Kenny Rogers & Friends

We love celebrating local talent that is doing amazing things! And that is just what Graham Toole is doing with his thrilling two hour show Kenny Rogers & Friends

Growing up in chilly Oberon he got a taste of the limelight performing as a child at the Local eisteddfods – now Graham is no stranger to stages around the Country with his soulful and brilliant tribute to Kenny Rogers & Friends.

Graham believed he had hit the jackpot when he was called up in 2019 to sing as Kenny Rogers with the Las Vegas Legends in concert. While it was a little surreal being on stage with these stars, Graham has made a career out of singing the songs of the greats.

The US-based Legends are just that in musical tribute circles – legends – with the longest-running show in the world and a full cast of singers, dancers, and a live band.

With ‘American Kenny’ unexpectedly out injured, Graham had nine days to learn four songs and a duet before taking to the stage for twenty-two shows beside Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, and Cyndi Lauper – or at least the closest thing to them. “It was world-class,” he enthused.

Graham’s tribute to legend Kenny Rogers, no gamble for fans Radio personality, Ray Hadley, believes that Graham Toole is “worthy of a broader audience,” & Frank Ifield gave him the international spur award in 2004. I love performing live, so the more shows the better, we hope to give our audience something they can sing along to, tap their feet & to smile about” he added. Growing up in chilly Oberon he got a taste of the limelight performing as a child at the Local eisteddfods and it brings back wonderful memories.

In the past 25 years he has performed tributes to Glen Campbell, John Denver, and Kenny Rogers. Growing up in a musical house, his mum played piano, and his dad sang alongside himself and his five sisters, all going through classical training and eisteddfod competitions.

“Music’s always been my passion,” Graham said. At 12, the same year he discovered guitar, he joined an old-time dance band. At 16, Graham won a talent competition to be the curtain-raiser for a young John Williamson back in his Old Man Emu days of the early 1970s, and he was on his way.

In 2004, he was recognised with the Frank Ifield International Spur Award for his potential global country music appeal, individual style, and professionalism. With his Album A Life Worth Living.

Graham and his family in the mid-2000s playing the streets of Tamworth with his wife and children Rebecca, Julius, and Ashleigh Toole. Wife Leonie also sings and writes and, for 10 years, he and his young family sang in the streets of Tamworth.

While the couple penned and recorded an album, Graham said these days he was happy singing the songs of the music’s greats.

“It’s been a brilliant opportunity to play wonderful songs that everyone knows… that’s the fun part: we encourage people to join in,” Graham said.

“The music transcends through the ages; they are just such well-crafted songs.”