On Oct. 8, 1994, Toby Keith’s “Who’s That Man” ascended to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. It became the second of his 20 career leaders, among 42 top 10s.
The hit, which Keith wrote and Nelson Larkin and Harold Shedd produced, was released as the lead single from Keith’s sophomore LP, Boomtown. The set became his first of 24 top 10s on the Top Country Albums chart, where his total includes 10 No. 1s. It also yielded the No. 2 Hot Country Songs hit “You Ain’t Much Fun” and the No. 10-peaking “Upstairs Downtown.”
Born on July 8, 1961, in Clinton, Okla., Keith became a football star at Moore High School, playing defensive end. He went on to play semi-pro ball for the Oklahoma City Drillers.
Beginning in 1993, when he signed to Mercury Records, Keith rolled up 76 Hot Country Songs entries, starting with the two-week No. 1, and one of his signature songs, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.”
Brashly outspoken about his political opinions and an avid supporter of the military, Keith played events for U.S. multiple presidents, as well as more than 200 shows in Afghanistan and Iraq for the USO.
On Nov. 1, 2021, Keith was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Keith passed away on Feb. 5 after battling stomach cancer. His 2008 release 35 Biggest Hits subsequently led the all-genre Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts (dated Feb. 17), the former for the first time.
On Oct. 20, Keith will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, along with John Anderson and guitar master James Burton. The ceremony will be held at the Hall’s CMA Theater in Nashville.
