George Strait

Artist Image: George Strait
Attribution
Image Credit: Bede735 (Own work), CC BY-SA 3.0

Biography

George Harvey Strait (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional Country music. George Strait holds the world record for more number-one hit singles than any other artist in the history of music on any chart or in any genre, having recorded 59 number-one hit singles as of 2012. Strait rocketed to success after his first single "Unwound" was a hit in 1981. While contributing to the neo-traditional movement of the 1980s, he amassed seven number one albums in the decade with his most popular hits including "Fool Hearted Memory" and "Ocean Front Property". By the 1990s, Strait had influenced a new breed of performers while continuing his own successes, having charted upwards of 20 number-one hits including "Heartland" and "Blue Clear Sky". In the 2000s, Strait was named Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music, was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and won his first Grammy award for his hit album Troubadour. Strait continued his previous successes throughout the decade, producing a more contemporary sound with moderate cross-over hits including "She'll Leave You with a Smile" and "You'll Be There". Strait was named CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1989 and 1990, and ACM Entertainer of the Year in 1990. He has been nominated for more CMA and ACM awards and has more wins in both categories than any other artist. As of 2011, he holds the record for the most number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts with 44 number one singles. Counting all other music charts, Strait has amassed a total of 59 number-one hits overall, breaking a record previously set by Conway Twitty. Strait has sold more than 68.5 million albums in the United States and his certifications from the RIAA include 13 multi-platinum, 33 platinum, and 38 gold albums. His best-selling album is Pure Country (1992), which sold 6 million (6× Multi-platinum). His highest certified album is Strait Out of the Box (1995), which sold 2 million copies (8× Multi-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.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1976
Number of Albums 55
Record Label MCA Nashville
Website georgestraitlive.com
Wikipedia George Strait on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Country

Trivia

What year was George Harvey Strait born?

1952

...George Harvey Strait (born on May 15, 1952 ) is a legendary and prolific country music star. He has amassed a staggering 56 No. His last major concert ...
What is the name of Strait's last major tour?

The Cowboy Rides Away Tour

...ing 56 No. His last major concert tour, in 2014, was known as The Cowboy Rides Away Tour . He was raised on a cattle ranch and spent the summers workin...
How many hits has Strait had?

56

... a legendary and prolific country music star. He has amassed a staggering 56 No. His last major concert tour, in 2014, was known as The Cowboy Rides A...
Where was Strait raised?

cattle ranch

...in 2014, was known as The Cowboy Rides Away Tour. He was raised on a cattle ranch and spent the summers working on the ranch with his parents, brother...
Who took Strait's sister to live with?

His mother

...brother and sister. When he was in third grade, his parents divorced. His mother took his sister to live with her, while George and his brother stayed...
Strait eloped with his high school sweetheart in what country?

Mexico

..., but dropped out and eloped with his high school sweetheart, Norma, in Mexico . He began playing in a country band while in the military. After being ...
What was Strait's degree in 1979?

agriculture

... his family moved back to Texas, where he enrolled once more in Southwest Texas State University, and he graduated with an agriculture degree in 1979....
What is Strait known as?

King of Country

...Strait is known as the King of Country and is considered one of the most influential and popular recording artists of all time. He was a prominent and...
Strait was famed for his simple cowboy image and what sound?

rootsoriented

...country movement of the 1980s, famed for his simple cowboy image and rootsoriented sound at a time when the Nashville music industry was dominated by ...
What was Strait's first single?

Unwound

...ountry pop crossover acts. Strait's success began when his first single Unwound was a hit in 1981, signalling the arrival of the neotraditional moveme...
When was Unwound released?

1981

... acts. Strait's success began when his first single Unwound was a hit in 1981 , signalling the arrival of the neotraditional movement. During the 1980s...
How many albums reached the top of the 80's?

seven

...signalling the arrival of the neotraditional movement. During the 1980s, seven of his albums reached number one on the country charts. He has been nom...
What type of music did Strait play?

Country

...Strait is known as the King of Country and is considered one of the most influential and popular recording artists of all time. He was a prominent and...
How many number one hits has Strait amassed?

60

...as more wins in both categories than any other artist. Strait has amassed 60 numberone hits. Give It All We Got Tonight was number one in 2013, breaki...
How much did Strait Tours earn in three years?

99 million

...career when he designed a 360degree configuration and introduced festival style tours. For example, the Strait Tours earned 99 million in three years....
What was Strait's father's job?

high school math teacher

...Born on May 18, 1952, in Poteet, TX; son of a high school math teacher ; married Norma Voss; children: Jennifer (deceased), George, Jr. Education: Bach...
How many of Strait's albums have been platinumcertified?

26

...naged to wrangle a contract with MCA Records. Of his more than 30 albums, 26 have been platinumcertified, meaning they sold more than 1 million copies...
What type of music did Strait gravitate to?

rock

...her conventional, and like most teenagers in the 1960s, he gravitated to rock music and thought little of country. After high school Strait tried coll...
Strait dropped out of college after high school, married his high school sweetheart, and joined what army?

U.S. Army

...but he dropped out, married his high school sweetheart, and joined the U.S. Army . Only then did he begin to respond to the music of the artists who ha...
Where was Strait stationed in 1973?

Schofield Barracks in Hawaii

...idolsGeorge Jones, Merle Haggard, and Hank Williams. Strait was stationed at the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii in 1973 as part of his military service....
What does Strait's guitar collide with every time he straps on?

fresh & exciting

...ge Strait is his innate ability to collide comfortable & worn with fresh & exciting every time he straps on his guitar and steps up to the microphone....
How many platinum or multiplatinumselling albums does Strait boast?

33

...des 60 No. 1 singles, more than any other artist in any genre; and boasts 33 platinum or multiplatinumselling albums, more than any country artist and...
Strait was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in what year?

2006

...ince his 1981 debut, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006 . He has since released five more albums, including the GRAMMY Awardwinni...
What is the name of Country Music's latest charttopping album?

Cold Beer Conversation

...MY Awardwinning Troubadour and his latest charttopping release, Cold Beer Conversation . In 2014, he shattered the North American indoor concert attend...
How many concertgoers attended Strait's The Cowboy Rides Away Tour finale in Dallas?

104,793

...hattered the North American indoor concert attendance record by drawing 104,793 concertgoers to his The Cowboy Rides Away Tour finale at AT&T Stadium ...
How many sold out shows will Strait perform at the TMobile Arena in 2016?

six

...boy Rides Away Tour finale at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Strait will perform six soldout shows at the TMobile Arena in 2016 as part of his Strait to Vega...
What was the name of the tour Strait launched in the early 2010s?

Cowboy Rides Away

...ak waned in the early 2010s, right around the time he launched his Cowboy Rides Away tour. Strait was born and raised in southern Texas, near San Anto...
How long did Strait stay true to his oldfashioned sounds?

five decades

...e. This sound and light touch became Strait's signature for the next five decades , as he stayed true to these oldfashioned sounds without ever seeming...
Where was George Strait born and raised?

southern Texas

... launched his Cowboy Rides Away tour. Strait was born and raised in southern Texas , near San Antonio, the son of a junior high school teacher who also...
How long had the Strait ranch been in the family?

nearly 100 years

... owned and operated a ranch that had been in the Strait family for nearly 100 years . When George was a child, his mother left the family, taking her d...
What did his mother leave behind when he was a child?

her sons

...s a child, his mother left the family, taking her daughter but leaving her sons behind with their father. During his childhood, he would spend his wee...
Where was Strait stationed two years later?

Hawaii

...soon dropped out and eloped with his high school sweetheart, Norma. In 1971, Strait enlisted in the Army; two years later, he was stationed in Hawaii ....
How many records has Strait sold worldwide?

over 100 million

...on as George Strait. At 70 years old, the King of Country has sold over 100 million records worldwide. But the notoriously pressshy singer doesn't mak...
When was Strait one of the most popular concert and recording artists?

1980s and 90s

...He was among the most popular concert and recording artists in the 1980s and 90s , and his shows continued to pack stadiums to their capacity well into...
What did Strait spend many weekends with his brother riding?

horses

...ry. During his youth Strait spent many weekends with his brother riding horses , roping cattle, and otherwise absorbing the lifestyle and values of the...
What was not an element of the culture that he readily embraced?

Country music

... and otherwise absorbing the lifestyle and values of the rural West. Country music , however, was not an element of the culture that he readily embrace...
Strait married who in 1971?

highschool sweetheart

...Texas State UniversitySan Marcos) for a year, Strait married his highschool sweetheart and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1971. While stationed in Hawai...
In what year did he join the U.S. Army?

1971

...trait married his highschool sweetheart and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1971 . While stationed in Hawaii, he refined his guitar and vocal technique an...
Who was the champion of western swing?

Bob Wills

... music of Hank Williams, George Jones, Merle Haggard, and, especially, Bob Wills , the champion of western swing. In 1973, while still in the military,...
When did Strait leave the army?

1975

... his first country music band, at his army post. Strait left the army in 1975 , resumed his studies at Southwest Texas State University, and graduated ...
Where did he pursue his studies?

Southwest Texas State University

...post. Strait left the army in 1975, resumed his studies at Southwest Texas State University , and graduated with a degree in agriculture in 1979. While...
What was the band Stoney Ridge later renamed?

Ace in the Hole

...e university he joined the country band Stoney Ridge (later renamed Ace in the Hole ), which played regularly in the clubs near campus. Strait tried re...
What country band did Strait join?

Stoney Ridge

...iculture in 1979. While at the university he joined the country band Stoney Ridge (later renamed Ace in the Hole), which played regularly in the clubs...
Where was Strait trying to promote his music?

Nashville

...the clubs near campus. Strait tried repeatedly to promote his music in Nashville , but the industry executives balked, doubting the appeal of his tradi...
What company did George Strait land a recording contract with in the 1980s?

MCA records

...ng in the U.S. Army. He landed a recording contract in the 1980s with MCA records and produced numerous hit albums throughout the next three decades. ...
What was the name of Strait's first album?

Strait Country

...Records in 1981. Featuring the hit single Unwound, his first album, Strait Country (1981), was influential in increasing the radio play of more tradit...
When did Strait's parents divorce?

when he was still in grade school

...His parents divorced when he was still in grade school , and Strait and his older brother Buddy were raised by their father, John Strait, a junior high...
Who raised Strait and his older brother?

John Strait

..., and Strait and his older brother Buddy were raised by their father, John Strait , a junior high school math teacher. Strait didnt listen much to coun...
Strait was inspired by what rock group?

British Invasion

... country music growing up; rather, he was inspired by the mid1960s British Invasion rock groups and joined a number of garage bands in high school. He...
What was Strait seriously considering?

a music career

...egree in agriculture, but by then he was also seriously considering a music career . He hooked up with the Ace in the Hole band, began extensive region...
Who was the club owner and former record promotion man?

Erv Woolsey

...n Strait as a major label prospect. During one fortuitous club appearance, club owner and former record promotion man Erv Woolsey liked what he heard....