Toby McKeehan, a.okay.a. TobyMac, will love his fallen son til' the day he dies.
Love broke thu when the Christian rapper/songwriter married his wife Amanda in 1994. The couple started a family, welcoming their first son, Truett in 1998, and four more children after. In 2002, the couple followed twins Moses and Marlee at birth, then welcomed Leo in 2004 and Judah in 2006. God in reality blessed them.
But the McKeehan circle of relatives was examined when Truett, who was once all set to follow in his famous father's footsteps in the music business, kicked the bucket in 2019. TobyMac and his wife needed to do what no oldsters should have to do; bury their son. They entered the healing process after that, but they knew God was on their side thru all of it.
Since losing Truett, TobyMac seems to be popping out of the opposite end of the tunnel a new individual, a new father, and indubitably a new artist. He used his music to heal, however the wound will all the time be there, just like the memory of Truett. Here's how the inspirational singer coped with the death of his son.
Who Is TobyMac?
TobyMac began his music occupation when he formed DC Talk in 1987. They released their self-titled debut album in 1989, and 5 others until the group disbanded, and TobyMac launched into a solo occupation.
TobyMac's debut solo album was 2001's Momentum. He then released his second, 2004's Welcome to Diverse City, his third, 2007's Portable Sounds, and his fourth, 2010's Tonight. After that, he released 2012's Eye on It, 2015's This Is Not a Test, and his 7th and ultimate studio album, 2018's The Elements.
Overall, he is had 20 solo singles on Billboard's Christian Songs checklist and become the 3rd Christian artist to have a No. 1 debut on Billboard two hundred chart with his album Eye on It. He's offered over 10 million records and has seven Grammys.
With all of these achievements, you'll think TobyMac could be beginning to slow down, now that he is nearly 60, but it is relatively the opposite. He's just getting began, nonetheless traveling and recording like he is in his '20s.
Who Is TobyMac's Son, Truett?
From a very early age, it was once lovely transparent to Truett what he sought after to do with his existence. He wanted to be just like his father.
By the time he was once six, he was guest-starring on TobyMac's albums. He made his musical debut on his father's 2004 album, Welcome to Diverse City, and later seemed on most of TobyMac's albums underneath the identify truDog. Under the identify TRU, he recorded a track on This is Not a Test.
In the final couple of years of his life, Truett had started to go into into his own a hit music occupation. He was an aspiring rapper just like his dad, penned his personal songs, and produced the entirety he recorded.
When he turned 21, he wanted to start a solo occupation under the identify Truett Foster. Before his death, he launched his self-produced single, "Eyes," in June 2019.
How Did Truett Pass Away?
Sadly, Truett was once found useless, on the age of 21, in his Nashville house on October 23, 2019. According to Davidson County autopsy and toxicology effects, he died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl and amphetamines. He additionally had Adderall and marijuana in his machine on the time of demise.
Meanwhile, his father was on a week-long Canadian excursion, which was once cut quick following the inside track. The circle of relatives released a observation soon after and stated Truett "had joy that took the room when he entered.
"He used to be a magnetic son and brother and buddy. If you met him you knew him, you remembered him. His smile, his snigger, the encouragement he introduced with words or even without. He had an untamable grand persona and goals to compare. And he hated being installed a box.
"He expressed himself through the music he made. And by made I mean, written, recorded, produced, mixed, and designed the art. All of it. A true artist. His first show was a week ago, and it was nothing short of electric. Everyone felt it, everyone knew it. He could’ve easily taken the easy route and put music out when he was 12, 14, 16, even 18, but he always said he wanted to live some life and have something to say before he did it. He didn’t want to be a child star, he wanted to be a man with scars and a story to tell. I always admired, respected and encouraged that stand."
TobyMac went on to give an explanation for the special relationship that Truett had with God and his family. In truth, the very remaining time he noticed his son was once at Truett's first show, and no person within the audience was extra proud than TobyMac.
What Did TobyMac Do To Cope With His Son's Death?
The best possible thing TobyMac could have achieved, following the dying of Truett, used to be to be around circle of relatives. But if we know anything about the singer, he didn't wallow in his grief; he used it and Truett's memory to create one thing that could heal his soul.
In January 2020, TobyMac launched "21 Years" as a tribute to his son. He said the tune provided "an honest confession of the questions, pain, anger, doubt, mercy and promise that describes the journey I’m probably only beginning."
"The last couple of months have been the hardest I’ve ever faced," TobyMac wrote on Instagram in announcing the music. "Thank you for the love and support. Part of my process has always been to write about the things I’m going through, but this went to a whole new level. What started out as getting some of my thoughts and feelings about losing my firstborn son down on paper, ended up a song. "21 Years" is a song I never wanted to write. I hope it’s for someone out there, or maybe it’s just for me."
Later, TobyMac and his circle of relatives launched the Truett Foster Foundation, "an organization raising college scholarship funds for underserved youth" to assist them "realize their God-given potential to change the lives of others."
A Tribute To His Son
Just prior to the pandemic, TobyMac paid tribute to his son on stage in Milwaukee. Before any song started up, he walked on degree and mentioned, "The last four months of my life have been the hardest and darkest months I've ever lived.
"Thank you for your cards, letters, your type social media posts that experience encouraged us, however mostly I wish to say thank you in your prayers," he continued. "Me and my family are truly grateful to you."
But even then, TobyMac didn't break down; he wouldn't let his own sadness get in the way of him giving a great performance. He did it for Truett.
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