Cisco Adler
A laid-back sonic architect who fused beachy pop-rock with hip-hop swagger, creating the soundtrack for a generation of West Coast hedonists.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American musician·Birthday: September 6·Generation X
Biography
Cisco Adler emerged from Malibu's sun-drenched haze not just as a musician, but as a curator of a specific Californian vibe. The son of famed record producer Lou Adler, he absorbed the industry from childhood but forged his own path with the band Whitestarr, a group that embodied party-rock excess. His pivot to production and collaboration defined his impact. Teaming with rapper Shwayze, Adler crafted a string of breezy, guitar-driven hits like "Buzzin'" that perfectly captured the mid-2000s blend of indie rock and hip-hop. His work as a producer extended beyond his own projects, shaping sounds for artists who wanted a piece of that effortless, coastal cool. Adler's career is a testament to vibe as a marketable commodity, building a brand of music that feels like a perpetual summer afternoon.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Cisco was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cisco Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Cisco's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote and produced the platinum-selling single "Buzzin'" for the duo Shwayze, which became a summer anthem in 2008.
- Founded the band Whitestarr, which gained notoriety through the reality series 'The Adventures of Chico and Guapo' and its rock party anthems.
- Built a successful production career, working with artists like Mickey Avalon, Shwayze, and Shwayze's collaborator Cisco.
- Co-founded the record label Bananabeat Records as an outlet for his and related artists' projects.
Did You Know?
He is the son of legendary music producer and record executive Lou Adler, who worked with The Mamas & the Papas and Carole King.
He dated and collaborated with actress and model Mischa Barton on several musical projects.
His band Whitestarr was featured in the MTV reality series 'The Adventures of Chico and Guapo', which followed him and his friend.
He is an avid surfer, and the beach culture of Malibu deeply influences his musical aesthetic.
“We're not making music for critics; we're making the soundtrack to the party.”
