George Strait

George Strait was born in Texas, on a ranch and has remained true to his roots.    He is one of the most popular and successful of current country artists, and was a pioneer of the neo traditionalist style.   He emphasises his connection with the older artists like Hank Williams, Ernest Tubbs, and Kitty Wells etc. and deprecated the trend towards ‘pop country” and the blandness of much of Nashville’s output at times.  He usually dresses in the old fashioned “cowboy gear” of earlier country singers.

In 2000, he and Alan Jackson recorded a song called Murder on Music Row, about the death or murder of traditional country which is the “real thing”… which is being destroyed by the executives in the music business.

 He grew to love country music as a boy, and played in bands.  In 1971, he married his high school sweet-heart Norma.  He then did a stint in the Army, but on his discharge in 1975, he went to college to do a degree in agriculture. 

He retained a connection with the family ranch, but began to play in a country band.  He kept on trying, playing and looking for a recording deal in Nashville… but with no success at first. But in 1981, he recorded his first song and his conservative traditionalist style was noted and liked.  In the 80s he began to climb towards success.   One of his best known songs is the wittily titled “All my Exes live In Texas”…