Rod Cook

Rod is known for his collaborations with singer/songwriter/bassist Laura Love (recording seven albums with her, two of which were released on Mercury Records, and touring the United States, Canada and Europe through the '90's and early 2000's), former Steve Miller Band guitarist James "Curley" Cooke, NBC's The Voice Finalist Vicci Martinez, Northwest icon Little Bill Englehart and many others as well his exploits with Rod Cook and Toast, a band performing original and cover material based in blues, rock, country, Americana, surf and American roots music in general. Rod has also backed up blues legend Taj Mahal and opened as a solo act for Todd Rundgren, Sonny Landreth, and Charlie Musslewhite. He has been nominated numerous times for the Washington Blues Society's "Best Of The Blues" Awards, including nominations for all three guitar categories (Acoustic, Electric and Slide) in 1999, 2000 and 2004. In 2004 and 2015 Rod received the award for both "Best Acoustic Guitar" and "Best Electric Guitar," in 2006 and 2014 was awarded the "Best Acoustic Guitar" award and in 2012 and 2016 "Best Electric Guitar".

Rod Cook and Toast has been performing around the Pacific NW for around twenty years performing an eclectic mix of American roots music based in but not restricted to blues. The band consists of Rod Cook (guitar, vocals), Jon Bayless (bass, vocals) and Chris Leighton (drums). All three members have an extensive resume and are well respected throughout the Northwest music community. Jon Bayless is known for his work as bassist with Heart in addition to holding down the groove with countless bands in the Northwest. Chris Leighton also has played with too many Northwest bands to count in the last forty years as well as Randy Bachmann and Laura Love.

In 2014 Rod Cook and Toast was named "Best Blues Band" by the Tacoma Weekly readers.