Garth Brooks: The Road Out of Santa Fe (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Long on sincerity and short on scandal, this look at middle-of-the-road country music idol Brooks by his former drummer basically confirms his dedicated fans' affections. Either Brooks really is just the aw-shucks-boy-next-door-made-good he seems, or he has O'Meilia buffaloed along with all the rest of us. Tracing Brooks from his days as a bar bouncer to his emergence as a consistent platinum-record-producing superstar, O'Meilia lets drop that he and Brooks "were friends, but . . . never close pals" --a statement implying that O'Meilia has both credible access to and credible perspective on his subject. Still, the resulting profile may well strike those who are not Brooks or country music fans as a bit fawning. And still, this fine if not earth-shattering effort is valuable for setting down details of Brooks' early career and also some rare stories in an enjoyable, accessible manner. Mike Tribby

Review

Between 1989 and 1996 Garth Brooks sold over sixty million albums: this provides a powerful biographical sketch of the country music artist, examining his early influences and his early roots. O'Meilia was a drummer in Brooks' band in the '80s: his background lends to sympathetic insider's view of Garth Brooks and the strategies which won him success. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Hardcover: 202 pages
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press; First Edition edition (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806129077
• ISBN-13: 978-0806129075
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,672,781 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Garth Brooks: The Road Out of Santa Fe, December 20, 2003

By	"vcksgbfan" (Valley Center, KS United States) - See all my reviews

Fantasic story on the beginnings of what Garth Brooks became. He never has lost his dream.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book shows the "real" Garth, before he became an icon., June 29, 1999

By A Customer

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the "real" Garth -- the person behind the icon. The book details his hard work and determination as a local singer, and how he never gave up. It's not glitzy (black & white photos) but packed with stories that make you feel you are there, experiencing what he experiences, feeling what he feels. It is an inspiration to all, as is Garth.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a must read for all Garth fans!, May 4, 1998

By A Customer

This book grabbed my attention and held on from beginning to end every time I read it! This isn't your run-of-the-mill, facts-everybody-already- knows kind of books. Matt O'Meilia does an outstanding job of describing the trials, troubles, and times of a young, struggling Garth Brooks just as he and their former band-mates remember them from their lives back in Eastern Oklahoma. Weather you think you know everything about Mr. Brooks or if you know absolutly nothing about this legend, this book is sure to leave you with a smile and many interesting stories you will not find anywhere else. You may also find yourself with a new sense of hope and determination for your own goals as O'Meilia shows the hopes and dreams of five young men, one in particular, come alive.