Only then did he begin to respond to the music of the artists who have become his idols--George Jones, Merle Haggard, and Hank Williams. Strait was stationed at the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii in as part of his military service. While there he auditioned for an Army-sponsored country-and-western band and was made lead singer. The band entertained at Army functions, presenting hours of Jones and Haggard songs, and gradually Strait's style began to echo that of his favorite country stars.
When he was discharged from the Army, Strait formed his own band in Texas and continued to perform. The singer told Vaughan that he never really tried to be original when he did club work. So that's what you do; you sing like Merle or George and pretty soon that's just the way you sing. The prospects did not seem brilliant for Strait and his band, despite their popularity in Texas.
Several trips to Nashville in pursuit of a recording contract came to nothing, so Strait returned to college and earned a degree in agriculture. He was just on the verge of accepting a job with a firm that manufactured ranch equipment when his wife persuaded him to give Nashville one more try.
One of the songs from that first session, "Unwound," went to number four on the country charts. MCA was quick to sign Strait after that, and Woolsey became his manager. Hardly a month has passed since in which a George Strait song has not appeared somewhere on the country top Indeed, Brower suggested that Strait "has ridden the Though he generally does not write his own material, he is a whiz at choosing which songs to perform off of demo tapes.
Strait does not describe himself as a talented songwriter, although he has written a few original compositions. Instead he is able to find songs that are right for him and a core of backup musicians who play with him exclusively. In People , Brower described Strait's sound as "hot as a fresh-baked cathead biscuit.
In the days when "crossover hit" was on everyone's lips in Nashville, Strait had the courage to resist the glitz. He stuck to his strengths--honky tonk and heartache--and won fans with his impeccable appearance and pine-fresh voice. Some critics scoffed, calling him a "yuppie-billy," but Strait made no apologies for his style.
He told Newsweek : "Everywhere I go, people tell me, 'Keep it country--don't change it. You know, the good stuff. You'd get your trailer, truck, and wife back and your mamma wouldn't be in prison. Strait has also not succumbed to the Nashville tendency to make a star's life an open book. Offstage he is intensely private, living on a secluded ranch in San Marcos, Texas, with his wife, Norma, and son, George, Jr, who is nicknamed "Bubba.
A dedicated husband and father, Strait has been known to fly his family from their home to meet his tour bus at various locations around the country. And in April of , he announced that he would introduce a new approach to touring in order to be able to spend more time at home.
Though his concert attendance broke records set by Hank Williams, Sr. He also planned to be done by summer so that he could get back to the ranch full-time. The arrangement increased touring costs and cut down on ticket receipts, but Strait was willing to make the sacrifice. He continued to do well regardless: the first four spring dates sold out, drawing between 44, and 63, fans. Other dates were near sell-outs, even in cities like Detroit, where promoters were not aware that country was so popular.
Though his large stadium shows boasted five video screens, Strait remained true to his style. If you're a George Strait fan, it's pure country. During the late s, Strait founded the George Strait Music Festival, which features a collection of artists on a Lollapalooza-like tour. Any performer, living or dead, can be nominated as long as they have had at least five years in the industry.
A fan club, film studio, record company, broadcaster, or the performer themselves can submit an application for a star on the walk. So if he wants one he can buy one, no problem. I want to reach the point where people hear my name and immediately think of real country music. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro.
Getting Started Contributor Zone ». Edit page. Create a list ». Native Texans. As the new millennium began, Strait remained a strong draw for country music fans. Strait continues to be a popular force in country music today. Released in , Troubadour debuted at the top of the country album charts. The recording's first single, "I Saw God Today," also became number one on the country charts.
While he may have stepped away from the stage, Strait has five more albums on his contract with MCA Records. Outside of his music career, Strait has several interests, including steer-roping, golf and skiing.
He and his wife Norma have one son named George, Jr. His daughter, Jennifer, died in a car accident in In honor of her life, the family founded The Jennifer Lynn Strait Foundation, which raises money for children's charities.
Tragically, their daughter was killed in a car accident when she was only 13 years old; a fund, the Jenifer Strait Memorial Foundation , was established in her memory. Throughout his illustrious career, which has spanned almost 40 years, Strait has continued to use his original band for his live shows.
Plus, they're great players," Strait says. But we always got the beer free. Strait launched his farewell The Cowboy Rides Away Tour in , choosing to focus on making albums but staying off the road. You rarely see anything. Still, in , Strait announced that he would perform a series of concerts in Las Vegas, Nev. Though he's not launched a full-scale tour since that farewell trek, he does perform a number of shows in Las Vegas and elsewhere each year.
Visit his website for details on upcoming dates.
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