Toby is second only to Conway in my country music loving heart, and while I missed a good portion of Conway's career before I was born, I've been a Toby fan from day one. Ironically, Toby hit #1 on the charts for the very first time with Should've Been a Cowboy on the very day Conway died in 1993. And just like Conway, he was taken from us far, far too young.
While I never got to see Conway live, I was able to see Toby FOUR times at our local fair, in 2002, 2004, 2008, and 2013. I've attended a good number of concerts in my life, and I saw Toby more times than anyone. He was absolutely incredible, and I'm so very thankful to have my memories of his concerts.
Champlain Valley Fair, Essex Junction, VT, 9/1/13
And in 2013 I had adopted Truffles less than 2 weeks before the concert and I hadn't left her for any length of time yet. My mom stayed with her and said she was a furry basket case without me. Truffles was a very vocal tortie, and she cried and cried for me.
On a funny note, dad went with me that year, and after the concert we lost the car in the fairgrounds parking lot. We must've walked for miles, back and forth, back and forth, trying to find it. We even passed Toby's tour bus a number of times! He didn't invite us in to rest our legs. He probably thought we were stalkers.
Toby's loss has hit me tremendously hard. I've been streaming Prime Country's Toby Radio nearly nonstop for the past week and hate to see it end. I've never seen country radio play an artist exclusively for so long following their passing, which goes to show the icon he was.
In honor of this week's Mewsic Moves Me blog hop theme of love songs, here are a few of my favorite Toby love songs...
I was shocked when I saw that he had died. He was a great singer but I've never seen him in person so you are very lucky to have these memories. I'd say 2013 was kind of memorable and a few odd ways for you. Thanks for the reminder here about Toby Keith.
ReplyDeleteThe death of an artist who touches us always hurts, but at least we have their music.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad news that Toby lost his fight to cancer. I love his song "Courteous of the Red, White, and Blue". That might have been the first thing I heard by him. I'm sorry this loss is hard on you. Thanks for sharing your musical tribute with the 4M crew. Hopefully, Toby's music will bring healing to your heart.
ReplyDeleteA great tribute to a great artist. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteWe've lost so many musical talents already this year. It's hard when it's someone whose music has meant a lot to you. This was a nice selection of love songs and a lovely tribute to an artist you admired. When I watched the video for Crash Here Tonight I said to myself "if that was me, after one glass of wine I'd be crashing there but maybe not in the way Toby intended". And sure enough...sigh, was that song ever romantic! Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteYou did a nice tribute to this man. I l9ved his songs, I love this bar and Stays in Mexico. I'm not a country fan but I liked him and I wasn't shocked to hear he died because stomach cancer is a nasty one and I saw him in early January on TV and he didn't look at all like him but u am very saddened by his passing.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky you are to have seen him in concert. I really like his music, especially How Do You Like Me Now.
ReplyDeleteI love Toby Keith's music, too!
ReplyDeleteI was sad to hear he's gone and send my condolences to all who knew and loved him. This is a lovely tribute.
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