Talk:Toby Keith

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Toby Keith article.
Article policies
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Biography. For more information, visit the project page.
Biography Portal
B This article has been rated as B-Class on the project's quality scale. [FAQ]
This article is supported by the Arts and Entertainment work group.
Oklahoma Portal
This article is part of WikiProject Oklahoma, a WikiProject related to the U.S. state of Oklahoma.
B This article has been rated as B-Class on the assessment scale.
Mid This article is of mid-importance within WikiProject Oklahoma.
This article falls under the scope of WikiProject Country Music, which is a project dedicated to improving Wikipedia's coverage of topics related to country music. If you would like to participate or learn more about the project please visit the project page, where you can join and see a list of open tasks.
This article has been reviewed by the Version 1.0 Editorial Team.
Version 0.7
 This article has been selected for Version 0.7 and subsequent release versions of Wikipedia.

Contents

[edit] Citation found "Creative Differences with Mercury Records"

The Patriot Act: Is the tough-talking, rabble-rousing, pot-toking, beer- swilling country superstar TOBY KEITH really as mean as he looks?(Features)(Interview). Author- Chris Willman. Entertainment Weekly 735 (Oct 31, 2003): p38. (1903 words)

He didn't quite land on skid row. His producer, James Stroud, had just taken over as head of DreamWorks Nashville; they bought the masters for $120,000 and put it out, resulting in Keith's biggest hit to that point. "And if I had made one bad choice and s--- canned my own songs, where could I be today?" (Mercury Nashville chairman Luke Lewis says Keith and another exec "had creative differences, and I let him go to DreamWorks because he wasn't happy and it seemed sort of dysfunctional. I wouldn't say any of us aren't capable of goofing.")


Stovk64 23:28, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "Supper club?"

What the hell is a "supper club"? Any of you rednecks care to explain?

Do you mind not being so patronizing? I wouldn't even have answered this douche when he asks something so rudely. Wikitoddia 18:53, 21 June 2007 (UTC)
So he can't call anyone a redneck, but you can call him a douche. Yeah, that makes perfect sense. Ten Pound Hammer • (((Broken clamshells • Otter chirps))) 19:00, 21 June 2007 (UTC)

When you're that rude to other people, you deserve any treatment you get.Wikitoddia 23:22, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

Deleted that ridiculous, offensive definition of a supper club. What an idiot. Wiki should have deleted that some time ago.A.d.diamond 21:26, 3 September 2007 (UTC)

Nico8amber 22:23, 28 August 2007 (UTC) - I don't know what kind Supper Clubs you've been to, but your imagination certainly strays to the obscene - though I'm certain most other Wikipedia readers already recognize that you currently live outside of reality. My guess is that mashed potatoes play an important (albeit decadent) role in your fantasy world! In reality, whether redneck or not, a supper Club is basically a homestyle restaurant with a bar and musical entertainment - usually local bands and country singers. It was a great way for upcoming musicians to get their start. Toby's grandmother happened to own one where he spent many of his young summers. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Nico8amber (talk • contribs) 22:23, August 28, 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Sadly?

"The album sadly spent 65 weeks on the top-10 Billboard Country Albums chart." Removing "sadly"

[edit] Source for Peter Jennings comment?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/28/60II/main580469.shtml

[edit] Oklahoma City Drillers

Were the Oklahoma City Drillers a USFL team? I don't think so. I believe the USFL team from Oklahoma was the Outlaws (who merged with the Arizona Wranglers and became the Arizona Outlaws). I know Toby did play semi-pro football, but I don't think he ever played professional football. The USFL, while a step below the NFL, was professional, not semi-pro. He even mentions playing semi-pro football in his new song Honky Tonk U:

"I have sacked some quarterbacks,
and broke my share of bones along the way
I knew it wouldn't last forever,
semi-pro always means semi-paid."
Honky Tonk U, 2005

RHolecko 16:52, 12 May 2005 (UTC)

I believe that last line is more of a reference to how Toby Keith did not get to the NFL, not a statement saying that Keith did not technically play professional football. The idea is that practically speaking, the only "real" professional sports league is the NFL, with the rest being "semi-pro" on the basis that the salaries they provide would not be enough for the job to be a living, even if they're technically "professional" (the CFL is technically professional but its players make a fraction of what NFL players make, although I'm not quite sure if its salaries are comparable (on a relative scale) to the USFL). The point here is that "semi-pro" is a metaphor, not a statement of fact.
Having said that, the Drillers WERE affiliated with the USFL, although they were not the main club- they were a farm club for the Outlaws and were thus technically semi-pro anyway. It's possible, though, that Keith may have broken into the Outlaws' lineup a few times. -RomeW


How come no one speaks of Toby playing in the Red/White Sooners 1994 Spring Game where he played in the final two plays and on the last play got jacked up and blew out his ankle ? I do not think he was part of any organized football team ?????

[edit] Recording contract by 30?

"Keith had promised himself to have a recording contract by the time he was 30 years old or give up on music as a career. He was approaching that age without any prospects for a recording contract." There appears to be a factual error somewhere because the article states he didn't go to Nashville until he was already 32.


[edit] Keith's Recent Awards

Toby Keith's Recent Awards
2005 CMA Music Video of the Year
2004 CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards Video Collaboration of the Year
2004 CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards Video Director of the Year
2004 CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards Video of the Year
2003 Academy of Country Music Album of the Year
2003 Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year
2003 Academy of Country Music Top Male Vocalist
2003 Academy of Country Music Video of the Year
2003 CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards Cocky Video of the Year
2003 CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards Male Video of the Year
2003 CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards Video of the Year
2002 CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards "LOL" (Laugh Out Loud) Video of the Year
2001 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year


[edit] Dixie Chicks

"Keith also had a public feud with the Dixie Chicks over the song, as well as comments they made from the stage about President George W. Bush. The lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, Natalie Maines, publicly stated that the song was "ignorant, and it makes country music sound ignorant." Keith defeated the Dixie Chicks to win Entertainer of The Year from the Academy of Country Music (2002)."

That last sentence seems to be implying that that he "won" the feud by receving some award. It seems irrelevent to the topic, but I don't know enough about either of these artists or this controversy to feel comfortable with removing it. So, I guess my question is: does this have any relevance to the controversy, or is it just an attempt to make the Dixie Chicks look bad? 68.8.201.7 02:38, 17 May 2006 (UTC)

No one responded, so I removed it 68.8.201.7 06:32, 26 May 2006 (UTC)

Db3811 21:27, 9 June 2006 (UTC)Belatedly, I would have to suggest that it was quite relevant to the controversy as the awards represent the country music 'establishment' view: the establishment view was reflected in the ceremonail burning/crushing of Dixie Chicks CDs organized by radio stations, their refusal to play DC songs even until now, and SIGNIFICANTLY in awarding Toby Keith the ACM award. Basically, the ACM was saying that if favored Keith's ultra-patriotism than the DCs' dissenting voices. I personally believe that, as far as country music was concerned, that was indeed the resolution of that dispute and that the article was fine as it was. However, I will leave it up to you to comment and then decide whether or not you wish to reinstate it.



" Awards. [3] While a spokesperson for the Dixie Chicks said that the acronym stood for "Friends United in Truth and Kindness," many including host Vince Gill took it to be a shot at Keith. In August 2003, Keith publicly declared he was done feuding with Maines 'because he's realized there are far more important things to concentrate on'.[4] However, he continues to refuse to say Maines's name, and claims that the doctored photo was intended to express his feeling that Maines's criticism was tyrannical and a dictator-like attempt to squelch Keith's free speech.[5]

In the 2006 film Shut Up and Sing, Maines confirmed that the FUTK shirt was in fact a shot at Toby Keith, after once claiming that it meant Freedom Understanding Truth "

This article seems to contradict itself as to the stated meaning of "FTUK"

I maybe nitpicking but I think it's a tad biased to say that Natalie "finally admitted" it was an obscene shot, surely it could just be "decided" or something. It makes it sound like she was always in the wrong, and if this were to be unbiased, surely that should be removed.

Joe

Admitted is more accurate. Maines denied what it meant and made up a lie for the acronym. Later she admitted that it really was a dig at Keith. One admits they lied. Saying "confirmed" sounds like she never lied about it and just decided one say to clear up the speculation. I put admitted back.Niteshift36 (talk) 07:54, 26 December 2007 (UTC)


I agree, Niteshift36. Maines is a liar, and she got caught. --Me (talk) 21:28, 15 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Illiteracy

I've heard Toby can't read. I've heard books are like cryptonite to him. Is this true? What say you out there in country music land? What say you? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 198.190.230.57 (talk) 18:18, 8 January 2007 (UTC). I doubt this is totally true. However, the biography makes no mention of his academic performance in high school. Another open question, He is known to write most of his own songs- at least lyrically. What about writing and reading music, doe she know all that notation? Also to have worked his way up as he did in the oilfield industry. However, his background, I would not be surprised if he only does a limited about of reading. Wfoj2 15:22, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

I find it absolutely hilarious that both of these comments suggesting Mr. Keith is illiterate are, themselves, riddled with grammatical errors. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.215.234.244 (talk) 21:27, 2 October 2007 (UTC)

He can read, he's not some illiterate hick!

--Kay Lynn (talk) 22:48, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

Toby is, by definition, the most illiterate hick on the planet. His political views are skewed, he has zero connection with the common man, and he owns slaves.71.50.1.61 (talk) 00:28, 16 May 2008 (UTC)

And whose definition would that be? The Unabridged Anonymous Internet Crackpot Dictionary? Or is there some other source that would say something that incredibly stupid? Niteshift36 (talk) 02:40, 16 May 2008 (UTC)
I looked it up in the "Sarcastic Dictionary of Terms that Confuse and Infuriate People Who Don't Get Jokes." I think that's published by HarperCollins, if you're interested in picking up a copy. 71.50.1.61 (talk) 01:24, 17 May 2008 (UTC)
Don't flatter yourself. You don't infuriate me. I'd have to actually care about your opinion. You amuse me. Trolls always do. And calling idiocy "sarcasm" doesn't make it so. It just shows you are trying to cover yourself with a blanket of legitimacy. Niteshift36 (talk) 02:17, 17 May 2008 (UTC)
Ah, somone is certainly proud of their education. But it would seem more likely to me that, if you honestly didn't care, you wouldn't respond at all. Allow me to demonstrate by not responding to whatever you say next. I know it looks complicated, but with a little time and patience, you, too, can learn to not take people on the internet seriously.71.50.14.143 (talk) 12:43, 21 May 2008 (UTC)
Not taking them seriously and leaving their libelous remarks and general stupidity unchallenged are entirely different matters. While your opinion is of less importance to me than picking up gum on my shoe, it still merits exposure as bigotry. Niteshift36 (talk) 21:18, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Number 1 of ?

As the lead single from the album Unleashed (2002), "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue" peaked at number 1 over the weekend of July 4.

As I'm not familiar with the charts in the US, I would be interested in a change of this sentence into something that mentions that he peaked at number 1 of the US country charts. One can find that information at the bottom of the page, but I'd rather read have it in the text. -- Jan, July 6th, 2006


[edit] Needs editing

These following areas need to be streamlined and edited. 2 Discography
2.1 Albums
2.2 Singles


[edit] Fixed singles chart

I fixed the errors in the chart and checked the singles with a list at www.allmusic.com, can I remove the cleanup tag? Also, do we really need a pop 100 and US digital 100 columns just because 2 out of his 30+ songs charted on there? I don't think so, I would remove them now but I want to see what everyone's thoughts are first. I think a simple note would suffice, no reason to add a new column just because of 2 songs. Faris b 04:29, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

It's been about 2 weeks since I first posted. If no one opposes within the next 24 hours from the date of this message, I will be removing the pop 100 and US digital 100 columns for the reason that they don't belong. A footnote for them can be added but I think adding 2 columns just for the sake of 2 out of 30+ songs is too much. Faris b 07:31, 6 November 2006 (UTC)
I have removed the pop and digital columns are they are unneccessary, please do not re-add them. The note at the bottom should suffice I believe, feel free to reword it if necessary. Faris b 02:18, 10 November 2006 (UTC)
Allmusic.com isn't 100% accurate for singles; sometimes they leave some out, and most of the time, they have the songs listed out of chronological order. I have Top 40 Country charts from Billboard dating back to 1990, and I can confirm that yes, "Dream Walkin'" was indeed a single that peaked at #5, even though it's not listed on allmusic.com. I have added this song to the list of singles, and made the footnotes a little easier to read. I have also added the number of weeks for each of his #1's (some were missing before). 68.188.191.9 00:19, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
Then may I ask, what do you suggest to use as a reference other than allmusic.com that is FREE? Faris b 03:35, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
Billboard.com is less likely to leave out singles; however, they have the same problem as Allmusic.com does, in that they often list the songs out of order. Don't fret too much about chronological order; I'm 99.9% sure that the songs are all in correct order now. The only other thing I can think of would be to check back issues of Billboard magazine at your local library, but this would be rather time consuming. TenPoundHammer 20:57, 22 March 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Lawsuit

I suggest a section that deals with Michael McCloud's copyright infringement lawsuit against Keith, as reported in The Miami Herald on December 5, 2006 [1]. Noneus 00:29, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Radio & Records

Could someone please help me pinpoint the Radio & Records peaks for his songs? I know some were #2 on Billboard and #1 on R&R. I also know that Upstairs Downtown was #10 Billboard/#7 R&R. TenPoundHammer 03:56, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Support for Invasion of Iraq

He says here he never supported the war in Iraq. I honestly thought he did. Can someone look this up and verify it? Cheers. Fergananim 15:24, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

He was on The Colbert Report 6-18-07; performed a song and Stephen interviewed him. Stephen asked him about his boot up the ass song and said that when Toby wrote that, 90% of Americans supported the Prez (this was 2001). Now only 29% support him. Stephen, in his faux-pundit persona then asked if the American people then did not need a kick in the ass. Toby responded quite clearly that his song was a statement of support for the troops. He did not say, quite pointedly, that he supported the President. It seemed clear to me that he wanted to distance himself from the Prez and that his song was meant as an encouragement to the troops, not the President. 18:51, 21 June 2007 (UTC)

First, the Newsday "source" is nowhere to be found and can not be verified. Second, I did, however, find an interview that the AP conducted with Toby Keith, where he states that he never said that he did not support the war. The source for that article can be found at: http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/06/22/freetime/doc46705eee1e899938161840.txt

He doesn't say anything about supporting the war, one way or the other in that article, although he does seem to suggest that we won it....and since then, it's just so much skirmishing...which is more than a bit dismissive of the loss of maybe 700,000 Iraqi lives and 3500 American ones. But he doesn't say in the article whether he supports the war or not. Wikitoddia 07:55, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

Just went to TobyKeith.com and if you click on "Toby" and then "Bio" it tells ya that the difference between he and Sean Penn is that he has talked to 50 Generals. I really don't know the significance of this. Sean Penn has been to Iraq. Keith says that if there was an invasion in Africa he would be there performing for the troops. I can't fault a guy for his support for the troops. It seems to me, and I have no concrete evidence, just an interpretation of the absence of any endorsement of the Pres, that he supports the troops. But it doesn't seem like he is really behind the Pres. I think this is where most of us fall. And it's the clear position to take. We all want these brave men and women to be safe, and many want them coming home, myself included. But really, if he thinks that, I don't know why he tries to place himself in contrast to Penn. I think Toby means well, but he has believed the administration's lies that supporting the troops can't be compatible with supporting anyone but a Republican. Again, this is just my reading of what he says, and perhaps more importantly, doesn't say. Anywho. Wikitoddia 23:30, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

Wikitoddia, Keith has been to Iraq several times. Penn was there once. Keith went there, met and talked to troops from private to general. Penn went there and kissed up to Saddam's henchmen. Keith has been very clear that his position is to support the troops. According to him, he knows music is his job, not politics or strategy. THAT is why he tries to contrast himself from people like Penn, who thinks that because he is famous, his opinion is more informed.Niteshift36 (talk) 07:35, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] ILLITERATE

Toby CAN READ, he just CAN'T READ MUSIC. There is a big difference.

Jean - Tobybears71.117.36.12 15:38, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

THANK YOU! —Preceding unsigned comment added by KLynnS (talk • contribs) 23:11, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

OK, can some one explain to my how you become a huge singer with Toby Keith's guitar abilities without being able to read music? I mean come on! Seriously you people can't be that....stupid. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ilovetk (talk • contribs) 22:43, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

  • Toby only plays rhythm guitar as far I can tell (i.e., he just strums; I can't say that I've ever seen him play lead). If he can't read music, it probably means that a.) he plays by ear, b.) he knows the finger patterns for the various chords, but he couldn't tell you the individual notes that he's playing, or c.) (very unlikely) he's just faking the rhythm part. I know that Brent Mason, one of the top session guitarists in Nashville, can't read music either, and just plays by ear. Ten Pound Hammer and his otters • (Broken clamshells•Otter chirps) 00:34, 9 April 2008 (UTC)
Do you suppose Ray Charles read music? Stevie Wonder? A lot of musicians don't read music or do so poorly. That's where we get the term "playing by ear" from. Niteshift36 (talk) 03:22, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Covell

The name is Covell, not Covel


--Kay Lynn (talk) 21:54, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

Not according to his bio page at CMT.com [2], his bio at IMDB [3], his bio at AOL Music [4], his bio at about.com [5], his bio at musicianguide.com [6]. Do you have any sources showing the second L? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Niteshift36 (talk • contribs) 22:33, 14 February 2008 (UTC)


Try CW CW

and try the New York Times. . . search for the story about the COVELL family wrongful death suit. NYT --Kay Lynn (talk) 22:39, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

Country weekly also shows his name spelled Covel. Here is the specific link. [7] Even your own source agrees with me. And simply providing a link to the NYT isn't going to cut it as a source. Please be specific. Niteshift36 (talk) 22:51, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

OK, my bad. Just checked NYT, and it's Covel. I had always seen it written Covell. So, don't blame me, blame my sources???! ha ha

--Kay Lynn (talk) 23:07, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

It's all good. I was just going to give you a link to the lawsuit itself [8] and suggest that maybe the NYT just spelled it wrong. Probably not many country fans working there anyway. Niteshift36 (talk) 23:13, 14 February 2008 (UTC)


I have been a HUGE Big Dog Warrior megafan for six years and thought I knew everything there is about TK. . . Now I wonder what else I don't know! --Kay Lynn (talk) 17:01, 15 February 2008 (UTC)

One more problem I have. . . Isn't Toby's mom named Joan? —Preceding unsigned comment added by KLynnS (talk • contribs) 19:14, 15 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Toby's Mom's Name

I read about the lawsuit involving his dad's car accident that Toby's mother's name is Caroline, not Joan. But I only have one source at the moment so does any one else now for sure and have more than one source?

[edit] Toby's Mom's Name

I read about the lawsuit involving his dad's car accident that Toby's mother's name is Caroline, not Joan. But I only have one source at the moment so does any one else now for sure and have more than one source? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ilovetk (talk • contribs) 03:48, 25 February 2008 (UTC)

Hi, Ilovetk. I read in counry weekly that Toby's Mom's name is Joan.

P.S. I ♥ TK, too! Me (talk) 18:39, 25 February 2008 (UTC)

I found two more sources where Toby's mom's name is Caorlyn (wrong spelling, sorry) and only one other one where her name is Joan. All the other biographies never mention his parents names. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 97.80.120.233 (talk) 22:35, 8 April 2008 (UTC)