Sweet Biscuit Band from Williamsport (top) will be one of four warm-up acts performing at the Sullivan County Fairgrounds on May 23 before “American Soldier: A Tribute to Toby Keith,” starring DeWayne Terry (above).
Fans of beloved country singer Toby Keith, who passed away in 2024, are invited to celebrate his life and music through the talents of singer DeWayne Terry, who will perform his show “American Soldier-A Tribute to Toby Keith” at the Sullivan County Fairgrounds on Friday, May 23. Terry is headlining a day of country music sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Sullivan County.
Like Toby Keith, DeWayne Terry was born in Oklahoma. He grew up singing in church and school plays and listening to country western music on AM radio. He got his first guitar when he was 10. Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Mel Tillis, Waylon Jennings and George Jones were among his earliest influences.
Terry took his degree in aerospace structures to the west coast, working at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft while he explored the southern California country music scene, participating in as many club jam sessions as possible, honing his guitar licks with the likes of Boy Howdy and JayDee Maness of the Desert Rose Band. After Los Angeles, DeWayne went back and forth from Nashville to North Carolina where he played with house bands in Charlotte and Burlington.
As he traveled and played circuits in Phoenix and San Antonio and started a band called Easy Money, fans started telling DeWayne that he looked just like Toby Keith. But he was reluctant to perform as anyone other than himself. According to the bio on Terry’s website, he was brought to the attention of the band Left of Center who had not only backed a number of Toby Keith tribute singers, they had backed Toby Keith himself. Band leader Frank Garrett insisted that DeWayne looked and sang like Toby Keith without trying and finally got him to agree to give a tribute show a shot.
Toby Keith was well-known for his support of those serving in the military, performing for more than 250,000 troops in over 17 countries and several ships at sea in his lifetime. His father was a soldier who emphasized respect for military veterans to his children. DeWayne and his band named their show “American Soldier” in honor of Keith’s advocacy for the military and his love for his country. “American Soldier” has become the top-grossing Toby Keith Tribute show in the United States, recently selling out a 500-plus seat venue in Mesquite, Utah.
On May 23, Terry’s show will be preceded by performances by local and regional country artists, including Jacob Gilpin, Alexis Bradford, Chris Eckert and Sweet Biscuit Band. Gates open at 1:30 pm. Food and craft vendors will be on site, and the Kiwanis is giving away a limited number of lighted Red Solo Cups to flash during Terry’s performance of the iconic Toby Keith song.
Tickets for the six-hour day of music are $35 for seats on the track, and $30 for bleacher seats and can be purchased through Eventbrite.com or by calling Darlene at 570-209-1849.
Jacob Gilpin
Alexis Bradford
Chris Eckert