Life after Garth: Guitarist/songwriter coming to Lynchburg

From staff reports
Published: November 4, 2008

Music has always been in Ty England’s blood.

The Oklahoma native, who will be playing at the Academy of Fine Arts’ Warehouse Theatre at 8 p.m. Saturday, taught himself to play his grandfather’s guitar as a child. He quickly became enamored with country music, learning the works of legends like Hank Williams and Roy Acuff.

After high school, he enrolled at Oklahoma State University and spent his nights performing at campus coffee shops.

It was there that he met Garth Brooks, who was then just a fellow student.

The two hit it off, became roommates and started playing together.

Life eventually took them in different directions until Brooks signed his first record contract. England spent the next six years in Brooks’ band as his touring guitarist and backup vocalist.

The pair also co-wrote “Every Time That It Rains,” which appeared on Brooks’ first record.

“It was like taking a short course in songwriting,” England says on his Web site.

“Working with Garth taught me a lot about coming up with a song idea, exploring it and then following it through.”

In 1995, England released his own self-titled debut album, which featured the top-fivc single “Should’ve Asked Her Faster.”

He’s released three albums since then, the most recent of which is 2007’s “Alive and Well.”

Tickets to the show are $28 for adults, $15 for seniors and $14 for students. For tickets, visit http://www.AcademyFineArts.com or the Academy Box Office.

For more information, call (434) 846-TIXX.