Remembering Toby Keith: A Tribute to the Country Legend and Oil Field Worker

February 6, 2024

Few names shine as brightly in the world of country music as Toby Keith. With his distinctive voice, heartfelt lyrics, and undeniable charisma, Keith carved out a place for himself as one of the genre’s most beloved stars. But before he became a household name in the music industry, Toby Keith was a hardworking man from Oklahoma, starting his career in the oil fields right out of high school.

The Daily Mail reports, 

“Keith worked as a roughneck in the oil fields of Oklahoma as a young man, then played semi-pro football before launching his career as a singer. Keith learned good lessons in the booming oil fields, which toughened him up, but also showed him the value of money.

‘’The money to be made was unbelievable,’ Keith told The Associated Press in 1996. ‘I came out of high school in 1980 and they gave me this job December of 1979, $50,000 a year. I was 18-years-old.’ But the domestic oil field industry collapsed and Keith had not saved. ‘It about broke us,’ he said. ‘So I just learned. I’ve taken care of my money this time.’”

The saying goes, ” They don’t make them like they used to, ” and Toby Keith is no exception. Throughout his career, he had numerous hits. He participated in 11 USO tours, playing for troops overseas, and raised millions for charity. As we remember him, let us celebrate his contributions to country music and his humble beginnings as an oil field worker in Oklahoma.