The Professional Work of George Strait
(born May 18, 1952 )
Career Highlights
Band Name: Ace In the Hole
Film, Night Club, Radio & TV
- Austin City Limits, 4
- Billy Bob's Texas, 2
- Gilley’s Club, 2
- Nashville Now, 4
1-Film, 2-Night Club, 3-Radio, 4-TV
Billboard Chart Data
- No. 1 Singles: 25
- Top-10 Singles: 37
- Crossover Singles: 0
- Charted Singles: 43
- Chart Years Active: (1981-1993)
Awards
Country Music Association
- Country Music Hall of Fame (2006)
- Entertainer of the Year (1989, 1990)
- Male Vocalist of the Year (1985, 1986)
- Album of the Year - Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Academy of Country Music
- Entertainer of the Year (1989, 1990)
- Top Male Vocalist (1984, 1985, 1988)
Career Label: MCA Records (1981-1993)
Billboard Top-10 Singles
---------------------------------------------------------------------------The Professional Work of George Strait
George Strait is often referred to as the King of Country Music and critics, with justifiable cause, call Strait a living legend. George rocketed to success after his first single Unwound charted in 1981. While contributing to the neo-traditional movement of the 1980s, he amassed seven No. 1 albums in the decade with his most popular singles including Fool Hearted Memory and Ocean Front Property.
By the early-1990s, Strait had influenced a new breed of performers while continuing his own successes, having charted upwards of 20 No. 1 hits including Heartland and Blue Clear Sky. Strait won the Country Music Association, Entertainer of the Year in 1989 and 1990 and Academy of Country Music, Entertainer of the Year in 1990.
George, one of the best and most popular country singers of the modern era, was honored as the Academy of Country Music's Artist of the Decade in May 2009. He is an inductee of the Country Music Hall of Fame and won his first Grammy award for his hit album Troubadour.
From the start, Strait was slightly retro and a bit mysterious. Listeners didn't get stage theatrics; they got a handsome face, a good-sounding voice and a string of near-perfect hits. Strait wasn’t restricted by a brand or style. He has often been labeled a western swing singer. Where that came from is a mystery. Aside from his rendition of Right or Wrong, nothing else in his massive repertoire can be considered western swing. In fact, his band didn’t fully comprise the makeup of a western swing ensemble, nor did they pretend to be such a group.
Strait is the genial, faithful, Texan whose dominate style leans toward fresh traditional country music, but he doesn’t omit an occasional old-fashioned honky-tonk or bar-room ballad. Strait built his successes around a contemporary sound with very successful pop and cross-over hits including She'll Leave You with a Smile and You'll Be There. This sound is the bulk of his repertoire and the reason for his huge chart and concert success and widespread appeal.
George Strait is flamboyant. He doesn’t engage in onstage theatrics, swing from ropes or bust up expensive guitars. He doesn’t need to. Straight didn’t follow the leader, he cut his own path. With all due respect to the late Waylon Jennings, if Straight had stuck to a western swing theme, his career would have been short lived and only moderately successful, albeit his great voice.
Gene Watson is an example of a country singer staying the course. He was a great balladeer, whose chart career was only moderately successful.
"I've always heard, 'Well, he just stands there and sings. Well, what do you want me to do? With the songs that I sing, I can't go running across the stage. And I don't talk a lot onstage, either. But I do play a lot of songs." ~ George Strait.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------Researched, written and compiled by Richard Bell. Roots of Country Music. Oct., 15, 2011.
