Born into a large family of professional musicians, it is little surprise that Cole Garlak became one himself. At a very early age after hearing the blistering solo in Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love,’ Cole was hooked on both guitar and rock and roll. It wasn’t long before Cole found himself playing gigs at school dances and parties, beginning his journey as a songwriter, and releasing basement recordings. In his late teens, he began studying music theory, and branched out into classical and jazz guitar styles to cultivate his passion for teaching guitar lessons. Now with more than 15 years of teaching experience, Cole has a unique gift for connecting with students and helping them cultivate their own passion for music.
As a true working musician, Cole has a wealth of experience both performing live and in the recording studio. He has released three albums of original music with his independent band, Calling Marvin, recorded vocal tracks for radio jingles, and performed in cover bands such as Joselyn B. and the Detroit Street Players, AC/DC tribute band High Voltage, and Led Zeppelin tribute band Electric Magic. On occasion Cole can be seen performing high-profile gigs with his cousin, Tony Lucca, finalist on NBC’s The Voice, such as the 2013 Thanksgiving Day Half Time Show at Ford Field. Other notable performances have included opening for artists such as Smashmouth, N’Sync, and Mark Anthony at venues including The Palace of Auburn Hills, and DTE Energy Music Theater. Currently you can regularly catch Cole performing solo acoustic gigs at Downtown Milford’s Palate, or corporate event gigs with the band Cancel Monday.
We are excited to have Cole Garlak as a part of the Michigan Rock School team, and he is excited to share his vast musical knowledge with students!