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The story behind country artist Tyler England's new album, "Highways & Dancehalls" is simple: A promise made is a promise kept. What makes the story interesting is who made the promise ... country superstar Garth Brooks. Back in the mid-'80s England and Brooks shared a dorm room while attending Oklahoma State University. The two Oklahomans also shared an interest in writing and performing country and bluegrass music. But when their music took precedence over his studies, England dropped out of college with his father's encouragement to return home to a day job and night classes. "After I met Garth, I spent so much time playing music that my grades went down," says England. "I went back home to go to school so my dad could be a little closer to me and help me to control my pastimes." On the day England was to pack his bags and ship out of OSU, Brooks made him a promise. "The day we separated," England recalls, "Garth and I looked at each other and Garth said to me, `Man, I hope this isn't the end of the road. If something ever happens with me and my career, I want you to be there. I'll do whatever I can.'" Brooks didn't forget those words. "The day Garth signed his record deal at Capitol," England continues, "he called my house. He told me he wanted me to move to Nashville and be a part of his band. I hesitated and said, `Man, give me a week to think about this. It's a pretty scary thing.' And then I went into work that next morning and told my boss that I would be leaving to move to Nashville. So it took me about 24 hours to come to that decision." From 1988 until 1994, England played a major role in Brooks' band. He sang most of the background vocals and played acoustic rhythm guitar. Indeed, Brooks and England became even closer as Brooks' career reached unprecedented heights of worldwide popularity. But even as he achieved fame and fortune, Brooks encouraged his friend to strike out on his own. England's talents as a singer and guitarist, Brooks said, were too valuable to waste. So in 1994, England left to start a solo career and recorded several albums as Ty England. During that time, he says he never once looked back or tried to profit from his previous association with Brooks. "I essentially didn't talk to Garth from 1994 until 1998," England says. "There was a long span of time when we both were doing our own thing. And I don't think it was a lost friendship. It was a misplaced friendship. I mean, when I left Garth and went on my own, I felt I would earn more respect by totally severing all of my ties to Garth. Now, I could have opened every show he did. I could have done duets with him on my albums. He offered those opportunities to me. Garth wanted to help me. But I turned down all of his offers." Yet today, as Tyler England, he is signed to the same record label as Brooks, Capitol Records Nashville. His first album for the label was produced by Brooks. What changed England's attitude? "I know that I will never walk out from under the shadow of Garth Brooks," England admits. "The mountain is way too tall. Now, I'm not saying that I'm going to use Garth for everything I can to get where I'm going. But I'm certainly not going to deny him the possibilities to help me whenever he makes an opportunity available. Garth's always really believed in me and my music, and he inspired me to do this." Is England satisfied with the way Brooks has produced the album? "Yes," he says. "On the flight back home from Nashville to Oklahoma, when I had the first opportunity to actually listen to the entire finished product, tears just ran down my face. Not because the music was sad and making me hurt, but because it was the first time I liked to hear the way I sounded on an album. This is me." When he arrived home that night, England says he immediately called Brooks. "It was about two in the morning and I called him and said `Buddy, if not a soul ever hears this album but me, I'd be proud to say that this is me and my music. I'm proud of the music that's on here and what we've accomplished." Brooks' response shocked England. "You could tell that his eyes were watering from emotion on the telephone as we talked," he recalls. "It makes Garth feel good to know that I'm happy with it. Because that's the No. 1 goal of this record for him. So it was really cool to see everything all come back around and to just be friends working together once again. And it all goes back to that day in college when Garth made the promise to me. I couldn't have done it without him."
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