MUS 1030
10 November 2012
Professor Sprinkle
Garth Brooks Garth Brooks is a known legend in country music. For years people have been listening to his music and loving his personality. Garth was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on February 7th, 1962 and now resides in a town outside of Tulsa called Owasso. Garth’s success led him to own homes in Malibu, California Port St. Lucia, Florida and Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Garth Brooks is the son of Troyal Brooks and Colleen Carroll. This each being their second marriage left Brooks with four older siblings, Jim Jerry Mike and Betsy. Troyal and Colleen had Garth and Garth’s full sister Kelly. Garth Brook’s mother, Colleen, was a country singer in the 1950’s and encouraged Garth and his siblings to pursue a career in music. Garth speaks frequently of his mother having family talent shows and pushing them to participate in them, this is how Garth learned how to play the banjo and guitar. However, even with his mother’s involvement in the musical world, Garth cared more about his athletics at the time. In high school Garth Brooks was active with his football baseball and track and field teams. This involvement led him to a track and field scholarship to the University of Oklahoma where he graduated in four years with a degree in advertising.
Shortly after graduating college is when Garth decided to have his shot at the music industry. He started singing in small bars and clubs in Oklahoma without much luck. Garth then decided to take a chance and move to Nashville, Tennessee looking to pursue a record label. Garth Brooks lasted a total of twenty-three hours in the city before returning back to Oklahoma. He was disappointed with the way the industry worked and felt that he had no chance of making some thing of himself. He continued to play in Oklahoma clubs just hoping for a break. Around this time is when Garth married his first wife and college sweetheart, Sandy Mahl. A
Cited: 1. Garthbrooks.com. New Rose Inc , 2012 . Web. 12 Nov. 2012. 2. O 'Meilia, Matt. Garth Brooks; The Road Out Of Santa Fe. Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1996. 35-210. Print. 3. Planet Garth: The Garth Brooks Story . Ed. Brandon Weisner. Riverport Communications , 1996-2012. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. 4. Tallman, Edward. Garth Brooks; Straight From The Heart. New York: Dillion Press, 1993 . 17-40. Print.