Brooks, Garth (1962—)

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Brooks, Garth (1962—)

Garth Brooks, the best-selling recording artist of all time, symbolizes the evolution of "new wave" country music in the late twentieth century. Brooks was popular in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s with a blend of country, honky-tonk, and rock that signaled country's move into the mainstream of popular music. From his first self-titled album in 1989, the Oklahoma singer achieved fame beyond the traditional country listener base to achieve acceptance by a mass audience. Between 1989 and 1996 he sold more than sixty million albums. Prior to Brooks's third album, Ropin' the Wind, it was nearly impossible for a country artist to sell a million copies, and no country recording had ever premiered at the top of the pop charts. His stage performances, which were filled with many special effects such as fantastic lighting displays, explosions, and even a harness that allowed him to sing while swinging over his enthusiastic crowds, resembled the stadium rock extravaganzas of the 1970s. Brooks combined his onstage identity as the modern country superstar with an offstage persona emphasizing country music's traditional values of family, patriotism, and devotion to one's fans.

Troyal Garth Brooks, born on February 7, 1962, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, had a strong interest in country music from childhood. His mother, Colleen Carroll Brooks, had been a minor country singer in the 1950s who had recorded several unsuccessful albums for Capitol. After earning an athletic scholarship to Oklahoma State University for his ability with the javelin, Brooks began singing in Stillwater clubs where he had worked as a bouncer. In 1986, he married Sandy Mahl, a woman he had once thrown out of a bar after a restroom altercation. The couple moved to Nashville in 1985 after Brooks's graduation with an advertising degree. The young singer's initial attempt to find fame in the world of country music was a complete failure, and the pair returned to Oklahoma after a mere twenty-three hours in Nashville. Two years later, a more mature Brooks returned to the country music capital and began his career by singing on new songwriter's demo tapes. By 1988, he had been signed by Capitol Records and his first single "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)" earned much popular acclaim. His subsequent singles—"If Tomorrow Never Comes," "Not Counting You," and "The Dance"—each became number-one hits and marked Brooks's rising crossover appeal.

By 1992, Garth Brooks was a true popular culture phenomenon. He had a string of hit songs and a critically praised network television special (This Is Garth Brooks), and he had sold millions of dollars worth of licensed merchandise. Forbes magazine listed him as the thirteenth-highest-paid entertainer in the United States, the only country music performer to have made the ranking. Unlike previous country stars, such as Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, and Dolly Parton, Brooks made country music fashionable to those beyond its core constituency, a circumstance he credits to the diversity of his early musical influences. Among those whom Brooks cites as having affected his style are such diverse artists as James Taylor, Cat Stevens, John Denver, the Bee Gees, and even some heavy-metal bands. His expanded appeal also stems from his choice not to limit his songs to the traditional country music themes. Brooks's "We Shall Be Free" is an anthem for the oppressed for its advocacy of environmental protection, interracial harmony, and the acceptance of same-sex relationships. His most controversial work of the period, "The Thunder Rolls," dealt with the issues of adultery, wife beating, and revenge. Brooks's desire to expand country presentation and subject matter attracted a sizable audience unknown to earlier country performers. Brooks is considered the leader of a new wave of country vocalists including Travis Tritt, Clint Black, and Alan Jackson.

While Brooks expanded country's scope, he carefully worked to maintain his image as a humble country performer, endorsing various charities and repeatedly professing his overwhelming devotion to his family. In 1991, he considered forsaking his career to become a full-time father. Brooks's most popular offstage act, however, was his devotion to his fans: he signed hundreds of autographs after each show and, most importantly, demanded that his ticket prices remain affordable to the average person.

Few performers in any genre can claim the crossover success exhibited by Garth Brooks in the 1990s. His domination of the country and pop charts proved that "country" was no longer a niche format but one acceptable to mainstream audiences. His achievements were recognized in March, 1992, when he was featured on the cover of Time, which credited him for creating "Country's Big Boom." His ability to meld traditional country music sounds and sensibilities with pop themes allowed country to advance to new heights of popularity.

—Charles Coletta