Cole Panther

"Cole is the real deal." -John Cuniberti / Platinum Record Producer

"A pretty amazing singer songwriter." Jim Douglas / Prime Time Entertainment

An accomplished San Francisco songwriter with multiple awards to his name, Cole had the opportunity to open for legends Steve Miller and Marty Stuart at the Oxbow River Stage in 2019. Since then, he has been captivating audiences in local clubs across the Bay Area, showcasing a mix of fresh tracks and beloved songs from his RS and Jennings Radio back catalogue.

Before 2004, Cole was known as Robert Seidler, a singer who charted a couple of commercial hits: “Christian Boy” in 1985 and “I Can’t Believe” in 1987. Both tracks enjoyed significant airtime on San Francisco’s KQAK, Live 105, and over 48 other radio stations nationwide. Robert and his band had the honor of opening for Oingo Boingo at the Warfield in 1987, sharing the stage with notable acts like Billy Idol, Primus, Chris Isaak, John Hiatt, The Plimsouls, and A Flock of Seagulls.

After releasing two EPs on Hill Ave Records, Robert pivoted towards acting. Between 1988 and 1991, he immersed himself in method acting at the Jean Shelton Acting School, participated in local plays and films, and in 2009, earned his SAG card before relocating to Los Angeles. There, he spent a year doing background work at major studios, including a memorable elevator scene on Mad Men, before returning to San Francisco to advance his acting career. In the indie film circuit, Cole typically found himself playing detective roles in a number of feature films.

In 2015, Cole reignited his passion for songwriting and performing, harnessing his experience as an actor to breathe life into the characters that populate his story-driven songs. The standout tracks, "Golden Boy" and "Complicate Man," were crafted with care: produced, mixed, and mastered by John Cuniberti, known for his work with Joe Satriani, and engineered by Adam Munoz. The lineup includes Don Bassey on bass, Dave Zirbel on pedal steel, and Danny Luehring on drums. Cole is now setting his sights on the vibrant music scenes of Austin and Nashville.