Should've Been a Cowboy

“Should’ve Been a Cowboy” was written by Toby Keith and appears as the first song on Keith’s eponymous debut album. Released as the first single from the album in February 1993, it went to #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and #93 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart and has been certified 4X Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song has since become a staple at sporting events held at Oklahoma State University (home of the Cowboys). Personnel on the record were: Toby Keith (lead vocals), Mark Casstevens, Don Potter (acoustic guitar), Michael Crossno, Jim Kimball, John Willis, Reggie Young (electric guitar), Sonny Garrish (steel guitar, dobro), Clayton Ivey, Troy Turner (keyboards), Chuck Goff Jr. and Gary Lynn (bass), Scott Marcha and Milton Sledge (drums), and Michael Black, Thom Flora, Dennis Wilson and Lonnie Wilson (backing vocals).

The album, Toby Keith, was recorded during 1992-93 at Alpine, Music Mill, and Scruggs studios in Nashville, with Harold Shedd and Nelson Larkin producing. Released in April 1993, it went to #17 on the Billboard Top Country chart and #99 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. It has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Four singles were released from the LP.

Toby Keith was an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor and businessman. His chart-topping debut single, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” was released in 1993. He released 21 studio albums, eight compilation albums and 70 singles. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and received the National Medal of Arts. Keith appeared in two motion pictures. He died at his home in Oklahoma in February 2024 from stomach cancer at the age of 62.