Legends of Country Music: Garth Brooks
By James Hoag
()
About this ebook
Garth Brooks has been certified one of the bestselling artists in history. In the United States, he is third, only behind Elvis Presley and The Beatles. That includes all types of music, not just country. The Legends of Country Music explores the life of Garth Brooks, but more importantly, it considers the music that he produced. Garth's special talent was to combine rock and roll and country into one new sound that has taken the music world by storm. Country music has never been the same. Active for, really, only about twelve years, Garth Brooks achieved a fame and following that other performers just dream of. He has sold more than 130 million albums and he is still young enough to do more. Garth Brooks "retired" in 2001, but has been somewhat active ever since, including three-years performing at the Wynn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Have you ever wondered who the real Garth Brooks is? Read Legends of Country Music - Garth Brooks to find out.
This book covers his early life, his first wife, Sandy Mahl, his second wife, Country superstar, Trisha Yearwood and his retirement and, of course all of his hits. And who was "Chris Gaines"?
James Hoag
James Hoag has always been a big fan of Rock & Roll. Most people graduate from high school and then proceed to "grow up" and go on to more adult types of music. James got stuck at about age 18 and has been an avid fan of popular music ever since. His favorite music is from the Fifties, the origin of Rock & Roll and which was the era in which James grew up. But he likes almost all types of popular music including country music.After working his entire life as a computer programmer, he is now retired and he decided to share his love of the music and of the performers by writing books that discuss the life and music of the various people who have meant so much to him over the years.He calls each book a "love letter" to the stars that have enriched our lives so much. These people are truly Legends.
Read more from James Hoag
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Legends of Country Music - James Hoag
Legends of Country Music – Garth Brooks
By
James Hoag
~~~
Smashwords Edition
Copyright © 2014 by James Hoag
Discover other titles by James Hoag at Smashwords.com
Cover by James Hoag
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Publishers Notes
Disclaimer
Legends of Country Music – Garth Brooks
Copyright 2014 James Hoag.
All rights reserved.
No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without written permission from the publisher. The only exception is for a reviewer. A reviewer may quote brief passages in a review.
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Let’s Start at the Beginning…
Sandy Mahl
Going Back to Nashville
The First Album
Friends in Low Places
Grand Ole Opry
Unanswered Prayers
Ropin’ the Wind
Award Season
The Singles Keep Coming
The Chase
In Pieces
Texas Stadium
First International Tour
Fresh Horses
Sevens
The Limited Series
Chris Gaines
It’s Over. Or Is It?
Scarecrow
Retirement
Legacy of Garth Brooks
Afterword
Awards
Selected Discography
About the Author
Introduction
About a year or so ago, my wife and I travelled to Las Vegas to the Wynn Casino to see Garth Brooks perform. Now, I had heard stories about his concerts but had never had the good fortune to actually see one. I was really looking forward to this night.
We entered the concert hall and took our seats. There was a lone stool on stage. Nothing else. Just the stool.
I thought, ‘What the heck?’
We waited and soon Garth walked out, sat on the stool, and began to talk to the audience and sing songs that had influenced him when he was first getting into the music business.
I thought, ‘OK, this is cool but where is the band? Where is the Garth that runs around the stage and flies above the audience and yells and screams?’
I thought, ‘I know, this is just the first half. After the intermission, he’ll do the rowdy stuff.’
But, he never did. The show you see at the Wynn is just Garth, sitting on the stool, and playing the guitar. But somewhere about 30 minutes into the concert, I realized I was seeing magic. I was seeing the real Garth Brooks, not the stuntman, but a true performer who loves the music he sings.
He takes you on a journey through the history of music as it influenced him. He talks about the two Gods of Country Music: Haggard and Jones. Yes, he did sing his hits and a lot more besides. At one point in the performance, he brought out Trisha Yearwood, his wife, and they sang a couple of duets. It was magical.
I was in awe. I thought, this isn’t the Garth I thought I would see, but it’s the Garth that everyone should see. I walked out of the Wynn in a haze.
I told my wife, I think we just saw the best concert we have ever seen.
And, I’m not a young man. I’ve seen lots of concerts. Garth could not have done a better job.
This series of books is called Legends of Country Music, and I’m not sure some people would not consider Garth Brooks a legend. After all, he had his first hit in 1989. Has enough time passed for him to be considered a legend? I think so. Garth Brooks is, by far, my favorite country singer, and I like almost all country singers. I was crushed, in 2000, when he announced he was retiring.
And, I was ecstatic when it was announced that he was coming to the Wynn. I knew I had to see it. I’m so glad I did.
Let’s Start at the Beginning…
Let’s start at the beginning…
(Garth Brooks at the beginning of his Wynn concert.) Garth Brooks was born Troyal Garth Brooks on February 7, 1962 at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma to parents Troyal Raymond Brooks (everyone called him ‘Raymond) and Colleen Carroll. To quote Garth,
My mother was a pistol, and my dad was in charge." Raymond was an engineer and draftsman with Union Oil. For Colleen and Raymond, this was a second marriage for both of them. Colleen came into the marriage with three children: Jim, Jerry, and Betsy. Raymond had one son from a previous marriage. So, right from the beginning, the home was filled with children. The two had another son, named Kelly, born in 1960. Eighteen months later, Garth joined the family and now they were complete. Garth was now the youngest of six children.
Living in Tulsa was a hassle so in 1966, they moved to Yukon, Oklahoma, a small town about fifteen miles southwest of Oklahoma City. Yukon only had about 21,000 people in 2010, so it must have been about half that size back in the mid-Sixties. If you want to grow up and be a musician, you have to start early. Garth was showing his talent when he as young as two. He would sing and perform for the family every chance he got. He was a born ham.
He loved being in the spotlight. As a boy, he loved sports but was really not very good at them. He especially liked baseball and played for the local school team.
This was the Seventies when Garth