Telephone Number : 07799 800 656
Email address : rodpooley@me.com
Website : https://thedrawtones.co.uk/
Address : 43 Edward Street, GRANTHAM, Lincolnshire, NG31 6JF
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
Concerts in 2025 | |
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February 9th | Colchester Keyboard Concerts |
February 10th | Medway Music Club |
February 11th | Lowestoft and District Organ and Keyboard Club (more details) 2pm start |
February 21st | Organ 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 3rd | Nottingham Organ Society |
March 12th | East London and Essex Electronic Keyboard Club |
March 19th | Bourne Organ and keyboard Club |
April 3rd | Scunthorpe Music4You (more details) 7pm start |
April 13th | Spalding (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 18th | Rod Pooley Music - Böhm UK at Brett Wales Music Festival Cheltenham. |
April 19th | Rod Pooley Music - Böhm UK at Brett Wales Music Festival Cheltenham. |
April 20th | Rod Pooley Music - Böhm UK at Brett Wales Music Festival Cheltenham. |
April 29th | South Yorkshire Keyboard and Organ Club |
May 12th | Cheadle and District Organ Society (more details) 7.30pm start. |
June 11th | Horsham MelodyTimes Concerts |
June 27th | St Edmundsbury In Tune (Bury St Edmunds) (more details) 7.30pm start |
July 4th | Woodhall Spa and District Organ Society |
July 9th | Clacton Keyboard Music Club (Formerly Clacton & District Organ Society) |
July 18th | Burgess Hill Keyboard Club |
August 9th | Beer Wurlitzer |
August 16th | The Drawtones at East Grinstead Jazz Festival (more details) Chequer Mead Theatre East Grinstead. The Drawtones are on stage from 1pm ˋ 3pm |
August 20th | Great Yarmouth Live Music Established June 1971 |
September 10th | World of Music Dronfield |
October 16th | Das Tastenfestival Herdecke, Germany |
October 17th | Das Tastenfestival Herdecke, Germany |
October 18th | Das Tastenfestival Herdecke, Germany |
October 19th | Das Tastenfestival Herdecke, Germany |
November 11th | Milford Keyboard Club |
November 20th | Harrogate Keyboard Club |
Concerts in 2026 | |
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March 12th | York Electronic Organ & Keyboard Society |
April 17th | Ascot and District Organ Society (ADOS) ASCOT KEYBOARD MUSIC CLUB |