Yallwire News

The Grammy Awards will  honor Toby Keith's late friend, Wayman Tisdale, with Keith's first solo Grammy nomination.

The country star is up for an award in the "Best Male Country Vocal Performance" category for his song "Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song). Toby wrote the track for his talented friend who lost his battle with cancer.

"Wayman was the greatest basketball player ever at the University of Oklahoma, great NBA player and great jazz musician. He was a great guy who always had a smile on his face and touch everybody. We've all got some wall that's around us, but Wayman had no wall around him. Everyone was just a handshake and smile away from being Wayman's friend."

Talking about the course of Tisdale's illness, Toby said, "He called me on a Thursday night at nine o'clock and was going to lease a couple of my buses to take out on the road for a couple of days. The next morning, his esophagus gave way from all the chemo he'd been taking. At his last treatment all of his scans were clear and he was ready to go back to work.  Then his esophagus collapsed and he passed away the next morning at 8 o'clock. We lost him and I wrote this song 'Cryin' For Me' for Wayman."

The sentimental singer adds, "I was going to play it at the funeral, but it was too emotional at the time, too close to play it. I waited a couple months and recorded it. I met Dave Koz and I'd already met Marcus Miller, and asked them if they'd be interested in playing on it. Dave Koz plays sax on it; Marcus Miller lead bass Wayman's style and we put the song together. It's a very touching tribute to my buddy."

Keith ended up performing the song at the ACM Awards earlier this year. The track was then offered for sale on iTunes, with proceeds benefiting Stand Up 2 Cancer.