Toby Keith concerts popular with audiences in Erie, at Crawford County Fair during 2000s
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Country singer-songwriter Toby Keith had plenty of fans in the Erie region based on turnout at his concerts here.
Now, rather than watching for an announcement about his next appearance on an Erie-area stage, they're mourning his death at the age of 62 after battling stomach cancer.
Keith, whose 20 No. 1 singles included "Should've Been a Cowboy," died Monday.
From USA Today: Country singer-songwriter Toby Keith, dies at 62
It's been more than 15 years since he graced a stage in Erie or Crawford counties, but he had at least four performances here early in the 21st century.
On April 5, 2002, Keith performed a sold-out concert with Jamie O'Neill and Emerson Drive at what was then known as the Tullio Arena, now Erie Insurance Arena. His show drew a crowd of 5,770, according to information from Erie Events.
The Erie Times-News was at the Crawford County Fair photographing two of Keith's performances there, in 2003 and 2008. He also sang at the fair in Meadville in 2005.
On the day tickets went on sale for the 2005 show, a line of people stretched around two sides of the Crawford County Courthouse, waiting for it to open and the ticket sales to start on a cold February Monday morning. One couple had been waiting there with a tent since the Friday before, according to an Erie Times-News story at the time.
By the close of business that Monday, the center sections in the racetrack area and the grandstand were largely sold out for a total of about 4,000 tickets, according to the Erie Times-News story. It also said Keith sold out his initial appearance at the Crawford County Fair in 2003.
Here are some of Keith's other concerts that fans might remember attending a little farther away from Erie:
2019: Sept. 27, Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh.
2018: Aug. 24, and Trace Adkins, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino, Salamanca, New York.
2016: Aug. 13, and Eric Paslay, First Niagara Pavilion, Burgettstown.
2015: Aug. 9, and Eli Young Band, Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
2015: July 11, Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, Darien Center, New York.
2014: Aug. 9, and Colt Ford, First Niagara Pavilion, Pittsburgh.
2014: June 29, and Colt Ford, Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@timesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Toby Keith concerts in Erie, PA, Crawford County Fair drew big crowds
