Gardner Kain Christopher Cole was in the United States of America and began his musical journey as a keyboard player and producer. After early training in piano and arranging, he entered the industry in the early 1980s, writing for high‑profile performers such as Cher, Michael McDonald, Tina Turner, Jody Watley, and Madonna, establishing himself as a sought‑after songwriter. Cole’s first solo effort, Triangles, was released in 1988 on Warner Bros. Records, followed by It’s Your Life in 1991; the single "Live It Up" peaked at Number 91 on the U.S. charts in October 1988. He co‑wrote "Open Your Heart" (originally titled "Follow Your Heart") for Cyndi Lauper, though it was not recorded by her, and collaborated with James Newton Howard on "Everything" and with Amy Grant on "Say Once More". In 1989 he produced "Another Lover" for Giant Steps and contributed keyboards to Jody Watley’s Larger than Life. Cole later founded the independent label Desert Sky Records.
