Ty England, ‘Garf’ share long history

Ty England, ‘Garf’ share long history

by: JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
11/3/2007 5:22 AM

When Garth Brooks is honored by the Rotary Club of Will Rogers on Sunday, an old friend will be there to welcome him home.

“Our first recording together was in his dorm room. Somebody had a little Realistic brand Radio Shack tape recorder and we recorded two songs,” country music performer Ty England said in a recent phone call from his home office outside of Oklahoma City.

The two met in college in the 1980s and performed together through the mid-’90s in Brooks’ band, before each embarked on his own stints at fame.

England will perform for Brooks and fans Sunday in Tulsa, where Brooks will be honored for his work with charitable organizations, mainly for children.

Reminiscing about those early days, England laughed about his friend, who is now a household name.

“I’d never heard the name Garth before, I mean, had you?” he said.

“A friend had only given me his phone number, but I didn’t write down the name. I thought he said his name was Garf, short for Garfield,” he said, then chuckled. “So, my mom wrote on that tape, ‘Ty and Garf.’ ”

The songs on that tape were simple enough, though —“Listen to the Radio” and “Rocky Top.”

And what followed — all the years and all the songs and all of the performances, from college lunch rooms to crowded concert halls — solidified a lifelong friendship, England said.

“We’re both dads, we’re both busy, we both put family first,” he said. “But occasionally I’ll hear a funny joke and I’ll have to call him and we’ll catch up. We don’t get to see each other a whole lot, so this will be a special reunion.”

Indeed, that reunion will also include a new twist in their special friendship.

“This is the first time I’ve ever performed for Garth,” he said. “I’ve sat in his den and played with him and all those other things, but this is a little intimidating.

“I’m not sure what I’ll be playing, but it will be reminiscent of our youth. I’m sure it will surprise me as much as it will him.

“He’s a dear friend, but he’s also ‘Mr. Man,’ ” he said, then laughed. “He’s made a really big mark on this state and this nation and the world, much like the man and entertainer himself, Will Rogers. Both are far more than entertainers. They both have had a tremendous impact.”

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Jennifer Chancellor 581-8346
jennifer.chancellor@tulsaworld.com