What to expect at the Flameworthy Awards Tonight!! 7.pm. central on CMT! Toby will be hosting!

To: ConservativeMan55

Born Toby Keith Covel in Clinton, Oklahoma, Toby Kieth's family moved to Oklahoma City when Keith was young. It was there he became interested in the musicians who worked in his grandmother's supper club. His first guitar came at age 8, but it would be years before Keith would pursue music as a career. At 6-foot, 4 inches, Keith took a few detours, working in the oil industry and playing defensive end with the Oklahoma City Drillers United States Football League (USFL) team.

In 1984, Keith turned to music full time, playing the honky-tonk circuit in Oklahoma and Texas for several years. The budding singer-songwriter eventually was discovered by Mercury Records President Harold Shedd, a producer who worked with supergroup Alabama. After catching a show in Oklahoma, Shedd signed Keith to Mercury Records. His 1993 debut single, "Should've Been a Cowboy," went to No. 1 on the Billboard country singles chart, and his self-titled debut album was certified platinum.

When Shedd left Mercury for Polydor Records, Keith went with him. He released a second album, Boomtown, in 1994. The collection produced the No. 1 hit "Who's That Man" and the Top 5 hit "You Ain't Much Fun." The platinum-selling Blue Moon followed in 1996, featuring a more introspective Keith on tunes like "Does That Blue Moon Ever Shine on You" and the charttopper, "Me Too."

When Polydor closed its Nashville operation, Keith moved back to Mercury Nashville, releasing Dream Walkin' in 1997. The bittersweet ballad, "When We Were in Love," went to No. 2, as did a cover version of rocker Sting's divorce ode "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying." The duet earned the unlikely pair a Grammy nomination, and Sting joined Keith for a performance on the 1997 Country Music Association Awards.

The platinum-selling Toby Keith: Vol. 1-Greatest Hits followed in 1998, which included a new cut called "Getcha Some." The sassy tune, co-written by Keith and frequent collaborator Chuck Cannon, only went to No. 18 on the Billboard country charts, but it drove sales of the collection. Signing with yet another record label, Keith moved to the fledgling DreamWorks Nashville in 1999. There he worked with label head and producer James Stroud on the new studio album How Do You Like Me Now?! The lead single, "When Love Fades," was a modest hit, but the title cut struck a nerve with country fans. "How Do You Like Me Now?!" was a five-week No. 1 hit and helped the album sell platinum. The subsequent single, "You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This," also went to the top spot on the singles chart.

The success of How Do You Like Me Now?! also earned Keith some long-awaited award nominations within the music industry. Although his debut single went to No. 1 and his debut album sold platinum, Keith was overlooked for the newcomer awards at both the Academy of Country Music and the CMA. In 2001, Keith's name was included in six different categories for the 36th Annual ACM Awards, including single, song, video, album, male vocalist and entertainer.

21 posted on 04/07/2003 4:39:47 PM PDT by chnsmok

To: ConservativeMan55

Toby,Merle,Charlie,Clint...its all good!!!

22 posted on 04/07/2003 4:40:02 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55

23 posted on 04/07/2003 4:40:53 PM PDT by chnsmok

I had heard a story about Toby passing a tape to a producer on an airplane ride to Tennessee?

24 posted on 04/07/2003 4:41:55 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55

To: ConservativeMan55

25 posted on 04/07/2003 4:48:18 PM PDT by chnsmok

To: ConservativeMan55

He grew up in Moore, between Norman and OKC.

26 posted on 04/07/2003 4:53:37 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Toby Keith is from Oklahoma, too!)

To: ConservativeMan55

Hubby and I have agreed. The Toby/Willie duet is the best war song out there. But we don't hear it enough on the radio.

27 posted on 04/07/2003 4:55:13 PM PDT by petitfour

Kevin Welch and Pan Tillis...both local liberals here.

28 posted on 04/07/2003 4:56:09 PM PDT by wardaddy (G-d speed our fighters!)

To: ConservativeMan55

All I can find is "He came to Nashville with a tape of original songs in search of a big label recording contract."

29 posted on 04/07/2003 4:59:14 PM PDT by chnsmok

Is Kevin Welch the guy with the really long ponytail? I liked a song of his once! I think he's from Oklahoma, too.

30 posted on 04/07/2003 5:01:31 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Toby Keith is from Oklahoma, too!)

To: ConservativeMan55

Toby Keith's new song with Willie Nelson:

Reminds me of the punchline of the old classic....
(gal had gotten her two favorite singers' faces tattooed on the inside of her thighs and axed her hubby how the workmanship was, since she couldn't see them except for upside down)...

"Well....that 'may be' Englebert Humperdink on the left, and that 'may be' Tom Jones on the right, but fershure that's Willie Nelson in the middle!"

31 posted on 04/07/2003 5:01:52 PM PDT by ErnBatavia (Bumperootus!)

I'll see if I can find the bio I read. maybe from www.tobykeith.com

32 posted on 04/07/2003 5:04:25 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55

To: ConservativeMan55

Why the hell is Brett Butler, and Bono doing there?

33 posted on 04/07/2003 5:05:32 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55

34 posted on 04/07/2003 5:06:03 PM PDT by chnsmok

To: ConservativeMan55

Toby and Pam out now! They are welcoming the crowd!

35 posted on 04/07/2003 5:06:20 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55

To: ConservativeMan55

Toby says that Pam reminds him of Dolly Parton!

36 posted on 04/07/2003 5:07:38 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55

To: ConservativeMan55

I didn't even realize it was 5:00! Oh well, Keep us posted. Hubby has TV.

37 posted on 04/07/2003 5:08:12 PM PDT by chnsmok

"Kevin Welch and Pan Tillis."

Is Pan related to Melt?

38 posted on 04/07/2003 5:08:29 PM PDT by billhilly

Naked Cowboy and Emily George presenting awards!

39 posted on 04/07/2003 5:09:21 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55

To: ConservativeMan55

First Award is "Breakthrough Video of the Year"

40 posted on 04/07/2003 5:09:54 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794