Dim the Lights
RIP country music legend Toby Keith Covel, gone way too soon at 62, succumbing to stomach cancer. Born in Oklahoma, his grandmother owned a supper club where he did odd jobs and started getting up on the bandstand to play with groups. He got his first guitar at eight. He was a DE on his high school football team. After graduation he went to work in an oil field and became a supervisor by 20. Meanwhile, he and friends formed a band that played locally. When the oil industry slumped, he played semi-pro football, while continuing in music. His debut single, Should’ve Been a Cowboy, released in 1993, went to #1 on the country charts, and led to his self-titled first album, which went platinum. In all Keith released 19 studio albums, two Christmas albums, and five compilations whose worldwide sales were more than 40 million. 61 of his singles cracked the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, including 20 number ones and 22 additional top 10 hits. He has writer’s credit on 19 of his songs, including the great As Good As I Once Was. He did commercials for Telecom USA and Ford. He put in time in pro wrestling, feuding with Jeff Jarret, whom he suplexed in an elimination match of stars. He made several appearances on TV with Stephen Colbert and others. Of course he did a ton of videos and he acted in two full length films: Broken Bridges (2005) and Beer for My Horses (2008), which he wrote, based on the single on which he dueted with Willie Nelson. He was a restauranteur, established a line of clothing, and introduced a brand of liquor. He made numerous trips to the Middle East to entertain American forces. He was active in philanthropy. He was not shy about his love of America. Married since 1984, he was a father of three. Awesome, Sir. Thank you so much. I haven’t been as bummed about an artist’s death since Robin Williams. Facts from Wiki, photo from Google Images:
Headline from nypost.com: “Nikki Haley asks for Secret Service protection after increase in threats on campaign trail.” Yes, she probably should have it. Then again, Republicans donors have given her millions. Shouldn’t she be able to hire her own security?
It’s Ronald Reagan Day. Thank you again, Sir, for the sunshine you restored to America.
Headline from foxnews.com: “Karine Jean-Pierre blames GOP for failure to secure border despite Dems being in charge.” Rules for Radicals instructs its minions to accuse opponents of exactly what they’re accused of.
I find this FN headline amusing: “As Connecticut experiences cannabis shortage, New York market is oversupplied.”
I spent half of today’s session of the Anti-Inflation Book Shop in the car, reluctant to battle the cold wind. My thanks to the gentleman who bought Kramer Vs. Kramer by Avery Corman, and to Alice, who purchased War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk; and to the young man who selected The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz and Water from My Heart by Charles Martin; and to the Latino restaurant worker who took home five DVDs and a Spanish-English Dictionary.
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