Clay Cook

Douglas “Clay” Cook was born on April 20, 1978. He attended Smoke Rise Elementary, Tucker High School, and graduated from South Gwinnett High School in Snellville, Georgia, in 1996. Following high school, Cook enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. At Berklee, he met fellow student John Mayer, and together they formed the duo Lo-Fi Masters. Their collaboration led to co-writing several songs that appeared on Mayer’s early releases, including “No Such Thing,” “Comfortable,” “Man on the Side,” and “Neon.” Cook’s role in their writing partnership was often seen as that of a producer, helping to refine Mayer’s lyrical and musical concepts. After two years, Cook left Berklee in March 1998, moving with Mayer to Atlanta, Georgia, to further their music careers in the local scene, playing at venues like Eddie’s Attic.

After his initial collaboration with John Mayer, musical differences led Cook to pursue other opportunities. He moved to California for a period before joining The Marshall Tucker Band. During this time, he expanded his musical skills, learning to play instruments like the flute and saxophone quickly for band requirements, in addition to his existing proficiency on guitar. He also played with Sugarland as a bass player for a year and toured with Shawn Mullins. In 2009, Cook joined the Zac Brown Band, marking a significant turning point in his career. His versatility on guitar, keyboards, mandolin, and steel guitar, along with his ability to sing high harmonies, made him a valuable asset to the band. His contributions were evident on albums like “You Get What You Give,” which earned Grammy nominations.

With the Zac Brown Band, Cook has achieved considerable success. The band received a Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for “As She’s Walking Away” featuring Alan Jackson. Cook has also released solo material, including albums such as “The Year I Grew Up” (2008), “On Mountain Time” (2009), and “North Star” (2013). “North Star” was released on Zac Brown’s Southern Ground label. In addition to his performance and songwriting, Cook has ventured into production, mixing and producing albums for other artists, including Atlanta-based artists Gareth Asher and the Earthlings, and a single for Echoes End. His studio, located in Atlanta, also hosted the recording of Zac Brown Band albums “The Foundation” and “You Get What You Give.”