Toby Keith’s Wayman Tisdale tribute hits No. 1; country star begins tour June 19
Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith, right, performs with the Wayman Tisdale band at halftime of the men’s OU-Texas basketball game Saturday at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman. Band member Tom Braxton is at left and Mark Harper is at center. The game was game dedicated to the memory of late Sooners star Wayman Tisdale. (Photos by Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman)
Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith’s 2009 “America’s Toughest Tour” drew standing-room-only venues, a frantic reception in Europe and acclaim from all corners aside, and the trek’s special guest Trace Adkins was so impressed he has signed on for the next tour, too.
Keith, with Adkins, kick off the “American Ride Tour” June 19 in Holmdel, N.J., at the PNC Bank Arts Center. Thirty-nine dates are already on the books through late September. Longtime Keith tour sponsor Ford F-Series is back again, too.
And who wouldn’t want to ride along with Toby? “Cryin’ for Me (Wayman’s Song),” the second single from Keith’s “American Ride” album, just hit No. 1 on the Music Row chart. It joins the album title track in Keith”s vast catalog of chart -toppers and is his 28th career No. 1.
Keith penned “Cryin’ for Me” as a tribute to fellow Oklahoman Wayman Tisdale (pictured), the pro-basketball-player-turned-jazz-bassist who died last year after a long battle with cancer. The Norman resident performed with Tisdale’s band Saturday at a University of Oklahoma men’s basketball game; Tisdale was an All-American at OU.
From the looks of the “American Ride Tour” schedule so far, Keith is sticking with his policy of not playing shows in his home state. No Oklahoma stops are included on the list.
Universal Records South recently merged with Keith’s record label Show Dog to create Show Dog-Universal Music. The label’s first new signing was Adkins, who cited his experience on the “America’s Toughest Tour” with Keith as well as the common fan base and vision they share as artists as the inspiration behind his decision to join the label. A new single and album is being planned and will be announced soon.
Ranked among the top-selling artists in all genres at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top 200 Artists of the Decade and one of the top touring artists of the last decade, Keith has sold nearly 30 million albums, scored more No. 1 singles than any other country artist and led a steady succession of blockbuster headlining tours. He was named Billboard’s No. 1 Country Artist of the Decade and No. 1 Country Songwriter of the Decade. He has also emerged as a multi-faceted entertainment powerhouse with movies, a clothing line and his growing number of I Love This Bar And Grill restaurant-venues.
Adkins (pictured) has achieved unprecedented success as a performer, author and actor. He has 
enjoyed a remarkable 12-year career full of hits, countless national TV appearances and highly successful tours. In 2008, he was introduced to millions of Americans when he became a finalist on NBC’s debut season of “The Celebrity Apprentice.” He starred in some of the show’s best moments and raised more than $500,000 for his charity. With his unmistakable baritone voice, Adkins has sold 10 million albums, with more than 27 hits, including chart-toppers, “This Ain’t No Thinkin’ Thing,” “Ladies Love Country Boys,” and “You’re Gonna Miss This.”
See the “American Ride Tour” dates after the break.
“American Ride Tour” dates (subject to change):
June 19 – Holmdel, NJ
June 20 – Cleveland, OH
July 10 – Raleigh, NC
July 11 – Charlotte, NC
July 15 – Sioux Falls, SD
July 16 – Minneapolis, MN
July 17 – St. Louis, MO
July 18 – Des Moines, IA
July 22 – Boise, ID
July 23 – Portland, OR
July 24 – Seattle, WA
July 25 – Vancouver, BC
July 29 – Sacramento, CA
Aug. 1 – Fresno, CA
Aug. 6 – Mountain View, CA
Aug. 7 – San Diego, CA
Aug. 8 – Phoenix, AZ
Aug. 12 – Albuquerque, NM
Aug. 13 – Denver, CO
Aug. 14 – Salt Lake City, UT
Aug. 20 – Scranton, PA
Aug. 21 – Philadelphia, PA
Aug. 22 – Pittsburgh, PA
Aug. 26 – Moline, IL
Aug. 27- Cincinnati, OH
Aug. 28 – Indianapolis, IN
Aug. 29 – Detroit, MI
Sept. 2 – Atlanta, GA
Sept. 3 – Tampa, FL
Sept. 4 – West Palm Beach, FL
Sept. 9 – Toronto, Ontario
Sept. 10 – Darien Lake, NY
Sept. 11 – Washington, DC
Sept. 16 – Kansas City, MO
Sept. 17 – Omaha, NE
Sept. 18 – Chicago, IL
Sept. 23 – Albany, NY
Sept. 24 – Hartford, CT
Sept. 25 – Boston, MA
-BAM
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Oh my God, I have died and gone to heaven. They are coming to Fresno. Whats neat is that my birthday is on the 7th of august. Thank you for the list. You have made my day.