Garth Brooks began his professional music career, singing and playing guitar in Oklahoma clubs and bars. He released his self-titled first album in 1989, which hit #2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Brooks integrated pop and rock elements into his music, and is widely accepted as the country artist to help move the genre into the mainstream.
Brooks became one of the biggest selling music acts of all time, having success on the country music single and album charts becoming the only artist in music history to have released nine albums that were certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America, (surpassing The Beatles' former record of six)
Brooks has released 27 records in all, which include 17 studio albums, two live albums, three compilation albums, three Christmas albums, and four box sets. Brooks
His biggest hits include “Friends in Low Places,” “If Tomorrow Never Comes” and "The Dance.”
Brooks has openly stated that out of all the songs he has recorded, "The Dance" remains his favorite.
Sources:
Photo Credit: USA Today