Daniel Toole
Music was the background of his childhood. It was always there, usually on the radio.
“My mother was soulful; my dad was a rock and roll guy. I lived in the country, so country music was everywhere, and on Sunday, there was Gospel music. I was steeped in those sounds,” said professional musician Daniel Toole.
The middle child of three, Toole, 38, grew up living on the outskirts of a south Georgia county seat town with less than 3,000 residents.
Even with music surrounding him, Toole was most often drawn to words.
“When you’re a kid, people ask you what you want to be when you grow up. Most kids want to be an astronaut or a police officer or something like that, but I could never answer that question. I just wanted to help people and live comfortably,” he said.
He may not have aspired to orbit the earth, but he was drawn to the words that described it.
“I’m a writer. I’ve always been a writer. I can express my thoughts, emotions, and standpoints through poetry and writing. I guess I have a literary approach to everyday life,” he said.
While his poetry was expressive, he realized that it was even more so when set to music.
“I think that’s the power of music. You can say so much that you can’t say in regular conversation,” he said.
Influenced by writers and musicians like Adam Duritz and Axl Rose, Toole also found inspiration from writers.
“One of my songs is called Annabelle - influenced by Edgar Allen Poe’s poem Annabel Lee,” he said.
He took vocal lessons later in his life and had his first public show in 2013 in LaGrange.
“A friend of mine was an event coordinator, and she wanted me to play at an event at Mare Sol. I’d never done that, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to, but she convinced me. I learned about a dozen songs, and when I showed up, the place was jammed and people responded so well,” he recalled.
It wasn’t planned, but Toole started building on that event, creating different setlists and performing occasionally.
“It was slow initially, but I just put one foot in front of the other, stayed focused, and took the blessings as they came,” he said.
He now performs several nights a week - sometimes every night - and also teaches guitar.
“The teaching started when parents heard me play and asked me if I’d teach their kids, and I agreed. It’s neat to see the kids progress and unfold their abilities. I’m really proud of them,” he said.
Toole also continues to set his lyrics to music as well. The fan-favorite is a song called “Ghost.”
“It’s about staying strong through loss. I lost my mother and my father. I had a friend lose her son. The song came from my own loss. I thought writing about it might help other people, too,” he said.
His favorite, however, is “Layers,” a song about different walks of life and what it means to meet somebody that might change your life in an instant.
“That happened to me, and I wrote about it. It’s a little bit of rock and roll, and the poetry is something I feel,” he said.
On his off days - which, he admits, can be few and far between - Toole enjoys cooking good food.
“Life gets busy, and there’s something therapeutic about jumping in the kitchen and creating good food. It’s also a selfless gift. Good food and community go hand in hand,” he said.
Among his favorites are pasta and seafood dishes, ceviche, or just a Boston butt in the crockpot.
His free time is also spent with his boxer, Axl.
“On the day of my first show at Mare Sol, my friends found an 8-month old boxer for me. He was a rescue and was malnourished. He was dropped off to me about 40 minutes before I left for the show,” Toole remembered. “I didn’t have anything for him. And I didn’t know boxers can have a lot of anxiety. I told him I’d be back in a couple of hours, but that didn’t actually work. When I got home, he had destroyed my bathroom.”
It’s still hard to leave Axl when he heads out for the road.
“As long as he has food, he’s happy, but it’s hard to walk out the door backwards looking at him.”
Toole works hard at his craft. It’s the way he was raised - if you don’t work, you don’t eat. But he’s learning to balance his work with rest and quiet. His faith has always been a touchstone for him, starting in his childhood. His mother was outspoken about God and the importance of prayer.
“Faith is really all we’ve got. My days start with prayer - and coffee. I believe your life has a plan. If you tap into whatever that may be, there is something that unlocks. My prayers are usually an offering of gratitude,” he said.
On May 1, Toole will perform at ListenLaGrange, a music festival presented by Lewis and Broad Media, that will benefit the nonprofit Circles of Troup County. He’s volunteering his time and talent to the event.
“I think this is one of the most important parts of my job. Being able to use a God-given craft that can help move along someone else’s situation - it doesn’t get better than that.
“Being able to give is the coolest thing.”