 single "
If You Ever Get Lonely
"If You Ever Get Lonely" is a song written by Kyle Cook, Lisa Drew, Michael Dulaney, Steven Dale Jones and John Waite. It was originally recorded by Waite on his 2011 album ''Rough & Tumble'' and released as the album's first single. It was covered ...
".
Cook released his debut solo album, ''Wolves'', on October 12, 2018.
Personal life
Cook and his former wife, Sabrina, whom he married on June 13, 1999, have two daughters, Makenzie (February 23, 1999) and Ava (March 28, 2002), and have since divorced. He currently resides in
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...
.
Cook played classical violin for five years before learning to play the guitar. His first guitar was a
classical. His mother, Jackie Snyder, is a teacher in Frankfort, Indiana. He often credits her for much of his drive to succeed.
Cook attended the Atlanta Institute of Music in
Norcross, Georgia. He also lived in
Oviedo, Florida for a time.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, Kyle
1975 births
20th-century American musicians
21st-century American musicians
Alternative rock guitarists
American alternative rock musicians
American male singers
American rock guitarists
American male guitarists
APRA Award winners
Lead guitarists
Living people
Matchbox Twenty members
People from Frankfort, Indiana
People from Oviedo, Florida
American pop music groups
Alternative rock groups from Indiana
Guitarists from Indiana
21st-century American singers