The Country Music Superstar of the '90s, Troyal Garth Brooks was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on February 7, 1962, and was raised in Yukon, about 100 miles away from Tulsa. Country music played a role in the Brooks' household, but not a dominant one. His father, Ray, worked as a draughtman for an oil company. Colleen Carroll, his mother, was a country singer in the 1950s and had regularly appeared on Red Foley's Ozark Jubilee radio and TV shows, as well as recordings for Capitol Records. By the time Garth was born, she had retired from a professional career and the Brooks' house reverberated with as much rock and pop music as country.

After graduating from Oklahoma State University as a marketing major (where he attended on a track scholarship for javelin), Brooks had been performing in bars and honky-tonks around Stillwater, most often at Wet Willie's, for several months. Garth played six nights a week, with a different set for each bar. His sister, Betsy Smittle (who incidentally was Ronnie Dunn's bass player in the house band at Duke's night club in Tulsa during the same period), went to see him one time, and commented that he'd written some great songs. So, in the summer of 1985 he left for Nashville and a career in country music, only to return home four days later, dejected by rejection.

He signed a writer's contract in November 1987 and soon after met Bob Doyle in Nashville, who later became his manager. It was Doyle who paid the $32.50 entry fee to a Bluebird Cafe, a performance that earned him his first record deal. Garth signed to Capitol Nashville, releasing Garth Brooks in April 1989 with studio producer Allen Reynolds. The rest, as they say, is history.

Garth Brooks is undeniably the most popular country music artist of all time, in terms of worldwide following, albums sold, and accolades achieved.  With over 36 Top 10 hits, 20 of them number one hits, and six Diamond certified albums to his credit, Garth Brooks has certainly made his presence in country music felt.  Amongst Brooks’ most cherished hits are “The Dance,”  “The Thunder Rolls,”  “Unanswered Prayers,” “Standing Outside The Fire” and “To Make You Feel My Love.”