by Jon Rawl

Since his first single, “Unwound,” made its debut back in 1981, George Strait has sold more than 62 million records and counting.

With 32 different platinum or multi-platinum albums, the country music superstar has garnered the second most certifications of any artist in any genre, following only Elvis Presley. And he’s not slowing down.

With 55 No. 1 singles under his trademark hat, the latest hit, “I Saw God Today,” stormed out of the chute like a raging bull back in February. “Wow, let me just say a huge thank you to country radio,” Strait said. “I love you guys.”

Little Boy Poteet

On May 18, 1952, in the tiny town of Poteet, Texas, George Harvey Strait was born. He and older brother Buddy were raised in nearby Pearsall by a single dad, who was a local math teacher. “He just dedicated the rest of his life to raising my brother and me,” Strait said of his dad.

Growing up in Southwest Texas, the singer was exposed to country music at an early age. He also got a big dose of the cowboy lifestyle, which remains a big part of his music and life today.

In 1971, Strait signed up to be a private in the Army. Around that time, he lassoed his high school sweetheart, Norma Voss; and the Straits eloped to Mexico.
George had the good fortune of being stationed as a payroll clerk in Hawaii, and this is where the couple welcomed their first child, Jenifer, on Oct. 6, 1972. (Jenifer was killed in 1986 in a car accident in San Marcos, Texas.)

It was during his Army days that the Southerner began to take music a little more seriously. He formed a band, Rambling Country, and the applause started coming. Southwest Texas State University landed Strait as a student in 1975, after his active duty gig came to a halt. In the San Marcos college town, he formed the Ace In The Hole Band, and served as lead singer. That catchy band continues to be his accompaniment in 2008.

Strait graduated with an agriculture degree in 1979, and set his sights on plowing a new row in country music.

Hit Parade

In order for Strait to emerge from the Lone Star State to the national stage, he needed a little help from Music City.

After many attempts to get a record deal, MCA Records finally stepped up and signed the unknown to a deal. Strait entered the recording studio to record “Unwound,” and in early 1981 that debut soared to the Top 10 of the country charts.

At the same time his music career was taking flight, Norma was giving birth to the couple’s son, George Jr., aka “Bubba.” (Bubba recently graduated from Texas A&M, and is now a professional team roper.)

The 1980s gave the singer his first No. 1 (“Fool Hearted Memory”), first platinum album, and a successful tour.

The ‘90s brought Strait to the big screen as “Dusty” in the hit film Pure Country. Oh, he just also continued his dominance on the airplay and sales charts, with classics such as “Easy Come, Easy Go,” and “Blue Clear Sky.”

He continues to crank out hits in the 21st Century, with monsters the likes of “She’ll Leave You With A Smile,” “Run,” and “Give It Away.”

“I’ve always just done the music that I felt comfortable doing,” says Strait. “I don’t really think that everything I’ve done has been really hard-core traditional – there’s definitely songs that you couldn’t classify that way.”

And other singers appreciate what Strait has been doing for 28 years. “The great thing about George Strait,” rising star Dierks Bentley says, “is that he’s being doing it since the early ‘80s, but he still makes every sound check, which is more than a lot of guys below him can say. He brings who he is to each town, which is really a Texas dance hall singer.

“He can make the biggest arena feel like it’s a honky-tonk, trying to take that crazy energy to the biggest venue and making it feel as small as possible. He still enjoys touring after all the years.”

The tour Strait annually puts on is indeed one heckuva hot ticket. “When I’m on stage doing a show, I still get nervous before I leave the bus,” he says. “And I’m nervous right up to the point where I break into the first song, and then that kinda leaves me and I just feed off the crowd after that. A lot of people say I look pretty laid-back on-stage, and that may be true, but I’m pretty pumped up there. And having a great band inspires me, too – the guys continue to amaze me on-stage.”
And the music world continues to be amazed by the Southern Gentleman leading the Ace In The Hole Band – almost 30 years into the ride.