On the Cover – Toby Keith

9/22/2003 – October 2003

Label: DreamWorks
Booking: Monterey Artists (Curt Motley)
Management: TKO Artist Management (T.K. Kimbrell)
Producers: James Stroud
Current Single: “I Love This Bar”
Current Album: Shock ‘N Y’all (Nov. 4)

Birth Date: July 8,1961
Interests: Golf, fishing and horse racing
Interesting Facts: Worked as a rodeo hand, oil rigger and defensive end of the Oklahoma City Drillers (semi-pro football team) before becoming a country music artist.
Awards: CMA Awards: Nominated for seven awards in 2003 including Entertainer, Male Vocalist and Album and won 2001 Male Vocalist; 2003 CMT Flameworthy Awards: Video, Male Video and Cocky Video for “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue”; Laugh Out Loud Video for “I Wanna Talk About Me”; ACM: Entertainer (2002), Top Male Vocalist (2000), Album—How Do You Like Me Now?! (2000); 2002 Billboard Music Awards: Country Singles Artist; 2001 BMI Awards: Songwriter/Artist
Hits: “Beer For My Horses” (with Willie Nelson), “Who’s Your Daddy?,” “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)”
RIAA Certifications: Boomtown and Dream Walkin’ — gold; Toby Keith, Blue Moon and How Do You Like Me Now?! — platinum; Vol 1—Greatest Hits, Pull My Chain — platinum (2x); Unleashed — platinum (3x) Musical Influences: Merle Haggard, Roger Miller, Willie Nelson and John Prine

Toby Keith may have learned to take a hit playing semi-pro football, but his ability to deliver one put him on the list of country music’s hottest stars. The music industry, which has at times overlooked his success, is now paying attention. He’s up for seven CMA awards including the prestigious Entertainer and Album categories.

“I’ve just been doing the same things I’ve always done,” says Keith. “It’s my surroundings that have changed. I’ve got a record company that gives me the freedom to do what I want, and the industry has accepted what I do. Because of that, in a very real sense, I’ve been liberated.”

Cover photo and inset: Richard McLaren