Sawyer Brown front man, Mark Miller reflects on the legacy of his dear friend, Toby Keith as a songwriter, artist and patriot.
“Man you’ll get me choked up here, we were real close,” Mark said emotionally when we asked about his relationship with Toby.
“He was just a great American, great human being, a great songwriter,” Mark shared.
Miller and Keith had so much in common between their music careers and simultaneously raising kids. The two bonded over years of touring and writing songs together.
“Toby his persona was so big but man, sometimes I think his songwriting got overlooked. He wrote all that stuff and he co wrote a lot but I’ll tell ya this, it was him. He was an incredible writer but he was just you know, a guy’s guy,” Mark said.
“He toured with us for like a year and half, we hooped, we golfed we hung out. We both watched our kids grow up you know and man, it still is weird that he’s not here. We’d text every couple weeks. Even at the end he was so positive. He never complained.”
Mark went to visit him during his final days and the one thing Toby wanted everyone to know was that “Jesus had his right hand,” giving comfort to those who loved him.
“I will tell you this for all the believers out there, he was. He was an incredible believer and he knew where he was going and he would tell you that and that’s the most comforting thing for me, is he knew where he was,” Mark shared.
“He knew exactly who he was was not gonna back down from anything or anybody, he was big man. Toby was like 6’5, just a mountain of a man and I loved him, still do.”
When Toby was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame recently, his peers spoke of Toby’s confidence, talent and tenacity.
Ronnie Dunn said, “Few artists have had bigger careers than Toby Keith. Outspoken and self confident. sure was. Keith knew what he had even when others didn’t recognize it. Anytime someone undervalued him or sold him short he would turn the slight into motivation and creative fuel for a career that ranks with country’s greatest.”
Toby Keith left a significant impact on country music and will forever hold the hearts of his family, friends and fans.
Mark Miller singing with Toby Keith. Photo courtesy, Toby Keith’s Instagram.
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