If you grew up in Texas from 1970 to 2000, especially West Texas and Central Texas, you probably were weened on what those of us from West Texas called Cowboy Music…..which is at the heart of what “country music” really is about….for if you simply listen to just the voices in this genre of country and western music tells you that these folks are probably from the country. Anyway, having been raised on Cowboy Music…..while growing up in the middle of large ranching operations in every direction that you drove away from Midland for hundreds of miles…..and these large ranches had large, sometimes huge, with 1,000,000 head cattle herds…..which meant there were lots of cowboys. Out of the lifestyle of cowboys came rodeos that drew hundreds of thousands of people all across cowboy country in Texas…..and live cowboy music was at every rodeo. Having said all of that to say this…..George Strait, who is known as The King of Country Music…..and he was our own singing cowboy from the ranchlands of Central Texas…..which brings us so much joy and anticipation in presenting this post of country music legend George Strait. Simply put, the music of George Strait has been a part of our existence for the past 50 years…..as the truth be known, George’s Christmas album “Merry Christmas Strait To You” is played many times throughout the Christmas season at our house…..as every song on this album is just perfect…..which you will see is a common thread with every song posted in this post of The King of Country Music.
Music – Documentary – 2021 – An I Love Country Music Production Special – “George Strait: A Look Inside His Life And Legend”
Music – 1986 – From the Album Merry Christmas Strait To You – George Strait – “Merry Christmas Strait To You”
Music – 1986 – From the Album Merry Christmas Strait To You – George Strait – “There’s A New Kid In Town”
Music – 1986 – From the Album Merry Christmas Strait To You – George Strait – “When It’s Christmas Time In Texas”
Music – 1986 – From the Album Merry Christmas Strait To You – George Strait – “For Christ’s Sake, It’s Christmas”
George Harvey Strait Sr. (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor and music producer…..who is credited for pioneering the neotraditional country style in the 1980’s…..while gaining fame for his authentic cowboy image and roots-oriented sound at a time when the Nashville music industry was dominated by country pop crossover acts…..so, given his influence on the genre, Strait has been named the “King of Country Music” by writers and music critics. Strait currently holds the record for most # 1 songs on all charts by an artist, in any genre of music.
Music – Biography – 2018 – An Julianne Yaws Production Special – “George Strait: The Life of a Legend”
Strait’s success began when his 1st single “Unwound” was a hit in 1981….. which helped introduce the neotraditional movement to the mainstream….. when during the 1980’s, 7 of his albums reached # 1 on the country charts. In the 2000’s, Strait was named Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music…..while being elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame …..and won his 1st Grammy Award for the album Troubadour. Strait was named CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1989, 1990 and 2013…..and ACM Entertainer of the Year in 1990 and 2014. George Strait has been nominated for more CMA and ACM awards and has more wins in both categories than any other artist.
Music – 1981 – From the Album Strait Country – George Strait – “Unwound”
Music – Documentary – 2022 – A Lifestyle & Net Worth Production Special – “George Strait: The Life and Lifestyle of a Legend”
By 2009, he broke Conway Twitty’s previous record for the most # 1 hits on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart when his 44 singles surpassed Twitty’s 40……while on his way to amassing 60 # 1 hits. “Give It All We Got Tonight” was # 1 in 2013…..also breaking a record previously set by Twitty. Strait holds the record for most # 1 songs on all charts by an artist in any genre of music.”
Music – 2013 – From the Album Give It All We Got Tonight – George Strait – “Give It All We Got Tonight”
Music – 1981 – From the Album Strait Country – George Strait – “If You’re Thinking You Want A Stranger (There’s One Coming Home)”
Music – 1998 – From the Album One Step At A Time – George Strait – “I Just Want To Dance With You”
Strait is also known for his touring career…..when he designed a 360-degree configuration and introduced festival style tours…..which earned $99 million in three years…..plus, his final concert for The Cowboy Rides Away Tour at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in June 2014, drew 104,793 people, marking a new record for largest indoor concert in North America.
Music – Live in Concert Sampler Highlights – 2014 – Live in Arlington, TX with The Cowboy Rides Away Tour Featuring George Strait Opening Set
Strait has sold more than 120 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time…..as his certifications from the RIAA include 13 multi-platinum, 33 platinum and 38 gold albums…..with his best-selling album being Pure Country in 1992…..which sold 6 million (6× platinum). His highest certified album is Strait Out of the Box in 1995….. which sold 2 million copies (8× Platinum due to being a box set with four CDs). According to the RIAA, Strait is the 12th best-selling album recording artist in the United States overall selling over 69 million records across the United States.
Music – Special – 2013 – A George Strait Production Special – “George Strait: Career Highlights”
George Harvey Strait Sr. was born on May 18, 1952, in Poteet, Texas, to John Byron Strait Sr. (January 11, 1922 – June 4, 2013), and Doris Jean Couser (June 26, 1930 – January 30, 2010). He grew up in nearby Pearsall, in Frio County…..where his father was a junior high school mathematics teacher and the owner of a 2,000-acre (810 ha) cattle ranch outside of Big Wells, Texas. The family worked at the ranch on the weekends and in the summers. When George was in the 4th grade, his father and mother were divorced, and his mother moved away with his sister Pency…..while George and his brother John Jr. (1950–2009), were raised by their father.
Music – Special – 2022 – A Christopher Hall – Stories of Country Music Production Special – “George Strait: Before He Was Famous – His Childhood, Teenage Years and Time in The Army”
Strait began his musical career while attending Pearsall High School…..where he performed in a rock and roll garage band, taking most influence from the Beatles. “The Beatles were big,” Strait confirmed. “I listened to them a lot and that whole bunch of groups that were popular then.” His musical preference soon turned to country with singers Hank Thompson, Lefty Frizzell, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Bob Wills, Hank Williams and Frank Sinatra influencing his style. Strait did not tune to the country music radio often as a youth…..as most of the time he was usually listening to the news and the farmer’s report. His introduction to country music came mostly by way of live performances…..which, according to Strait, could be heard in every town in Texas.
Music – Special – 2022 – A Christopher Hall – Stories of Country Music Production Special – “George Strait: Before He Was Famous – Why He Almost Quit Music Before His First Big Hit”
He eloped with his high school sweetheart, Norma Voss…..when the couple initially married in Mexico on December 4, 1971…..then that same year, he enlisted in the United States Army as an infantryman. While stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii as a part of the 25th Infantry Division, Strait began performing with an Army-sponsored band, “Rambling Country”, which also played off-base under the name “Santee”. On October 6, 1972, while still in Hawaii, George and Norma had their 1st child, Jenifer. Strait served in the United States Army from 1971 to 1975…..and ultimately attained the rank of Corporal. After Strait was honorably discharged from the Army in 1975, he enrolled at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in San Marcos. He graduated with a degree in agriculture.
Music – 1989 – From the Album 50 Number Ones – George Strait – “You’ve Got To Have An Ace In The Hole”
Strait was also presented an honorary doctoral degree by his alma mater – Texas State University in San Marcos – in a private ceremony on May 26, 2006. Strait is a loyal alumnus of Texas State; in 1985 he established an endowment fund for the development and operation of the Freeman Ranch for agricultural purposes, land and wildlife management, and gifts of scholarships.
Music -Live in Concert at Reliant Stadium – 2009 – George Strait – “Living For The Night”
During his college years, Strait joined the country band Stoney Ridge, answering a flyer the band posted around campus looking for a new vocalist. Strait renamed the group the Ace in the Hole Band…..and quickly became the lead…..as they began to perform at different honky-tonks and bars around south and central Texas…..while traveling as far east as Huntsville and Houston…..when they gained a regional following…..and opened for national acts such as The Texas Playboys. Soon, his band was given the opportunity to record several Strait-penned singles…..which included “That Don’t Change The Way I Feel About You” and “I Can’t Go On Dying Like This” for the Houston-based D label…..albeit, the songs never achieved wide recognition …..and Strait continued to manage his family cattle ranch during the day to make some extra cash.
Music – 1978 – From the Album Strait Out of the Box – George Strait – “[That Don’t Change] The Way I Feel About You”
Music – 1978 – From the Album Strait Out of the Box – George Strait – “I Just Can’t Go On Dying Like This”
While he continued to play with his band, without any real connections to the recording industry, Strait became friends with Erv Woolsey…..who operated one of the bars in which the Ace in the Hole band played…..and who had previously worked for the major label MCA Records…..so, Woolsey convinced some of his Music Row (Nashville) connections to come to Texas and to listen to Strait and his band play…..and although they were impressed with the performance…..but were concerned that they could not market the Western Swing sound that the band featured…..so, they left without a deal.
Music – 1981 – From the Album Strait Couuntry – George Strait – “Her Goodbye Hit Me In The Heart” – George Strait’s 1st Album
After several unsuccessful trips to Nashville in search of a record deal in which Strait was turned down by every label in town, he considered giving up music altogether. He was offered a job designing cattle pens and decided to take it. He gave the band notice that he was leaving…..but after a discussion with his wife, she convinced him to give music one more year. Not long afterward, MCA signed Strait to a recording contract in February 1981…..with an initial deal was for one song…..and if the single did well, the label would then consider doing an album. The Ace in the Hole Band remained with Strait…..while performing as the backup and touring band for the now solo career of Strait. In the spring of 1981, Strait released his 1st single for MCA Records, titled “Unwound“…..which climbed to # 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart that year…..and was included on his debut album Strait Country. The record featured two more singles including “Down and Out”, a # 16 hit for Strait…..and “If You’re Thinking You Want a Stranger (There’s One Coming Home)”. Strait Country was hailed by critics as a “new-traditionalist” breakthrough that broke the trend of pop-influenced country prevalent at the time.
Music – 1981 – From the Album Strait Couuntry – George Strait – “Friday Night Fever” – George Strait’s 1st Album
Music – Live at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX – 2014 – From the 1981 Album Strait Country – George Strait – “Blame It On Mexico”
Music – Live on Nashville On The Road – 1981 – From the Album Strait Country – George Strait – “Down And Out – George Strait’s 1st Album
Music – Live at Austin City Limits – 1981 – From the Album Strait Country – George Strait – “Honky Tonk Down Stairs” – George Strait’s 1st Album Released
1982 saw the release of Strait’s second album…..which was the critically acclaimed Strait from the Heart…..and featured the 1st # 1 single of his career, “Fool Hearted Memory”…..and the top-5 Western ballad “Amarillo by Morning” originally sung and written by Terry Stafford in 1973 that would later become one of Strait’s signature songs. In 1983, Strait made his 1st appearance at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo…..when the headlining star, Eddie Rabbitt became sick with the flu…..while performing at that rodeo has since become a mainstay throughout his career. He has made more than 20 appearances at the rodeo and played for more than one million fans at the rodeo.
Music – Live on TV Show Hee Haw – 1982 – From the Album Strait From The Heart – George Strait – “A Fire I Can’t Put Out” – George Strait’s 2nd Album
Music – Live on Austin City Limits with Johnny Gimble – 1982 – From the Album Strait From The Heart – George Strait – “Fool Hearted Memory” – George Strait’s 2nd Album
Music – Live in Concert at Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX – 1982 – From the Album Strait From The Heart – George Strait – “Marina Del Rey” – George Strait’s 2nd Album
Music – Live in Concert at Gruene Hall, New Braunfels, TX – 2016 – From the 1982 Album Strait From The Heart – George Strait – “Amarillo By Morning” – George Strait’s 2nd Album
Strait recorded 17 # 1’s during the decade of the 1980’s…..which included a string of five that lasted from 1983 to 1984 from his next two albums Right or Wrong, his 1st # 1 album…..along with the CMA award-winning Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind. The next year, he won the CMA award for top male vocalist…..and released his 1st greatest hits compilation…..which featured songs from his 1st three albums. Also in 1985, Strait released Something Special, the 3rd-straight # 1 album of his career…..while featuring the # 1 single “The Chair”. In 1986, Strait repeated as the CMA vocalist of the year and released his 4th # 1 album #7.
Music – 1983 – From the Album Right or Wrong” – George Strait – “Let’s Fall To Pieces Together”
Music – 1983 – From the Album Right or Wrong” – George Strait – “80 Proof Bottle Of Tear Stopper”
Music – Live in Concert With The Texas Playboys (Rare Footage) – 2017 – From the 1983 Album Right or Wrong” – George Strait – “Right or Wrong”
Music – Live in Concert at the Astrodome, Houston, TX – 2013 – From the 1984 Album Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind – George Strait – “Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind“
Music – Live in Concert at the Astrodome, Houston, TX – 2013 – From the 1984 Album Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind – George Strait – “The Cowboy Rides Away”
Music – Live in Concert at the Erwin Center, Austin, TX – 2018 – From the 1984 Album Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind – George Strait – “The Fireman“
Music – Live on the Hee Haw TV Show – 1985 – From the Album Something Special – George Strait – “You’re Something Special To Me“
Music – Live on Stage – 1985 – From the Album Something Special – George Strait – “Dance Time In Texas“
Music – 1985 – From the Album Something Special – George Strait – “In Too Deep” – Never Released
Music – Live from the Astrodome, Houston, TX – 2013 – From the 1985 Album Something Special – George Strait – “The Chair”
Music – 1985 – From the Album Something Special – George Strait – “Lefty’s Gone” – Strait’s Tribute To Lefty Frizzell
Strait and his family were struck with tragedy when his 13-year-old daughter, Jenifer, was killed in a one-car, alcohol-unrelated accident in 1986. She was riding in a Ford Mustang driven by Gregory Wilson Allen, 18, of Staples, Texas.
Music – 1986 – From the Album # 7 – George Strait – “Deep Water”
Music – 1986 – From the Album # 7 – George Strait – “It Ain’t Cool To Be Crazy About You”
Music – 1986 – From the Album # 7 – George Strait – “My Old Flame’s Out Burnin’ Another Honky Tonk Down”
Music – 1986 – From the Album # 7 – George Strait – “I’m Never Gonna Let You Go”
Music – 1986 – From the Album # 7 – George Strait – “Cow Town”
His grief did not hinder his performance, however, or his output, as he went on to release 11 straight # 1 hits, starting with “Nobody in His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her” in 1986…..and ending with “Ace in the Hole” in 1989. The singles spanned four albums…..which included #7, Ocean Front Property in 1987, If You Ain’t Lovin’ You Ain’t Livin’ in 1988…..and 1989’s Beyond the Blue Neon…..as each of these reached the # 1 spot on country album charts. Ocean Front Property was the 1st country album to ever debut at # 1 on the charts by any artist. The streak included such songs as “Ocean Front Property”…..“All My Ex’s Live in Texas”…..”Famous Last Words of a Fool”…..and “Baby Blue”. Strait finished the decade by winning the CMA Entertainer of the Year award in 1989…..and one year later, he won the award again.
Music – Live in Concert – 1986 – A Nashville Network Production Special – “George Strait: Something Special”
Music – Live in Concert at Reunion Arena in Dallas, TX – 1987 – George Strait and the Ace in the Hole Band – Entire Concert
Music – Live at Austin City Limits – 1989 – A dahliacorona Production Special – George Strait Sings – “Nobody In His Right Mind Would Have Left Her”
Music – 1989 – From the Album Ace In The Hole – George Strait – “Ace In The Hole”
Music – 1989 – From the Album If You Ain’t Lovin’ (You Ain’t Livin’) – George Strait – “If You Ain’t Lovin’ , You Ain’t Livin'”
Music – 1989 – From the Album Beyond The Blue Neon – George Strait – “Beyond The Blue Neon”
Music – Live in Concert at AT&T Center in Arlington, TX – 2014 – From the 1986 Album Ocean Front Property – George Strait – “Ocean Front Property”
Music – Live on Stage – 1988 – From the Album If You Ain’t Lovin’, You Ain’t Livin’) – George Strait – “Famous Last Words Of A Fool”
Music – 1988 – From the Album If You Ain’t Lovin’ (You Ain’t Livin’) – George Strait – “Baby Blue”
Music & Awards – CMA Awards Show – 1989 – CMA Entertainer of the Year Award Presented by Barbara Mandrell To George Strait – With His Acceptance Speech
Music & Awards – CMA Awards Show – 1990 – CMA Entertainer of the Year Award Presented to George Strait – With His Acceptance Speech
Strait began the decade with the release of his 10th studio album, Livin’ It Up…..which featured two # 1 hits…..with “Love Without End, Amen”, his 1st multiweek hit…..and “I’ve Come to Expect It From You”…..when both songs remained 1st for 5 weeks in 1990…..when Chill of an Early Fall shortly followed in 1991…..and it received positive reviews. Entertainment Weekly noted that the album marked a shift for Strait from “repeating himself” in his previous works to producing different material. It produced the # 1 songs “If I Know Me” and “You Know Me Better Than That”…..but it ended his streak of 31 straight top-10 hits with the cover of “Lovesick Blues”…..which peaked at # 24. The record blocked his run of eight top-charting albums with its peak of # 4. In the spring of 1992, Holding My Own was released…..which did not produce any # 1’s…..but it did include 2 top-five songs, including “So Much Like My Dad”.
Music – Live in Concert at the Astrodome – 2002 – From the Album Livin’ It Up – George Strait – “Love Without End, Amen”
Music – Live in Concert at the 1990 CMA Awards – 2002 – From the Album Livin’ It Up – George Strait – “I’ve Come To Expect It From You”
Music – Official Music Video – 1991 – From the Album Chill of an Early Morning – George Strait – “I Know Me”
Music – 1991 – From the Album Chill of an Early Morning – George Strait – “You Know Me Better Than That”
Music – 1991 – From the Album Chill of an Early Morning – George Strait – “Lovesick Blues”
Music – 1992 – From the Album Holding My Own – George Strait – “So Much Like My Dad”
Music – 1992 – From the Album Holding My Own – George Strait – “Trains Make Me Lonesome”
Music – 1992 – From the Album Holding My Own – George Strait – “Gone As A Girl Can Get”
Later in 1992, Strait played the main character in the film Pure Country….. while releasing the film’s soundtrack…..which was his most successful studio album…..while producing such hits as “Heartland”, “I Cross My Heart”, and “When Did You Stop Loving Me”…..and peaked at # 1 and # 6 respectively on the Country and Billboard 200 album charts. The success continued with his next album, Easy Come, Easy Go in 1993…..which reached the top 5 on the Billboard 200…..and featured the hits “I’d Like to Have That One Back”, “The Man in Love with You”…..and…..the # 1 title track Easy Come, Easy Go.
Music & Movie – Official Music Video for Movie Pure Country – 1992 – From the Album Pure Country – George Strait – “Heartland”
Music – 1992 – From the Album Pure Country – George Strait – “Baby Your Baby”
Music – Official Music Video – 1992 – From the Album Pure Country – George Strait – “I Cross My Heart”
Music – Live in Concert in Arlington, TX – 2014 – From the Album Pure Country – Cheryl Crow & George Strait Duet – “When Did You Stop Loving Me”
Music – 1992 – From the Album Pure Country – George Strait – “Overnight Male”
Music – 1992 – From the Album Pure Country – George Strait – “The King Of Broken Hearts”
Music – 1992 – From the Album Pure Country – George Strait – “Where The Sidewalk Ends”
Music – 1993 – From the Album Easy Come, Easy Go – George Strait – “I’d Like To Have That One Back”
Music – Official Music Video – 1993 – From the Album Easy Come, Easy Go – George Strait – “The Man In Love With You”
Music – 1993 – From the Album Easy Come, Easy Go – George Strait – “Easy Come, Easy Go”
His next four albums, including Lead On in 1994, Blue Clear Sky in 1996, Carrying Your Love with Me in 1997 and 1998’s One Step at a Time, all charted at #1…..with Blue Clear Sky claiming the spot on its debut week….. and Carrying Your Love with Me peaking at #1 on the Billboard 200 for the 1st time in Strait’s career. This series of albums produced eight # 1 singles for Strait, including “You Can’t Make a Heart Love Somebody”…..”Carried Away” …..”One Night at a Time”…..and…..“I Just Want to Dance with You”.
Music – Live in Concert at the AT&T Center, Arlington, TX – 2014 – From the 1994 Album Lead On – George Strait – “Lead On”
Music – 1994 – From the Album Lead On – George Strait – “I Met A Friend Of Yours Today”
Music – 1994 – From the Album Lead On – George Strait – “You Can’t Make A Heart Love Somebody”
Music – 1994 – From the Album Lead On – George Strait – “Adalida”
Music – 1996 – From the Album Blue Clear Sky – George Strait – “Blue Clear Sky”
Music – Live in Concert at the ACL Festival at Zilker Park, Austin, TX – 2021 – From the 1996 Album Blue Clear Sky – George Strait – “Carried Away”
Music – Live In Concert at the Astrodome, Houston – 1996 – From the Album Blue Clear Sky – George Strait – “I Can Still Make Cheyenne”
Music – 1997 – From the Album Carrying Your Love With Me – George Strait – “Round About Way”
Music – Official Music Video – 1997 – From the Album Carrying Your Love With Me – George Strait – “Carrying Your Love With Me”
Music – 1997 – From the Album Carrying Your Love With Me – George Strait – “One Night At A Time”
Music – 1997 – From the Album Carrying Your Love With Me – George Strait – “Today My World Slipped Away”
During this period, Strait also released a four-disc, box-set career retrospective, Strait Out of the Box, in 1995…..which became the 2nd-best selling box set ever with shipments of 8 million in the United States. He was named as the CMA’s Top Male Vocalist in 1997 and 1998.
Music – 4 Disc Box Set – 1995 – From the Album Strait Out Of The Box – George Strait – “I Can’t See Texas From Here”
Music – Live on Stage – 1995 – From 4 Disc Box Set Album Strait Out Of The Box – George Strait – “You Look So Good In Love”
Music – 4 Disc Box Set – 1995 – From the Album Strait Out Of The Box – George Strait – “I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name”
Music – Live on Stage – 1995 – 4-Disc Box Set Album Strait Out Of The Box – George Strait – “6 Pack To Go”
Music – Live at Austin City Limits in Zilker Park, Austin, TX – 2021 – From the 1995 4-Disc Box Set Album Strait Out Of The Box – George Strait – “Milk Cow Blues”
Starting in 1997, and continuing until 2001, Strait headlined the George Strait Country Music Festival…..which included artists such as Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, and others. In an effort to introduce these acts to as many fans as possible, the festival promised not to visit any market more than twice…..as it played only a small number of dates, usually no more than 20 a year…..but still managed to be the 9th-biggest grossing tour of 1998.
Music – Live on Stage at the Brooks & Dunn Concert – 2019 – George Strait – “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”
Strait completed the decade with the album Always Never the Same in 1999 …..which peaked at # 2 on country charts…..and matched the cross-over success of Pure Country by reaching # 6 on the Billboard 200. The record produced the hits “What Do You Say to That”…..”Meanwhile”…..and…..the # 1 “Write This Down”. Reviews of the album’s material were generally mixed, but Entertainment Weekly observed that at this point in his career, Strait could record the “most lightweight” material and “make it soar” on the radio with his “grace”. Isn’t the Power of Grace amazing and interesting how it manifests itself. All in all, Strait scored 17 # 1 hits on the Billboard country airplay charts in the decade…..and carried his successes into the next century. It is obvious by these accomplishments, that George Strait was beginning to establish his moniker as The King of Country Music.
Music – Official Music Video – 1999 – From the Album Always Never the Same – George Strait – “Write This Down”
Music – 1999 – From the Album Always Never the Same – George Strait – “Meanwhile”
Music – 1999 – From the Album Always Never the Same – George Strait – “What Do You Say To That”
Music – 1999 – From the Album Always Never the Same – George Strait – “Always Never The Same”
END OF PART 1
CONTINUE PART 2 ON NEXT POST
