Nathan Foley (singer)

Nathan Foley (singer)

Nathan Foley | |
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Foley in 2015 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Nathan Foley |
Born | (1979-09-27)27 September 1979 Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia |
Occupation(s) | Singer, Musician, Performer |
Instruments | Vocals, Guitar, and Piano |
Years active | 1990–present |
Labels | Sony, Natrix Records |
Nathan Foley (born 27 September 1979) is an Australian musician, singer, performer and an original member of Australian children's entertainment group Hi-5. He left Hi-5 in December 2008 after ten years with the group.
Nathan Foley | |
---|---|
Foley in 2015 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Nathan Foley |
Born | (1979-09-27)27 September 1979 Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia |
Occupation(s) | Singer, Musician, Performer |
Instruments | Vocals, Guitar, and Piano |
Years active | 1990–present |
Labels | Sony, Natrix Records |
Life and career
Nathan started singing professionally at 10 years old with bands singing Jazz, Soul, R&B, Pop and Rock in clubs in Sydney, Australia. During his school years, Foley performed in the Coca-Cola Schools Spectacular for seven years as a soloist working with big bands and orchestra's and graduated from the Talent Development Project in 1997.
In 1998, Nathan joined an original member of the children's musical group Hi-5, and subsequently performed with the group for the next 10 years touring the world winning 5 ARIA Music Awards and 3 Logie Awards.
In 2009, Foley completed a season of Jerry Springer: The Opera at the Sydney Opera House and played Kenickie in the Olivia Newton-John Foundation musical Grease on the Beach. He also performed as a soloist in 2009 at The V8 Supercars and World Masters Games, and sung the National Anthem at the Darling Harbour Australia Day Celebrations in 2010 in front of quarter of a million.
Nathan performed in the musical Mamma Mia!, touring Australia in 2010 and toured in 2011 with a new show, Acoustic Rhythms. He was also Co-Presenter of a show called Gathering on Foxtel’s Indigenous Network NITV. Also in 2011, he worked as a traffic reporter at the Australian Traffic network delivering traffic reports for Mix 106.5, 101.7 WSFM, 2GO, Sea FM, Triple M, 2GW and 2UE.[1]
Foley was a top 3 contestant on the Network Ten show I Will Survive. During the True Colors episode of this series, performed in Hermannsburg, NT, Foley revealed that he is descended from the aboriginal Yuin people on his mothers side while his father is of Irish and Swedish descent.
In 2016 Nathan won Princess cruises Entertainer of the year for his big band solo shows being the first Australian to win this title.
In 2019 Nathan auditioned for The Voice (Australian season 8) and was placed in Team Delta. There was some controversy where fans were left astounded shortly after he appeared when he was best known for performing in Hi-5.
Talking to WHO magazine, he explained the reasoning of his departure: “It was a beautiful, beautiful job. I left Hi-5 because I just felt like it was my time. Ten years I put in – I put in all the hard yards. I got to the point where I was just like, you know what, I kind of missed doing my solo shows and having control of my own destiny. As soon as you finish, you don’t get paid anymore. I've been a soloist since I was 10 years old, but I didn't get the opportunity to showcase that as I was always Nathan from Hi-5. I really wanted to get up on stage to prove myself and say this is the real me and show Australia who I am."[2]
Discography
Albums
Title | Album details |
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Good Times |
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Now and Forever |
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Discovery |
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Live at the Starlight |
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Acoustic Rhythms |
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Mama' |
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Christmas Time With You |
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At This Moment |
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- *SeeHi-5for Foley's releases with the group.*
Awards
Nathan Foley has won a total of nine awards, four as a solo performer and eight with Hi-5.
1998 Mo Award Winner - Johnny O'Keefe Encouragement Award
1998 Winner Best New Talent - ACE Awards[7]
1998 Winner 2UE Youth in Cabaret - City of Sydney Performing Arts Challenge
1998 Winner of the open Contemporary Vocal Solo - City of Sydney Performing Arts Challenge
2000 ARIA Award - Hi-5 - Jump and Jive with Hi-5
2000 TV Week Logie Award - Hi-5
2001 ARIA Award - Hi-5 - It's a Party
2001 TV Week Logie Award - Hi-5 (tied with Round the Twist)
2002 ARIA Award - Hi-5 - Boom Boom Beat
2003 ARIA Award - Hi-5 - Celebrate
2004 ARIA Award - Hi-5 - Holiday
2004 TV Week Logie Award - Hi-5
2016 Princess Cruises Entertainer Of The Year - Solo Award