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Rod Pooley

Telephone Number :  07799 800 656

Email address :  rodpooley@me.com

Website :  https://thedrawtones.co.uk/

Address :  43 Edward Street,  GRANTHAM,  Lincolnshire,  NG31 6JF 

About Rod

New for 2024

Rod is now living in Grantham. This more central UK location makes it ideal for Rod to travel to the more Northern clubs as well as all over the UK.

Apart from Rod's solo concerts on electronic instruments, Rod is now taking bookings again on the Theatre Organ circuit too. He has a well established 5 piece Hammond Organ band called "The Drawtones". More details below.

Rod has a brand new piano, double bass and drums trio called the "Rod Pooley Acoustic Trio". This is perfect for background music in restaurants, weddings and private lunches and dinners.

New for 2025

Rod takes delivery of a brand new Bohm Sempra SE30 organ in Nov 2024. For his solo concerts in 2025 he will perform on both the Bohm organ and Korg Pa5X keyboard.

Background

Born in Welling, Kent in 1966, the youngest of three sons of Michael and Sheila Pooley. Rod started playing the electronic organ at the age of seven. He studied under the very capable guidance of John Norris (Principal of the Southern Music Training Centre in Bromley). Rod furthered his playing skills taking up the piano aged ten. He was very fortunate to be taught the piano by a top London jazz pianist James Fagg. This is without doubt why Rod is a very fluent jazz player. In his concerts he does play a vast mix of genres to cater for everybody's taste. He passed the eleven plus and went to Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School. The school at that time had one of the largest Music departments in the UK. The school had three full orchestras. Rod performed solo in concert at the school in front of former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath who was the Bexley MP during that period. During and after full time education Rod won many accolades. These include:

Achievements

1981 at 14 years of age - Young Theatre Organist of the Year

1985 and 1986 at 18 and 19 years of age - National Organist of the Year

1988 at 21 years of age - Yamaha Electone Festival Winner.

Rod has Grade 8 on Organ and Piano and went on to achieve a performance diploma on organ at just 17 years old.

He has worked with the Joe Loss Orchestra and the Ken Macintosh Big Band. He's appeared with Curtis Stigers, Mike Reid and Jimmy Tarbuck.

Music Industry Experience

Present - Demonstrator at Korg UK and Bohm Organs GmbH.

2012 - 2023 - Demonstrator and Software writer for Yamaha TRX Organ and Keyboard Systems.

2004 - 2012 - Demonstrator and Product Specialist at Korg UK.

2002 - 2004 - Hammond UK Demonstrator.

2000 - 2002 - Roland Atelier Demonstrator

1995 - 2000 - Technics Music Academy Teacher

Rod's Hammond Jazz, Funk and Soul Organ Band "The Drawtones"

Rod formed his Hammond Organ Jazz, Funk and Soul Band in April 2016. With a regular five piece line up of Keyboards, Saxophone, Guitar, Bass and Drums. The band has become one of the fastest rising bands on the British Jazz scene. The Drawtones have had regular special guests join them including Saxophonists Derek Nash and Phil Veacock. Trumpeter Jonathan Scott, all from the Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. Other guests include Jim Mullen, legendary jazz guitarist from the Average White Band, Martin Shaw, Trumpeter from the BBC Concert Orchestra and Trombonist Dennis Rollins from Jamiroquai. The band have had some illustrious gigs, these include Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, Pizza Express Soho, Chelsea and Maidstone, The Hideaway Streatham. EFG London Jazz Festival and the Rye Jazz Festival 5 years running to name a few.

The Drawtones have several albums, an initial EP "Bellevue EP, and 3 more albums both with star named guests featured. "Down the Line" features Jools Holland saxophonist Derek Nash and "Groovin Magic" features legendary jazz guitarist Jim Mullen. Their latest release Hammond Low Down features sensational saxophonist Simon Bates. All of these albums are available from The Drawtones official website or as downloads on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and many other leading digital download sites.

Rod has just released a new solo album "In Concert". See The Drawtones website for full details.

For more details about The Drawtones news and gigs please visit www.thedrawtones.co.uk

Rod's Photo Gallery

Rod and Rhohima  Rod Pooley Acoustic Trio

Rod's Concert Diary

Concerts in 2025
February 9thColchester Keyboard Concerts
February 10thMedway Music Club
February 11thLowestoft and District Organ and Keyboard Club (more details)

2pm start

February 21stOrgan and Keyboard Spectacular at Belton Woods Hotel and Spa, Belton, Grantham. (more details)

Book your tickets on 0333 666 3366. £12. Doors 7pm, Concert 7.30pm. Belton Woods Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort NG32 2LN.

March 3rdNottingham Organ Society
March 12thEast London and Essex Electronic Keyboard Club
March 19thBourne Organ and keyboard Club
April 3rdScunthorpe Music4You (more details)

7pm start

April 13thSpalding (more details)

2pm at Gosberton Youth Centre, 21 High Street, Gosberton, Spalding, PE11 4NW Tickets £7 or £10 with cream tea 07747 314 390

April 18thRod Pooley Music - Böhm UK at Brett Wales Music Festival Cheltenham.
April 19thRod Pooley Music - Böhm UK at Brett Wales Music Festival Cheltenham.
April 20thRod Pooley Music - Böhm UK at Brett Wales Music Festival Cheltenham.
April 29thSouth Yorkshire Keyboard and Organ Club
May 12thCheadle and District Organ Society (more details)

7.30pm start.

June 11thHorsham MelodyTimes Concerts
June 27thSt Edmundsbury In Tune (Bury St Edmunds) (more details)

7.30pm start

July 4thWoodhall Spa and District Organ Society
July 9thClacton Keyboard Music Club (Formerly Clacton & District Organ Society)
July 18thBurgess Hill Keyboard Club
August 9thBeer Wurlitzer
August 16thThe Drawtones at East Grinstead Jazz Festival (more details)

Chequer Mead Theatre East Grinstead. The Drawtones are on stage from 1pm ˋ 3pm

August 20thGreat Yarmouth Live Music Established June 1971
September 10thWorld of Music Dronfield
October 16thDas Tastenfestival Herdecke, Germany
October 17thDas Tastenfestival Herdecke, Germany
October 18thDas Tastenfestival Herdecke, Germany
October 19thDas Tastenfestival Herdecke, Germany
November 11thMilford Keyboard Club
November 20thHarrogate Keyboard Club
Concerts in 2026
March 12thYork Electronic Organ & Keyboard Society
April 17thAscot and District Organ Society (ADOS) ASCOT KEYBOARD MUSIC CLUB