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George Harvey Strait (born May 18, 1952), is an American country music artist. He has the second most number one hit songs among any artist in any genre in history, totaling 53 number one hit songs.Only Conway Twitty has more with 55. Most recent #1 occurred on September 18, 2006 with "Give It Away" which is on Strait's new album It Just Comes Natural. Strait has sold a reported 65.5 million albums, and his certifications from the RIAA include 13 multi-platinum, 32 platinum and 35 gold albums. According to the RIAA, he has received more Gold albums than any other country artist, and he is now in seventh place for the most gold albums of any artist in any musical genre. Strait has received 16 CMA Awards, including consecutive entertainer of the year honors in 1989 and 1990. Strait is often referred to as the "King of Country" and some critics call Strait a living legend. The native Texan is adored by millions of fans around the world for his smooth, honky tonk, traditional country western sound.

Biography

Strait was born in Poteet, Texas and grew up in Pearsall, Texas. His father, John Strait, was a junior high school mathematics teacher. The Straits would often leave Pearsall on the weekends and the summers to work at the family's 2,000 acre (8 km²) cattle ranch outside Big Wells, Texas. When he was in fourth grade, Strait's parents divorced. His mother left the family taking his sister with her while he and his brother remained with his father. He began playing with a rock band in high school, but his preference turned to country music. Strait counts country singers Merle Haggard, George Jones, Bob Wills and Hank Williams as his early musical influences.

After graduating from high school, Strait enrolled in university but dropped out and eloped to Mexico with his high school sweetheart, Norma. They repeated their vows in a church in Texas a few weeks later. In 1971, he enlisted in the US Army. During this stint in military service, he began performing with an Army-sponsored band, Rambling Country (who played off the base under the name Santee), when he was stationed in Hawaii. In 1972, while still in Hawaii, George and Norma had their first child, Jenifer. After leaving the army in 1975, Strait returned to his studies, enrolling at Southwest Texas State University (SWT) in San Marcos, Texas. He graduated in 1979 with a degree in agriculture.

While attending SWT, he joined the Ace in the Hole Band. The band played honky tonks and bars around south and central Texas and as far east as Huntsville and Houston. They gained a regional following and opened for national acts such as The Texas Playboys. In the late 1970s, the band recorded several singles in a Houston studio that were released under the Dallas, Texas based "D" record label, but the band ultimately failed (though they do still play as George Strait's touring band under the same name). While playing with the band at night, Strait managed a cattle ranch during the day.

An operator of one of the bars the band had played had connections at MCA Records. In 1981, Strait went to Nashville, Tennessee to team with MCA and try a solo act. Strait has stayed with MCA throughout his career. It was also in 1981 that his and Norma's second child, George Jr., was born.

"Unwound" was his first single and his first Top Ten hit. This was followed by "Down and Out" and then a whole series of #1 singles, beginning with "Fool Hearted Memory" in 1982 (see 1982 in country music). He was one of the best-selling country singers of the 1980s, and one of the few from that decade who survived the influx of pop-country singers such as Garth Brooks in the early 1990s. As of September 2006, Strait has had 41 #1 country singles on the Billboard Chart which broke the record set by Conway Twitty of 40 #1 country singles. Including Radio and Records and the now-defunct Gavin charts, Strait has a total of 53 #1 songs. He also holds the career record for CMA nominations with seventy-three. Strait was the top touring country act of the 1990's and remains one of the most played artists on US radio. Strait's 1995 Box set "Strait Out Of The Box" is the 2nd best selling box set ever with shipments of 8 million in the United States. From 1997 through 2001 Strait headlined the George Strait Country Music Festival which included artists such has Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson and many more.

On October 3rd George released his newest album titled "It Just Comes Natural". It contains 15 newly recorded songs using Strait's longtime friend and songwriter, Dean Dillon. The first single off the album, "Give It Away" reached #1 and the title track, "It Just Comes Natural" has been released as the second single off the album and is at #8 on the Billboard Country Charts.

Strait was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006. Strait performed his latest #1 hit "Give it Away" right before accepting his replica Hall of Fame plaque at the 40th CMA Awards. It is very unusual for a country artist to be inducted into the Hall of Fame while still active and still producing #1 hits. The only other country artist who has done this was Eddy Arnold who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966 while still having #1 hits.

Filmography

Strait has acted in two feature films. He had a bit part in The Soldier (1982) and Mystery, Alaska and starred in Pure Country (1992). He also appeared as himself in The Horse Whisperer (1998) and Grand Champion (2002).

Pure Country featured George Stait in the lead role as "Dusty". Dusty is a famous country singer who believes his musical sound and concert shows strayed far away from their original country roots. Dusty takes a leave from the road and finds his roots in a small Texas town, while falling in love with a rodeo girl. Dusty eventually goes back to his band and music career, but the return is marked with his original sound and style – Pure Country. Pure Country is a rare film that allows Strait's audience to view him in other roles besides performing at live concerts. Strait as a private person stays far away from the Hollywood and Nashville scenes. Pure Country film was a rare appearance by Strait that will most likely never be done again.

Rodeo/Hobbies

Since 1983, Strait has often appeared at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and recorded his album For the Last Time: Live From the Astrodome the last time the rodeo was staged at the Astrodome in 2002. The event set the record for paid attendance at the Astrodome with 68,266 people. The rodeo event moved to Reliant Stadium in 2003. In 2004, Strait topped the Astrodome attendance with 68,679 people coming to his rodeo concert at the larger stadium. Strait has played to more than 1 million fans at the Houston Rodeo. Strait again played the Houston rodeo February 28, 2006. That night he watched his son Bubba rope in the rodeo before taking the stage.

As pastimes, Strait enjoys fishing, playing golf, and riding motorcycles. He and George Jr. and older brother, Buddy, are avid team ropers and Strait hosts the annual George Strait Team Roping Classic alongside Buddy Strait. He and Norma live in far northwest San Antonio in the wealthy gated community The Dominion as well on a ranch near Cotulla, Texas some 50 miles southeast of San Antonio. Sadly, his daughter Jenifer was killed in an automobile accident in 1986, at the age of thirteen.

George Strait is an artist who has perfected the lifestyle of a musician and family man. When George is not on the road performing he stays close to home spending time with family and friends often not concentrating on his music career. However, he always is listening for another great hit while residing on his southwestern Texas ranch near San Antonio.

Discography

2006 Fresh Cut Christmas Platinum

2006 It Just Comes Natural || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

2005 Somewhere Down in Texas || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

2004 50 Number Ones || MCA Nashville Records || 6X platinum

2003 For the Last Time: Live From the Astrodome || MCA Nashville Records || Gold

2003 Honkytonkville || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

2002 20th Century Masters: The Best of George Strait - The Millennium Collection || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

2001 The Road Less Traveled || MCA Nashville Records || Platimun

2000 George Strait || MCA Nashville Records || Gold

2000 Latest Greatest Straitest Hits || MCA Nashville Records || 2X Platinum

1999 Merry Christmas Wherever You Are || MCA Nashville Records || Gold

1999 Always Never the Same || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

1998 One Step at a Time || MCA Nashville Records || 2X Platinum

1998 Pure Strait || MCA Nashville Records || Limited Edition

1997 Carrying Your Love With Me || MCA Nashville Records || 3X Platinum

1996 Blue Clear Sky || MCA Nashville Records || 3X Platinum

1995 Strait Out of the Box || MCA Nashville Records || Box set || 8X Platinum

1994 Lead On || MCA Nashville Records || 2X Platinum

1993 Easy Come, Easy Go || MCA Nashville Records || 2X Platinum

1992 Pure Country || MCA Nashville Records || 6X Platinum

1992 Holding My Own || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

1991 Ten Strait Hits || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

1991 Chill Of An Early Fall || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

1990 Livin' It Up || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

1989 Beyond the Blue Neon || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

1988 If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin' || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

1987 Greatest Hits Volume Two || MCA Nashville Records || 3X Platinum

1987 Ocean Front Property || MCA Nashville Records || 2X Platinum

1986 Merry Christmas Strait To You || MCA Nashville Records || 2X Platinum

1986 #7 || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

1985 Something Special || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

1985 Greatest Hits || MCA Nashville Records || 4X Platinum

1984 Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

1983 Right Or Wrong || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

1982 Strait From The Heart || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

1981 Strait Country || MCA Nashville Records || Platinum

Total RIAA – 65.5 million albums sold to date.

Singles

1981 "Unwound" - #6 Strait Country

1981 "Down and Out" - #16 Strait Country

1982 "If You're Thinking You Want a Stranger (There's One Coming Home)" - #3 Strait Country

1982 "Fool Hearted Memory" - #1 Strait from the Heart

1983 "Marina Del Rey" - #6 Strait from the Heart

1983 "Amarillo By Morning" - #4 Strait from the Heart

1983 "A Fire I Can't Put Out" - #1 Strait from the Heart

1983 "You Look So Good in Love" - #1 Right or Wrong

1984 "Right or Wrong" - #1 Right or Wrong

1984 "Let's Fall to Pieces Together" - #1 Right or Wrong

1984 "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind" - #1 Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind

1985 "The Cowboy Rides Away" - #5 Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind

1985 "The Fireman" - #5 Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind

1985 "The Chair" - #1 Something Special

1986 "You're Something Special to Me" - #4 Something Special

1986 "Nobody in His Right Mind Would've Left Her" - #1 7

1986 "It Ain't Cool to Be Crazy About You" - #1 7

1987 "Ocean Front Property" - #1 Ocean Front Property

1987 "All My Ex's Live in Texas" - #1 Ocean Front Property

1987 "Am I Blue" - #1 Ocean Front Property

1988 "Famous Last Words of a Fool" - #1 If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin'

1988 "Baby Blue" - #1 If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin'

1988 "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')" - #1 If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin'

1989 "Baby's Gotten Good at Goodbye" - #1 Beyond the Blue Neon

1989 "Overnight Success" - #8 Beyond the Blue Neon

1989 "Hollywood Squares" - #67 Beyond the Blue Neon

1989 "What's Going on in Your World" - #1 Beyond the Blue Neon

1989 "Ace in the Hole" - #1 Beyond the Blue Neon

1990 "Drinking Champagne" - #4 Livin' It Up

1990 "Love Without End, Amen" - #1 Livin' It Up

1990 "I've Come to Expect It from You" - #1 Livin' It Up

1990 "If I Know Me" - #1 Chill of an Early Fall

1990 "You Know Me Better Than That" - #1 Chill of an Early Fall

1991 "The Chill of an Early Fall" - #3 Chill of an Early Fall

1992 "Lovesick Blues" - #24 Chill of an Early Fall

1992 "So Much Like My Dad" - #3 Holding My Own

1992 "Gone as a Girl Can Get" - #5 Holding My Own

1992 "Overnight Male" - #70 Pure Country

1992 "I Cross My Heart" - #1 Pure Country

1993 "Heartland" - #1 Pure Country

1993 "When Did You Stop Loving Me" - #6 Pure Country

1993 "Easy Come, Easy Go" #71 #1 Easy Come, Easy Go

1993 "I'd Like to Have That One Back" - #3 Easy Come, Easy Go

1994 "Lovebug" - #8 Easy Come, Easy Go

1994 "The Man in Love with You" - #4 Easy Come, Easy Go

1994 "The Big One" - #1 Lead On

1995 "You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody" - #1 Lead On

1995 "Adalida" - #3 Lead On

1995 "Lead On" - #7 Lead On

1995 "Check Yes or No" - #1 Strait Out of the Box

1995 "I Know She Still Loves Me" - #5 Strait Out of the Box

1996 "Blue Clear Sky" - #1 Blue Clear Sky

1996 "Carried Away" - #1 Blue Clear Sky

1996 "I Can Still Make Cheyenne" - #1 Blue Clear Sky

1996 "King of the Mountain" - #19 Blue Clear Sky

1997 "Carrying Your Love with Me" - #1 Carrying Your Love with Me

1997 "One Night at a Time" #59 #1 Carrying Your Love with Me

1997 "Today My World Slipped Away" - #3 Carrying Your Love with Me

1998 "Round About Way" - #1 Carrying Your Love with Me

1998 "I Just Want to Dance with You" #61 #1 One Step at a Time

1998 "True" - #2 One Step at a Time

1998 "We Really Shouldn't Be Doing This" #44 #4 One Step at a Time

1999 "Meanwhile" #38 #4 Always Never the Same

1999 "Write This Down" #27 #1 Always Never the Same

1999 "What Do You Say to That" #45 #4 Always Never the Same

2000 "The Best Day" #31 #1 Latest Greatest Straitest Hits

2000 "Go On" #40 #2 George Strait

2000 "Don't Make Me Come Over There and Love You" - #17 George Strait

2001 "If You Can Do Anything Else" #51 #5 George Strait

2001 "Run" #34 #2 The Road Less Traveled

2002 "Living and Living Well" #27 #1 The Road Less Traveled

2002 "She'll Leave You with a Smile" #23 #1 The Road Less Traveled

2003 "Stars On The Water" #50 The Road Less Traveled

2003 "Tell Me Something Bad about Tulsa" #69 #11 Honkytonkville

2004 "Desperately" #44 #6 Honkytonkville

2004 "Cowboys Like Us" #38 #2 Honkytonkville

2004 "Honk If You Honky Tonk" - #45 Honkytonkville

2004 "I Hate Everything" #35 #1 50 Number Ones

2005 "You'll Be There" #54 #4 Somewhere Down in Texas

2005 "Texas" #35 Somewhere Down in Texas

2005 "She Let Herself Go" #54 #1 Somewhere Down in Texas

2006 "The Seashores of Old Mexico" #86 #11 Somewhere Down in Texas

2006 "Give It Away" #1 It Just Comes Natural (Also # 1 in Europe - ECMA Country Top-100)

2006 "It Just Comes Natural" #8(currently active on charts) It Just Comes Natural

Awards

Resources

• "Discography". George Strait's Official Web Site. Retrieved August 27, 2004.
• "Awards". George Strait's Official Web Site. Retrieved August 27, 2004.

See also

• George Strait Country Music Festival
• Best selling music artists
• List of best selling music artists in US
• Inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame (2006 Inductee)

External links

• George Strait Online
• George Strait Team Roping Classic (GSTRC)
• Arthur: Strait From The Heart
• George Strait Videos
• Official George Strait UMG Nashville Artist Page
• Reviews and news of George Strait at Country Standard Time

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