Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

STRAIT, George

(b 18 May '52, Poteet TX) Honky- tonk country singer, the most successful of the '80s and a major influence on the young hunkabillies of the '90s. Father was a cattle rancher; he eloped with his girl friend, then joined the US Army. Became full-time army entertainer; recorded briefly for Pappy Daily's 'D' Records in Houston '76, went to Nashville and signed with MCA; hit the country top ten with his first single 'Unwound' '81 and stayed there, 30 no. 1 hits incl. 'Fool Hearted Memory' '82, 'Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?' '84, 'The Chair' '86, 'All My Ex's Live In Texas', 'Love Without End, Amen', 'Heartland', 'Easy Come, Easy Go', 'Check Yes Or No' (CMA Single of the Year '96) etc. Named CMA Male Vocalist '85--6, Entertainer of the Year '89--90 and came back to snatch four awards '96 incl. Male Vocalist. Infl. by Bob Wills, Hank Williams, George Jones and Merle Haggard, he avoided much of the slickness of Nashville product, not a songwriter but astute in choice of songs, relying on writers such as Hank Cochran and Dean Dillon. One of biggest box office draws on the American music scene, he cut down live dates from 250 '86 to a mere 60 ten years later; unassuming and home- loving, he farmed a ranch in San Marcos TX (degree in agriculture from South West Texas U), and often went missing for days on hunting trips. Starred in movie Pure Country '93, a runaway box office smash with soundtrack album crossing to pop. Eighteen CDs were available '97 not counting Greatest Hits sets and a Christmas album; four-CD Strait Out Of The Box '95 was one the biggest-selling boxed sets regardless of genre.