Garth Brooks News:

Garth Brooks Concert Review: A knee-slapping good time w/Garth Brooks

AllGarth Forums — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:40:00 +0000

Justin Lafferty, TheDailyAztec

I know what you're thinking: "Garth Brooks? Isn't he country? What's a college student doing listening to that?"

When it comes to listening to Garth, I'm shameless. I grew up with country music and I've been a fan of his since I was 5, when he motioned for security to bring me on stage (my family and I were in the front row) during a concert in Oakland. He autographed his guitar and gave it to me. What choice did I have after that?

So when I saw that Garth was performing at the Staples Center in Los Angeles last weekend, his first show in California in more than a decade, I figured an overdraft charge was worth it.
Before Friday night's concert, I was wondering how much energy he'd have left. Garth had done a show four hours earlier, broadcast live on CBS, and was part of five shows in two days to raise money for wildfire relief.

I figured it would be like watching Michael Jordan come back from retirement. There'd be a few extra pounds, the dunks wouldn't be as electric, but you'd still know you were witnessing greatness.

When the concert started with "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)," a wild honky-tonk song, I knew that Garth hadn't lost anything. He came out running, showing the same energy he had before his retirement.

After that, he slowly let the tempo down a bit, performing early hits "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House" and "Rodeo," before playing one of his newest ballads, "More Than a Memory."
It was during this song that I realized one of the best things about going to a concert - with tens of thousands of other people singing along, it doesn't matter how tone-deaf you are. It helped going with another friend who also loves country music, so I didn't feel as dorky for knowing all the words.

There were a couple of surprises, as Garth's wife Trisha Yearwood came on to perform the duet, "In Another's Eyes." He then played guitar as Yearwood sang her 1993 song, "Walkway Joe."
After he jokingly reminded the crowd just whose show this was, he started to make the packed house feel like they were watching him at a little country bar. Throughout the show, he introduced his band members and talked about how much he wanted to do this for the firefighters. After he saw that a couple spectators made signs for fiddler Jimmy Mattingly and drummer Mike Palmer, Garth said he'd "drop the bomb" on them. Out came Huey Lewis to perform "Workin' for a Living." I kept thinking about what the next surprise would be, hoping he'd announce that a round of beers were on the house.The funniest part of watching Lewis was when the screen showed a pack of cute girls standing by the stage with a look of "Who is that guy?" on their faces.

But the true essence of the concert came during the encore, when Garth showed what inspired him to make his kind of music. He played the songs of some of his biggest influences, such as Bob Seger, George Strait, George Jones and Cat Stevens.

Garth ended the emotional show with "Unanswered Prayers," which had the crowd matching him word-for-word. For the last chorus, he stopped and smiled, letting the sold-out crowd sing the end.

Garth closed the show by dropping to his knees with his arms extended. As he stood up, he took off his hat, wiped a flood of sweat off his forehead and said, "I will never - never, ever - forget this night!"Neither will I.

Q&A - Garth Brooks - Smithsonian

AllGarth Forums — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:30:00 +0000

Retired country star garth brooks donated a collection of mementos to the American History museum, including his trademark cowboy hat, an acoustic guitar, a gold record and a handwritten lyric sheet.

By Jess Blumberg
Smithsonian magazine, February 2008

How does it feel to be in a museum with legends like Patsy Cline and Duke Ellington?It's funny being the person that's in here because never ever do you measure up to the people that already are. My dad always told me "time is a friend to all things good." So all I can hope is that time turns these things into something as cool [as those] that are already here.

One of the items you donated is a repaired guitar that you smashed in 1991. You're a country singer, so why do you perform like a rock star?When I talk to the band before we perform, I tell them to always keep it entertaining. Don't feel bad if you try something and it doesn't work out. It's just doing things that people hopefully remember that stick you in a place and time in their mind. When you talk about my career, when they show a highlight reel, they're never going to show it without me smashing that guitar.

You are the top-selling solo artist in U.S. history. Why do you think Americans appreciate your music?Before you were born, there was [Merle] Haggard and [George] Jones, the guys I was raised on. They sang about a blue-collar lifestyle and digging yourself out. Men and women today are thinking that way. Our [music] deals with spousal abuse, acceptance of people for whom they love, freedom of speech, these kinds of things.

Why were lyrics to "Beaches of Cheyenne" part of this donation?I write lyrics on everything: pieces of napkins, on walls, anything that I can. So this might be the only one with the full lyrics all on one piece of paper.

What are you working on now?I'm getting ready to go back to doing what I did when I retired—and that is screenplay writing. It's what I love to do.

How does it feel to be in a museum with legends like Patsy Cline and Duke Ellington?It's funny being the person that's in here because never ever do you measure up to the people that already are. My dad always told me "time is a friend to all things good." So all I can hope is that time turns these things into something as cool [as those] that are already here.

One of the items you donated is a repaired guitar that you smashed in 1991. You're a country singer, so why do you perform like a rock star?When I talk to the band before we perform, I tell them to always keep it entertaining. Don't feel bad if you try something and it doesn't work out. It's just doing things that people hopefully remember that stick you in a place and time in their mind. When you talk about my career, when they show a highlight reel, they're never going to show it without me smashing that guitar.

You are the top-selling solo artist in U.S. history. Why do you think Americans appreciate your music?Before you were born, there was [Merle] Haggard and [George] Jones, the guys I was raised on. They sang about a blue-collar lifestyle and digging yourself out. Men and women today are thinking that way. Our [music] deals with spousal abuse, acceptance of people for whom they love, freedom of speech, these kinds of things.

Why were lyrics to "Beaches of Cheyenne" part of this donation?I write lyrics on everything: pieces of napkins, on walls, anything that I can. So this might be the only one with the full lyrics all on one piece of paper.

What are you working on now?I'm getting ready to go back to doing what I did when I retired—and that is screenplay writing. It's what I love to do.

Garth Brooks concert available to millions this Friday

AllGarth Forums — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:31:00 +0000

In response to helping the fire victims of California, Garth Brooks and Celine Dion will be holding a charity concert in LA this Friday. This exciting hour long event will not only be available to the select few that ordered tickets within the first 59 minutes prior to sell-out; this concert will also be broadcast live on CBS this friday evening for all of us to enjoy.

Garth Brooks portion will air live on Jan 25th, and Celine Dion will perform and broadcast on Feb 15th.

Live concerts could potentially be a new trend beginning for top artists to gain more publicity; even though this particular concert is for the sole purpose of raising money for charitable causes.

AllGarth is excited to see Garth Brooks continuing his gracious charitable contributions which already includes Garth's Teammates for Kids organization where 100% of proceeds help todays youth with special needs. We are happy to see someone so blessed giving back to the community in such great ways.

God bless the fire victims of California.

Joel McLaughlin
AllGarth.com

Crook & Chase Show Launches with Brooks & Jones

AllGarth Forums — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:22:00 +0000

1/9/2008

Stephen L. Betts - Countryhound

Country music icons Garth Brooks and George Jones are slated to be the first guests on the premiere episode of the new Crook and Chase Show, debuting on the RFD-TV Network Thursday, Jan. 17 at 9:00 p.m. (ET). The show will also include a special performance by Georgette Jones, daughter of George Jones and Tammy Wynette.

“We wanted to start the new year and the new show with a bang, and I believe we have accomplished that,” say co-host Charlie Chase. “Garth and George are two of the most popular and legendary artists in the business. We wanted to set the tone of our new show right off the bat -- that we're here to bring the entertainment world's brightest and best into the homes of our viewers-- from the legends and superstars to the new up-and-comers.”

“With the special friendship between George and Garth, and the fun relationship Charlie and I have enjoyed with both of them over the years, we are looking forward to sharing an entertaining show with our viewers," adds co-host Lorianne Crook.

The weekly one-hour show, produced by Jim Owens Entertainment, will be taped in front of a studio audience at Studio A in Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House. The premiere episode will tape Thursday Jan. 17 at 3:00 p.m. (CT). For ticket information, call 1-888-677-9256.

The show will premiere Thursday evenings at 9:00 p.m., then repeat Fridays at 11:00 a.m. and Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. (all times EST).

RFD-TV, currently available in 30 million homes, is the nation's first 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week television network dedicated to serving the needs and interests of rural America. Programming includes shows focused on agriculture, equine, rural lifestyle and traditional music offerings.

5 questions with... Garth Brooks

AllGarth Forums — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 03:59:00 +0000

January 10, 2008

Reid Spencer - Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Multiplatinum country music recording artist Garth Brooks appeared Tuesday at Daytona International Speedway to announce his efforts in promoting NASCAR Day, the largest single charitable endeavor in support of the NASCAR Foundation.

Brooks created his own foundation, Teammates for Kids, a decade ago and since has enlisted cooperation from a variety of major professional sports to support health, education and inner-city programs for children. He sees his efforts to promote NASCAR Day as a logical step in the process.

Brooks is married to country music star Trisha Yearwood, and her visit to Kyle and Pattie Petty's Victory Junction Gang Camp helped spark the couple's interest in NASCAR and its charities.

Brooks has performed very little since announcing his retirement in October 2000. He agreed to a series of concerts in Kansas City as part of his exclusive distribution deal with Wal-Mart, and he'll do five shows in two days (Jan. 25-26) at Staples Center in Los Angeles in support of wildfire relief efforts. Brooks said there are no current plans for performances in conjunction with the NASCAR Day promotion, but he didn't rule out the possibility.

Q: How did you get involved with the NASCAR Foundation?
A: In our Teammates for Kids program, we work with professional athletes, and NASCAR is definitely one of the programs you want to work with because of the demographics of the athletes. They're very giving. We've been lucky to work with Jeff Gordon's crew -- switch out things for their auctions and our auctions. They're good people. It makes sense to be here.

Q: Do you plan to visit the Victory Junction Gang Camp?
A: Miss Yearwood came back just singing its praises and saying we've got to get out there. So we're going to get out there at some point. I don't know when that is, but I've heard nothing but good about it.

Q: NASCAR has Preseason Thunder and the Chase. You had a No. 1 hit called "The Thunder Rolls" and an album named "The Chase." Did you realize you and NASCAR had so much in common?
A: It's cool, because it's just about entertainment, and (NASCAR drivers) get to do it through athletics, along with technology. That's kind of like our thing, too. Our thing is technology, and if you've ever been to one of our shows, it's just fun -- it's kind of out there, and it's loud. So there are a lot of similarities between the two.

Q: Are you a NASCAR fan?
A: I was never raised up around it, but we went down to Atlanta Motor Speedway to shoot a video with Huey Lewis, and when those cars started going around the track, it's just crawling all over you, and I said, "Oh, my God, I get it!" We're definitely going to get out and see (a race) this year.

Q: You experienced a "ride-around" at Atlanta. What was that like?
A: It was good, but it just beats you to death. I did it for three laps -- and some of these races are 500 laps, or whatever. It's crazy. I don't know how the guys do it.

Garth Brooks joins NASCAR Day effort

AllGarth Forums — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:03:00 +0000

Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --

Country music superstar Garth Brooks has joined the NASCAR Foundation's efforts to provide charitable support for those who need it most.

Brooks will be involved heavily in the promotion of the fifth NASCAR Day, an annual event that has raised more than $5 million for charity. Celebrated on the third Friday of May (May 16 in 2008), the success of NASCAR Day enabled the NASCAR Foundation to donate $500,000 last year to Victory Junction Gang Camp founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty.

The Home Depot also raised $400,000 for the NASCAR Foundation through its NASCAR Day efforts in 2007, a portion of which benefited KaBOOM!, a national non-profit whose mission is to provide safe play places within walking distance of every child in America. The foundation also donated $250,000 to Speediatrics, motorsports-themed pediatric units at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach.

Brooks created his own foundation 10 years ago, Teammates For Kids, which partners with major professional sports to support health, education and inner-city services for children. To Brooks, the association with NASCAR is a logical extension of his charitable activities.

Brooks will appear in print, radio and television advertising promoting NASCAR Day, with the campaign scheduled to debut during the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17. Brooks says no concerts are planned at this point but didn't rule out the possibility of performing in conjunction with the NASCAR Day activities."

If we would (perform), it would be something that (NASCAR president) Mike (Helton) and I would sit around and talk about," Brooks said Tuesday in the Daytona International Speedway media center. "We tried to do something for Daytona this year, but that didn't work out.

"Since I don't get to play much anymore -- my youngest (child) is 11, so I've got probably another 10 years of taking the kids to school and stuff (I doubt I'll drive her to college) -- we'll see. If we do get to play, it's for charity, which, truthfully, is what the gift was given to me for anyway. We don't have any plans at this time."

Fans can participate in NASCAR Day by donating $5. In return, donors will receive a "5th Anniversary NASCAR Day" collectible lapel pin. Pins and information about volunteer opportunities are available through nascar.com/nascarday and nascar.com/foundation.

Garth Brooks Is The Biggest Selling Act of The SoundScan Era

AllGarth Forums — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:51:00 +0000

by Paul Cashmere - January 4 2008

Country superstar Garth Brooks has sold more albums than anyone else in the SoundScan era (1991-now).

In figures released today by Nielsen SoundScan, Brooks catalogue has sold more than 67 million units in the last 16 years.

The country superstar has sold more albums in the 90s and 00s than The Beatles (who make the list at No. 2)

SoundScan's biggest selling artists are:
1 Garth Brooks (67,402,000)
2 Beatles (55,695,000)
3 Mariah Carey (49,937,000)
4 Celine Dion (49,692,000)
5 Metallica (48,670,000)
6 George Strait (39,171,000)
7 Tim McGraw (36,413,000)
8 Alan Jackson (35,266,000)
9 Pink Floyd (34,453,000)
10. Shania Twain (33,531,000)

Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood in a snowball fight

AllGarth Forums — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:28:00 +0000

This is a funny little clip provided by JibJab.com

http://www.jibjab.com/sendables/preview/gEpZO02gGcYHqtnW1Dp1Z84d

Trisha Yearwood Blasts Garth Brooks Ticket Scalpers

AllGarth Forums — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 02:12:00 +0000

Source: www.starpulse.com

Country singer Trisha Yearwood has hit out at ticket scalpers who are charging hugely inflated prices to her husband Garth Brooks' sold-out run of comeback concerts.

Brooks is currently midway through nine gigs at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri and Yearwood is unhappy some online ticket agencies are charging fans up to $975 for a $31 seat.

She says, "I hope they can shut that (ticket scalping) down. One thing that Garth does, that I'm so proud of, is he tries so hard to see that the people who want to go to the shows can go for an affordable ticket price. It always bugs me. You know some of those scalpers are going to get those tickets. I just hate it."

Garth Brooks Biography - official from Garthbrooks.com

AllGarth Forums — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:57:00 +0000

Copyright http://www.garthbrooks.com / See web site for further copyright info

The fastest-selling solo artist in music history, Garth Brooks sold in excess of 100 million albums in just ten years, now topping 105 million. His body of work propelled country music as a genre to the front pages of newspapers worldwide and the covers of magazines, to the point where Forbes declared on its cover, "Country Conquers Rock." And, he accomplished it without courting pop radio. Garth’s attitude was – let the pop audiences come to country.

Assessing his career, the UK’s Country Music International determined that, “Garth Brooks has taken country music further than any other performer. He has reached the widest possible audience, gained phenomenal success, yet still retained the basic ingredients of country music. There is no compromise.”

It has been said that through the 1990s Garth's only real competition was himself. He brought daring individualism and a love of music, ranging from working class blues and honky tonk to bluegrass and arena rock, to the musical table. And he had the talent to serve it up tastily. His easy-going, approachable charisma was matched only by his fearless willingness to take chances and step outside the lines. He has had an unprecedented run so far, and opened the doors for many more country artists to follow.

The Early Years

The youngest of six children, Garth was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on February 7, 1962. Four years later the Brooks family moved to Yukon, where his father Troyal, a former Marine, worked as a draftsman in the oil industry. His mother, the former Colleen Carroll, recorded for Capitol Records in the mid-1950s and performed with Red Foley on the Ozark Jubilee. But Colleen wasn’t Garth’s only musical inspiration around the house. His father played guitar, teaching Garth his first chords, while his sister Betsy “…could play anything with strings or keys.”

Musical influences at the Brooks home were wide ranging. Troyal and Colleen loved country artists like Merle Haggard and George Jones. Garth’s siblings had tastes that stretched from Janis Joplin and Townes Van Zandt to Three Dog Night, Steppenwolf, Boston and Journey. Garth listened to it all, especially drawn to singer/songwriters like James Taylor and Dan Fogelberg.

The Brooks household was fertile ground for creativity and spontaneity backed by a steady sense of reality. Colleen, known as “the happy child” while she was growing up, fostered a confident, free-spiritedness in her children. “Mom wasn’t above telling little white lies to make her children feel good,” Garth has laughed. “Once when I messed up in football, she told me that the guy sitting next to her in the bleachers was yelling for the coach to send me back in. Later I found out she invented the story just to make me feel better.” Troyal was the realist in the family, mindful of the importance of dotting every “i” and crossing every “t” in life. The combination of those character traits developed on Yukon Avenue proved invaluable to Garth’s professional life. He became a risk-taker, willing to put everything on the line to make a better recording, a more exciting performance. Yet he paid careful attention to his career, his business dealings and his employees.

In high school Garth was more interested in sports than music, playing football, baseball, track and field for the Yukon Millers. But by the time he started college at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, he was beginning to pick and sing, jamming with friends in Iba Hall, the athletic dorm where he lived. Although he was attending college on a partial athletic scholarship (javelin), and majoring in advertising, Garth was becoming more and more interested in music as a career.

By 1983 Garth was playing gigs around Stillwater and picking up some extra money as a bouncer in local clubs. After graduating from OSU in December of 1984, he opted to make the move to Nashville. Colleen Brooks was not thrilled about his decision. “Mom had seen the bad side of the business, when management wasn’t professional,” Garth recalled. “She pretty much saw the ditches of music. So she prepared me for all that, which was great. I didn’t come in here with a sun-shiny face thinking everything was going to be rosy.”

The first trip to Nashville was anything but rosy, and Garth returned to Oklahoma within 23 hours. He continued playing the Oklahoma club circuit, married his college girlfriend, Sandy Mahl, in 1986, and returned to Music City the following year with renewed determination. Right away he began meeting and working with songwriters around town. One of them introduced him to ASCAP’s Bob Doyle, a respected song man known as a friend to writers. Bob was so impressed with the Oklahoman that he quit his job and took on management duties. And when talent agent Joe Harris heard Garth sing, he broke company policy and started booking the still-unsigned artist together with the band he’d put together, appropriately named Stillwater. Garth took the business seriously, playing any gig Joe Harris could book, and giving his all whether it was a crowd of 30 or 300.

It was by chance that Capitol Records’ A&R man Lynn Shults heard Garth sing “If Tomorrow Never Comes” at a writer showcase at Nashville’s Bluebird Café. Although Capitol had once turned down Garth, Shults offered him a record deal on the spot. The label set up a meeting with producer Allen Reynolds (Don Williams, Crystal Gayle), and the two began the process of making an album.

Released on April 12, 1989, Garth Brooks contained four hit singles including "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)," "If Tomorrow Never Comes," "Not Counting You" and Garth's signature song, "The Dance." This debut recording went on to become the biggest-selling country album of the 1980s.

Garth’s live show got an early buzz on the tour circuit. On August 10, 1989, Garth and Stillwater played a show at Tulsa City Limits. John Wooley, music critic at the Tulsa World, wrote: “After seeing what he can do in concert, I’ll go out on a limb and predict that Brooks, showman and talent that he is, is going to be country music’s next big thing.”

1990 to 1996

Garth took home the first of many industry awards when he was presented with the 1990 Country Music Association (CMA) Horizon Award and the Video of the Year Award for "The Dance." "The Dance" also won Song and Video of the Year at the 1991 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards. "If Tomorrow Never Comes," which he wrote, won Favorite Country Single at the 1991 American Music Awards, International Single of the Year from the London-based Country Music People, and Song of the Year from the Nashville Songwriters Association International. It was an auspicious beginning for an artist who said he was "scared to death" when he recorded his debut.

The success of “If Tomorrow Never Comes” and “The Dance” thrust Garth into new drawing power out on the concert trail. But although his asking price spiraled almost overnight, and he was clearly at headliner status, Garth fulfilled each and every date as agreed upon.

Garth's second release, 1990's groundbreaking No Fences, won Album of the Year from the CMA and ACM and became the biggest-selling country album at the time, and has been recently certified for sales in excess of 16 million. The album contained four No. 1 hits: "Friends in Low Places," "Unanswered Prayers," "Two of a Kind (Workin' On A Full House)," and "The Thunder Rolls." "Friends in Low Places" quickly became an anthem, winning Single of the Year from both the CMA and ACM. "The Thunder Rolls," which Garth wrote, won Video of the Year at the CMA Awards, and Favorite Country Single at the '92 American Music Awards, where No Fences was also named Favorite Country Album. The CMA and ACM named Garth Entertainer of the Year in '91, and Billboard named him #1 Pop and Country Artist, #1 Country Albums Artist and #1 Country Singles Artist.

In 1999 The Detroit Free Press listed No Fences as one of the “…definitive recorded moments of the decade.”

The overwhelming success of No Fences set the stage for 1991's Ropin' The Wind to become the first album in history to debut at No. 1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart and Country Albums chart. "Ropin' The Wind was like sitting in the draft position in a car race," Garth explained. "You're right behind the lead vehicle -- which was No Fences -- and there's a calm space created for you. In a race the two cars actually help each other, and I think that's what happened with Ropin' The Wind and No Fences."

Ropin' The Wind, which earned Garth a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1992 as well as CMA Album of the Year honors, had five hit singles: "Rodeo," "Shameless," "What She's Doing Now," "Papa Loved Mama" and "The River." By the end of 1991 Garth's overall record sales accounted for one fourth of country music's year-end sales. ASCAP awarded Garth its first Voice of Music Award and amid dozens of awards that followed, he again took home Entertainer of the Year honors from both the CMA and ACM in 1992. After Garth swept the 1992 Billboard awards, Entertainment Weekly's 1992 Reader's Poll named him FavoriteMale Singer, ahead of runners-up Bruce Springsteen and Axl Rose.

Garth called 1992's studio album, The Chase, his most personal album to date, and it remains one of his favorites. "I opened myself completely on that album. It's the closest anybody has ever got to getting inside my head." Hit singles included "We Shall Be Free," "Somewhere Other Than the Night," "Learning to Live Again" and "That Summer."

The Chase became the second album in history to debut at No. 1 in Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart and Country Albums chart. Garth and Stephanie Davis wrote "We Shall Be Free" as a result of Garth's being in Los Angeles during the 1992 riots. The song, a testimony to brotherhood and tolerance, inspired a video featuring cameo appearances by celebrities including: Michael Bolton, John Elway, Boomer Esiason, Whoopi Goldberg, Jay Leno, Marlee Matlin, Reba McEntire, Warren Moon, Eddie Murphy, Martina Navratilova, General Colin Powell, and Elizabeth Taylor. In addition to the celebrity appearances, the video consisted of news footage depicting social, political and environmental problems, counteracted by scenes expressing hope in humanity's ability to cope with them. Garth debuted the video and performed the National Anthem live in Los Angeles at the 1993 Super Bowl to a television audience of over one billion people in over 87 countries.

Garth became the 1992 NSAI Songwriter/Artis of the Year, won two more People's Choice Awards, as well as favorite performer awards from Playboy, Performance and Pollstar, to name but a few.

In 1992 Garth also released his first Christmas album, Beyond the Season. "I'd make this album [Beyond the Season] every day of my life if I could, because you're singing about what counts," Garth said at the time. Sales from the Christmas album raised over two million dollars for Feed the Children.

High-energy In Pieces became the third album to enter Billboard's Top 200 and Country Albums charts at No. 1 when it was released in 1993. The album produced five hits: "Ain't Going Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)," "American Honky Tonk Bar Association," "Standing Outside the Fire," "One Night A Day" and "Callin' Baton Rouge." The debut single, "Ain't Going Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)," which Garth co-wrote, made Radio & Records history by entering the country singles charts at No. 25, with 222 stations adding the song out-of-the-box. For his cut of "Callin' Baton Rouge," Garth reunited New Grass Revival, the band that first recorded the song. Although "The Red Strokes" was a top-14 pop hit in the U.K., it was never released as a single in the United States, where the album cut climbed to the Top 40 on country music charts.

The following year saw Garth's international stature rise to stunning heights, and fans around the world anxiously awaited Garth's 1994 World Tour. Excitement started early in Ireland, where an estimated 130,000 Irish fans streamed into the downtown area in search of show tickets after it was announced that Garth would be playing The Point in that city in the spring of 1994. In less than two and one-half hours 34,000 tickets for the four shows were sold to those who had the proverbial luck of the Irish. Police finally had to disperse the crowd so the city's merchants could get back to business. The tour took Garth to 13 countries and played to over a quarter million fans outside of the U.S. In Barcelona the crowds paid him their highest compliment, screaming, "Torero! Torero!" Matador! Matador! In 1995 Garth received the Academy of Country Music's Jim Reeves Memorial Award, the first to have been presented in thirteen years. The award is only given when the Academy recognizes an artist who has uniquely enhanced the image of country music internationally.

The Garth Brooks Collection and The Hits were both released in 1994. The Garth Brooks Collection was compiled for McDonald's first music promotion, which benefited Ronald McDonald Children Charities (RMCC). The Hits was an 18-cut album of Garth Brooks' best-loved songs, available for a limited time only. The album was the biggest selling greatest hits package in country music history and the best-selling greatest hits package in any genre for the 1990s.

By 1995 Garth had made four NBC television specials, all of which were overwhelming ratings successes. The first special, This Is Garth Brooks, was filmed at Dallas' Reunion Arena in September 1991. When it aired in January 1992 it gave NBC its highest-rated Friday night in more than two years (17.3 rating/28 share), and was the No. 9 show in the Nielsen ratings for the week. The second airing of This Is Garth Brooks remained powerful, receiving a 6.9 rating and a 12 share. This Is Garth Brooks, Too! was filmed over the course of three sold-out shows at Texas Stadium in Irving in 1993, and when it aired in May 1994 that show gave NBC its first time period win among adults (18-49) since August 1992. When The Hits aired in January of 1995, it gave NBC its best adult rating in that time slot since January 19, 1994, with an 11.8 rating and an 18 share. The behind-the-scenes documentary, Tryin' To Rope The World, featured never-before-seen footage of Garth's first European/Australian tour in 1994, and received a 9.4 rating and a 15 share in the 18-49 demographics.

Garth's next studio album, Fresh Horses, was released on November 21, 1995. Refreshing and diverse, the project reflected the success of his road show, which covered the ground from the western side of country, to insightful relationship reflections, to full-tilt boogie country rock and roll. Singles included: "She's Every Woman," "The Beaches of Cheyenne," "It's Midnight Cinderella," "That Ol' Wind" and his version of the Aerosmith song "The Fever." The album also included "The Change," for which Garth made a powerfully moving video honoring the heroes and victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Eight of the ten songs on Fresh Horses were co-written by Garth.

Copyright http://www.garthbrooks.com / See web site for further copyright info

GAC takes a distinction as "The Home of Garth Brooks"

AllGarth Forums — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:10:00 +0000

Nashville, TN (PRWEB) December 10, 2007 -- Great American Country television network, the leader in country music entertainment, added more than 8 million new subscribers in the past year and is now available to country music fans in more than 52.6 million households, continuing GAC's record as one of the fastest growing cable networks in the country.

An additional 2 million country music fans may now enjoy GAC programming in parts of Long Island, New Jersey, New York City and Connecticut, following the network's early December launch by Cablevision Systems, the leading cable provider in the New York metropolitan area. GAC is located on Cablevision channel 184.

GAC's expanding national footprint makes the television network available to cable subscribers in each of the top 140 U.S. markets, including recent GAC additions in the New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas and Miami markets.

"GAC has become the destination for anyone interested in country music entertainment," said Ed Hardy, GAC president. "As we grow, our viewers are seeing more and more top country music artists who choose GAC as their platform to reach millions of passionate country music fans."

This fall, GAC takes on the additional distinction as "The Home of Garth Brooks", premiering a number of exclusive programs devoted to the top-selling individual artist in music history, and bringing Brooks' first televised concert in six years to GAC viewers. GAC is sponsoring the current concert tours of Brad Paisley and Trace Adkins, and presented country music fans the only live coverage of Josh Turner's recent induction as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, along with an exclusive one-hour documentary, Josh Turner: My Road to the Opry.

"GAC's commitment to connecting country artists, their music and the fans is resonating loudly with the music community, our affiliate partners and our viewers," Hardy said.

Carrie Underwood chose GAC's Opry Live as the television platform to debut her new single, "So Small." Opry Live delivers a live country music performance into millions of living rooms each week. In addition to Carrie Underwood, recent performers have included Trace Adkins, Dolly Parton, Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, Little Big Town and dozens of other top country music artists.

In 2007, GAC has presented viewers with exclusive original programming or music specials featuring top artists such as Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Alison Krauss. The network's first reality series, The Hitmen of Music Row, took GAC viewers behind the scenes in the lives of four of Nashville's most prolific songwriters.

"We are having a great time showcasing these talented artists on GAC, and helping them to connect with the growing legions of country music fans. We see bright growth prospects ahead," Hardy said.

GAC touches audiences in many other ways. The GAC Bus, a customized motor coach, plies the highways of America each summer and attends many of country music's top concerts and festivals. GAC maintains a major presence at the annual CMA Music Festival in Nashville, and this year produced a 13-part Riverfront Concert Series, featuring many of the top live performances from the festival.

GACTV.com each month features a different country music Artist of the Month, frequently giving website visitors the chance to win concert tickets, trips and other prizes.

About Great American Country (GAC)Great American Country is the leader in country music entertainment. As America's main street for the widest variety of country music, its artists and the lifestyles they influence, GAC features original programming, special musical performances and live concerts, as well as music videos, and is the exclusive television home of the Grand Ole Opry. GAC is available in more than 52.6 million households and online at http://www.GACTV.com1 Nielsen Media Research, December 2007/December 2006

Garth Brooks on Chris LeDoux

AllGarth Forums — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 15:26:00 +0000

Created by http://wyomingarts.blogspot.com/
Going through the mail this morning, I saw in the Cheyenne Area Convention & Visitor's Bureau this tribute, and had to pass it along. This is from a recent AOL Music interview."

I have two moments that I would say have been the highlights of my career: getting to play the 100th anniversary of Cheyenne's Frontier Days -- the daddy of them all -- with Chris LeDoux, and getting into the Grand Ole Opry. With Cheyenne Frontier Days, Sandy was pregnant with Allie Colleen, the last of my three children, and she was right at her due date. So, unbeknownst to me, they had called Chris and he had driven his band and crew up to be "on hold" in case we couldn't do the show. When I found out, I found him backstage and I said, "Pal, you've got to let me pay for all your expenses up here." It looked like we were going to go ahead and do the show. And he said, "Not on your life, man. This was my treat." And I said, "No, no, you don't understand. I need to pay for this." And it was the only time I'd seen this look on his face, and he said as calm as he could be, "I'd let it go if I was you." And that look on his face -- wow, you talk about a man's man. so, I couldn't thank him enough. I went out and played the show, and we did a duet together of "Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy." And I gotta tell ya, I thought I had that crowd worked up and I thought I was the man until LeDoux walked on stage. that place went to another level. I loved that man; I miss that man. He was just the greatest."

Garth Brooks Releases Duet With Huey Lewis

AllGarth Forums — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 22:23:00 +0000

by http://www.cmt.com / Dec 7th

Garth Brooks' new single will be "Workin' for a Livin'," a duet with Huey Lewis. The single is a remake of the 1982 pop hit by Huey Lewis & the News. Brooks' previous single, "More Than a Memory," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard country airplay chart in September. The duet is included on the new compilation, Garth Brooks: The Ultimate Hits.

5 DVD Set is an amazing buy at $9.72 - ONLY available at Wal Mart

AllGarth Forums — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:21:00 +0000

This 5 dvd set has been available at Wal Mart for a while, however we wanted to post a memo to our visitors so that they can know about the great bargain and value in this product only available at Wal Mart. This package is available at your local WalMart - currently for $9.72 (less than $2 per dvd!)

Garth Brooks

The Entertainer

One Artist...One Decade...

One Hundred Million Albums Sold

Only one artist in U.S. history has achieved such a milestone, and this artist is Garth Brooks. Join the Artist of the Decade as he travels through time and around the world to make music history. His high energy concerts, riveting videos, and obvious love for the fans and the music set him apart as a genuine entertainer...a genuine American icon.

5 DVD's

Over 7 hours of history-making performances 15 music videos, including 3 never-before-seen videos, bonus songs, photo galleries, and more. All presented in this Limited Edition Collector's Tin.

Disc I
This Is Garth Brooks
Reunion Arena Dallas Texas
September 1991

Disc II
This Is Garth Brooks, Too!
Texas Stadium, Irving Texas
September 1993

Disc III
Live From Dublin
Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
May 1997

Disc IV
Live From Central Park
Central Park, New York, New York
August 1997

Disc V
Video Greatest Hits 1989-2005

By T Johnson

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/garth/signup.jsp?dept=4104

Garth Brooks gives smashed guitar to Smithsonian

AllGarth Forums — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:35:00 +0000

By Andy Sullivan / Reuters / Tuesday, December 4, 2007

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Garth Brooks donated a smashed guitar to the Smithsonian Institution on Tuesday, but the country-music superstar turned into a wide-eyed tourist when he saw the company he would be keeping.

Wearing his signature black cowboy hat, the singer eyed a pink outfit worn by Patsy Cline and Judy Garland's ruby red slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" before signing over his patched-up guitar, a Stetson hat and a gold record to the Smithsonian's Museum of American History.

"I always thought that when this happened you'd feel like Elvis, and I don't," said Brooks, who has largely retired from performing. "It's funny being the person that's in here, because never, ever do you think you can measure up to the people who are already in here."

Brooks has sold 123 million albums over the course of his career, making him the top-selling solo artist in U.S. history. Only the Beatles have sold more albums.

His catchy singles like "Friends in Low Places" and high-energy, rock-style shows propelled country music to the mainstream during the 1990s.

Brooks' donated memorabilia include a stage outfit and hand-written lyrics to "The Beaches of Cheyenne," but it is his Takamine guitar that is likely to attract the most interest.

The guitar became a touchstone of his career when it was smashed at a 1991 Dallas concert that was taped for television. It has since been reassembled, minus several pieces that have been auctioned off for charity.

The items will go on display in January at the Smithsonian's "Treasures of American History" exhibit, which is housed at the Air and Space Museum while the American History Museum undergoes renovation.

Other items in the exhibit include Irving Berlin's piano, Louis Armstrong's coronet and Thomas Edison's lightbulb.

Garth Brooks to Donate Objects to Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

AllGarth Forums — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:08:00 +0000

http://www.elitestv.com

In a special donation ceremony, award-winning singer and songwriter Garth Brooks will donate objects from his acclaimed career. The donation will include his first gold record received for the album "Garth Brooks;" one of his trademark black cowboy hats, a guitar Brooks smashed during his first NBC TV special in Dallas in 1991 and later repaired; and handwritten lyric sheets for the song, "Beaches of Cheyenne." The museum will also collect the plaque for the special Career Award Brooks received in November by the Recording Industry Association America as the new top-selling solo artist in recorded history.

Successfully integrating rock elements into his recordings and live performances, Brooks rapidly dominated the country singles and country album charts and quickly crossed over into the mainstream pop arena, exposing a larger audience to country music than previously thought possible. Brooks has enjoyed one of the most successful careers in popular music history, with some 70 hit singles, 15 charted albums and more than 123 million albums sold in the United States alone.

A selection from the new collection will be on temporary display in the museum's "Treasures of American History" exhibition at the National Air and Space Museum in January 2008. The exhibition features more than 150 icons from the museum's extensive collections while its building is closed for renovation.

Garth Brooks sets venue sales record with five-show L.A. stand

AllGarth Forums — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:00:00 +0000

By Richard Tafoya
LiveDaily Contributing Editor

Garth Brookspreviously announced one-off show in Los Angeles quickly became a five-show run on Saturday (12/1) as pent-up demand for the officially "retired" artist burned through available tickets in record time.

According to an announcement at the Staples Center website, venue officials noted that Brooks sold over 85,000 tickets in just 59 minutes, setting a venue sales record as the first artist to sell out five shows in one day.

Brooks and concert promoters AEG partnered on the Los Angeles shows as a benefit for California fire victims and firefighter programs in the wake of recent wildfires that burned through parts of the state."

It's a beautiful thing when everyone pulls together," Brooks said in a prepared statement. "California just raised a ton of money for their own. I'm so proud to be part of this."

Beyond the five-show record, Brooks also lined up a pair of logistical records due to the unusual way the shows will be staged. Because the venue hosts home games for the Los Angeles Kings, Lakers and Clippers and all of them are playing in January, Brooks will have to perform all five shows in a roughly 30-hour window across two days.

The first of the five shows will kick off at 6pm on January 25th, followed by a 10pm show the same night. The next day, three shows will take place at 1pm, 5pm and 9pm.

Brooks just finished up a 9-show run in Kansas City that also rolled out from a single announced date, though that set of shows all took place on separate nights.

Garth Brooks to give a charity concert at Staples Center in January

AllGarth Forums — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:58:00 +0000

By Randy Lewis, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
http://www.latimes.com/

Now that he's out of the house, Garth Brooks has decided to stay out a bit longer.Fresh off the nine sold-out shows he played this month in Kansas City, Mo., the country star will play in Los Angeles on Jan. 26 to raise money to help relief efforts following the recent wildfires that ravaged Southern California.

Brooks will perform at Staples Center, with proceeds going to victims of the fire as well as toward programs to assist California's firefighters. Information on ticket sales will be announced Monday. Unlike his stand in Kansas City, which began with a single show with more added as successive performances sold out, there's little room in Staples' calendar for an extended stay there, even though Brooks indicated he was entertaining the idea of a longer run here at some point.The Lakers, Clippers and Kings all have games schedules in the days immediately before and after Jan. 26, with the exception of Jan. 25, which was still open as of Wednesday.

mailto:Wednesday.randy.lewis@latimes.com

Review: Finale has two different feels

AllGarth Forums — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:57:00 +0000

By TIMOTHY FINN
The Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/620/story/361875.html

For the last of his nine Sprint Center shows, Garth Brooks hauled in truckloads of sound and video equipment so he could share the experience with fans in movie theaters all over North America (including four in Kansas City) and in Europe.

Wednesday night’s international simulcast was beamed from an arena filled with fans who had been the first to buy tickets to the Brooks tour but the last to see him perform. For waiting the longest, he promised them something different.

They got that, though it wasn’t all good.

Instead of the usual opener, Trisha Yearwood, a film-director-type guy came on stage and tried to organize a hand-clapping routine he wanted fans to employ during Brooks’ opening song. He got a lukewarm response. He later returned and prodded fans into a big cheer for the sound truck. Likewise, they politely indulged him.

Choreography is for audiences, not mobs of fans who want to unleash their euphoria spontaneously.

Brooks and his band took the stage shortly after 8 p.m. and started this show like they had every other: with him popping out of a hole in the stage and ripping into “The Fever.” But this didn’t feel like the other shows. Instead it felt staged and restrained, as if everyone was aware of the many the cameras around them or of the new backdrop and lighting setup behind them.
For about 90 minutes, they put on a show that generated plenty of singing (especially during “Shameless,” “The River” and “Callin’ Baton Rouge”), but lacked the seismic roar of previous shows. Even Brooks’ chatter felt a little too forced and polished.

Right after “The Beaches of Cheyenne,” he paused to introduce and thank Brenda Tinnen, general manager of Sprint Center. She in turn paid thanks tothanked Brooks. Worthy gestures, but they added more manners and formality to the show.

After his usual fail-proof barrage of “Friends in Low Places,” “The Dance” and “Ain’t Goin’ Down (’Til the Sun Comes Up)” and then an emotional promise — “If you wait for me, I’ll come back” — Brooks told the fans in the arena that the feed was off, the simulcast was over, and the rest of the night was theirs alone. Instantly, his mood changed and so did theirs.

By the time he was done performing, he’d played for about two hours and 15 minutes. His second set (or extended encore) included some of the best numbers of the night: “That Summer,” “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damned Old)” and “Two Pina Coladas.” It also included a round of “Happy Birthday” for a woman from Berlin who was enjoying her present: a ticket to Garth in KC.

He ended with his solo acoustic medley: songs from James Taylor, Bob Seger and George Strait.
And he closed with “American Pie,” giving the final chorus to a crowd that was still in the mood for some communal singing, and proving, as he had all week, that if it can’t save your mortal soul, music can at least excite and comfort it.

Garth Brooks charity concerts for wildfire victims sell out in hour

AllGarth Forums — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:54:00 +0000

http://canadianpress.google.com/

LOS ANGELES - Garth Brooks is more than a memory in Los Angeles. A series of concerts he's giving to raise money for victims of recent wildfires sold out in less than an hour Saturday, according to his website.

The 85,677 tickets for five concerts went for about $45 each. They will be held in January at Staples Center. Proceeds will go to a fire relief campaign. The money will aid fire victims and provide equipment funding for fire departments around the state.

Brooks last appeared in Los Angeles in 2001.

The Grammy-winning singer has sold more than 100 million albums in the United States and has a string of hits, including this year's single "More Than a Memory."

Monday’s was the most emotional show for Brooks and his band

AllGarth Forums — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:51:00 +0000

TIMOTHY FINN TFINN@KCSTAR.COM

http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/music/story/358510.html

For seven nights in a row, the crowds that have packed the Sprint Center have been as much a part of the show as the main attractions.

Monday night — the second Monday of the Reign of Garth — belonged to the band and its leader.

“The older you get in this business, the more you’re forgotten,” Garth Brooks said, with some wistfulness in his voice, right before he strummed himself into “The River,” igniting yet another biblical sing-along.

He couldn’t have felt too forgotten Monday evening, given the response he got most of the night. Instead, it seemed like he was anticipating the days ahead, when his evenings won’t be filled with volcanic adoration from 17,000 people singing his songs right back at him.

Monday wasn’t the longest show of the week nor was it the loudest and rowdiest, but it seemed to be the most emotional show for Brooks and his band, who now have one more night left in their nine-show run in Kansas City. In a way, Monday felt like Senior Night at Mizzou Arena or Allen Fieldhouse — like the beginning of farewell.

Brooks’ second-to-last show didn’t crack the two-hour mark, and the setlist didn’t crack 20 songs, but it included all the standards and the songs that have sent all eight crowds into orbit. As rowdy as some of them are, especially “Callin’ Baton Rouge” (which is begging for an Elders’ cover), none compares to “Friends in Low Places,” even after eight straight nights.

He followed that with “The Dance,” a tender ballad that inspires large grown men to slow-dance with their ladies and sing along. This is not your Toby Keith crowd.

Today, the Garth tour takes a day off, which is good news for Brooks’ wife, Trisha Yearwood, who delivered her opening set like a trouper despite an obvious vocal ailment. On Wednesday, he closes his residency here with a show that will be simulcast to 300 or so movie theaters across North America.

We already know the ending to that drama: euphoria, with a touch of melancholy.

Brooks puts on a longer show as series winds down

AllGarth Forums — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:21:00 +0000

TIMOTHY FINN TFINN@KCSTAR.COM
http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/music/story/357193.html

As if it were a Friday or the second night of a three-day weekend, Garth Brooks made Sunday’s show one of his longest of the week: way more than two hours and about two dozen songs.
He drew from the same material but he shuffled things considerably; he also added a big favorite, “Longneck Bottle,” for only the second time this week. Also for the second time, he gave somebody in the front rows one of his acoustic guitars. Hey, if you’re way up front, say it’s your birthday, even if it isn’t.

The show got political — locally political — as he introduced his bass player, Mark Greenwood.

The Topeka native has generated a raucous response all week, as if he were genuinely a hometown boy.

This evening, however, he shed his button-down shirt and strutted around in a T-shirt that announced his academic allegiance and separated him from half the audience: He’s a Jayhawk alum.

That ignited some serious cheering and visceral booing throughout the arena. Oddly enough, Brooks had little to say about it, though KU had thumped his alma mater, Oklahoma State, in football the night before. He did tell a joke that aimed to insult Greenwood and KU grads, but it was a little too long and not that funny.

The show was both similar to and different from the six shows that preceded it. For the past several nights, he has been altering the setlist noticeably from the evening before, which no doubt keeps it fresher for him and his band (and anyone else who has been there every night). He’s played “Shameless” two nights in a row, which gets a huge response.

But the order of the songs seem to matter little to this crowd, which was loud and boisterous, even on a Sunday night. Even during lesser-known cuts, like the very nice solo-acoustic rendition of “Wolves,” he had nearly everyone’s rapt attention. “These two hours is what I miss,” he said, meaning he still loves to perform but he can do without the touring. He’s got two more performances left here; then this nine-day weekend is over.