Gardner started playing the Drums at age 3, Piano at 5, Guitar at 8 and Bass Guitar at 9. By age 14, Gardner was a member of 3 different bands playing 3 different styles of music on 3 different instruments. At age 16 he'd saved up enough money from performing to purchase an 8 track recording studio and began to write and produce songs for himself and other local artists. Growing up in the musically fertile Motown area had a profound effect on his songwriting and production skills, instilling a very strong melodic and rhythmic sensibility. Gardner has been working professionally in the music industry solely since the age of 17. He's performed with various bands, including as Drummer with the hit English group ABC and as Keyboardist with the hit Norwegian group A-HA!. As a Songwriter over 175 of his songs have been recorded worldwide on over 50 million albums (including 17 charting singles). As a Producer he's recorded over 125 songs (including 11 charting singles) for Major labels such as Sony, CBS, A&M, MCA, Chrysalis, Virgin, Interscope, Dreamworks, Capitol, E.M.I., Warner Brothers, Polygram and Motown. Gardner was signed to Warner-Chappell Music from 1984 until mid 1997 as a Writer, and as a Recording Artist to Warner Brothers Records where he self-produced two solo albums. Gardner Cole was also the #2 songwriter in 1988 according to BillBoard with 6 BillBoard charting singles. Gardner is also a passionate music lover and his rare vinyl record collection numbers more than 15,000.