How George Strait Became a King
Is your New Year’s resolution to see George Strait live in concert? Come down to Howdy Ranch RV! We’re giving away 2 free tickets for the March 17th George Strait concert at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to one lucky winner.
On March 17, 2019, thousands of George Strait fans will flock to Houston, Texas to see his performance at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. But how did this country music star find the spotlight?
On May 18, 1952, a king was born. George Harvey Strait would become known throughout the country music world as the “King of Country.” But before Strait was a country music star, he was just George, a good ol’ boy from Pearsall, Texas. Strait met Norma, the love of his life, in high school and eloped with her following their graduation in 1971. That same year, Strait enlisted in the Army for a short stint. Growing up in south Texas, Strait wasn’t much of a country music fan. He was like many of his peers indulging in the British Invasion rock music of the mid-1960s. However, while stationed in Hawaii, Strait joined an Army base band called “Rambling Country.” He began immersing himself in country music, listening to legends like Hank Williams and George Jones.
When Strait’s time in the Army was up and he was back in Texas, he enrolled at Southwest Texas State University where he would eventually graduate with a degree in agriculture. Strait’s interests were far from agriculture, however. While attending college, he was simultaneously cultivating his newfound passion for country music playing gigs with his band, “Ace in the Hole” in now-famous venues like Gruene Hall. For many years, Strait struggled to catch his break in the music industry. He played all over south and central Texas and even made a few trips to Nashville showcasing his talent for folks who had no idea they were in the presence of country music royalty. Then, one day, a man named Erv Woolsey heard him play and knew he’d struck gold. Woolsey, a club owner and former promotion man, helped Strait land a record deal with MCA Records in 1981. That same year, he released his debut album, “Strait Country,” which featured his first Billboard Top 10 hit, “Unwound,” and went platinum. Strait would go on to have a song on the Top 10 hit list every year for over 30 consecutive years.
In 1986, George and Norma Strait lost their 13-year-old daughter, Jenifer, when she died in a car accident. Through pain and heartache, Strait continued to perform and grow in his music career. In 1987, the very next year, Strait released “Ocean Front Property,” a multi-platinum album and his first to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart. In 1988, Strait released the single, “Baby Blue,” which many believe to be connected to Jenifer. Many years later, Strait said in an interview that he had faith and believed he would see his daughter again one day.
George Strait has reigned as the King of Country for more than 30 years. Major works include his soundtrack to the 1992 movie, “Pure Country,” which was also Strait’s debut as an actor and “Troubadour,” his 2008 album that won a Grammy for Best Country Album that year. George Strait was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006.
Strait officially retired from touring in 2014 after his year-and-a-half-long “The Cowboy Rides Away Tour.” The finale concert in Arlington, Texas, drew a record-breaking attendance of 104,793 fans. But in 2016, he returned to the stage. While he’s slowed down in his old age, it’s hard to imagine Strait ever truly leaving the stage behind.
This March, Strait will be performing at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and you could win tickets to see him! Stop by Howdy Ranch RV and enter the drawing to win: 2 tickets to see George Strait at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, NRG Stadium Parking Pass, and a 2-night stay in a hotel near the galleria!
In the market for the perfect travel trailer or fifth wheel? Come see us at Howdy Ranch RV! We’re located on the I-37 access in Mathis, exit #34. Driving distance from Corpus Christi, San Antonio, McAllen, Laredo, & Victoria.