George Strait Biography

"I want to reach the point where people hear my name and immediately think of real country music."
Early Life George Harvey Strait was born May 18, 1952 in Poteet, Texas, and grew up in Pearsall, Texas. His father, John Byron Strait, was a junior high school mathematics teacher. The Straits would often leave Pearsall on the weekends and in the summers to work at the family's 2,000 acre cattle ranch outside of Big Wells, Texas. Strait's parents divorced when he was in third grade, after his mother left, taking her daughter with her. Strait and his brother remained behind with their father.
Strait began playing with a rock band in Pearsall High School but his preference turned to country music. He counts country singers Merle Haggard, George Jones, Bob Wills and Hank Williams as his primary country music influences. After graduating from high school, Strait enrolled at Southwest Texas State University (now known as Texas State University) but dropped out and eloped with his high school sweetheart, Norma. They initially married in Mexico but repeated their vows in a church in Texas a few weeks later. In 1971, Strait enlisted in the US Army. Strait was honorably discharged from the army in 1975. He chose to return to Southwest Texas State University, in San Marcos, Texas. He graduated in 1979 with a degree in agriculture.
Career discovery Strait joined the Ace in the Hole Band, who had been advertising for a new lead singer. Beginning October 14, 1975, the band started playing at Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, a local honky-tonk. The band then playing other 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, while Strait continued to manage a cattle ranch during the day, the band recorded several singles in a Houston studio that were released under the Houston, Texas based "D" record label, but they never achieved wide recognition. Strait became friends with Erv Woolsey, who operated one of the bars in which the band played, and who had previously worked for MCA Records. Woolsey convinced some of his Music Row connections to come to Texas and listen to Strait and Ace in the Hole play. Impressed with his performance, MCA quickly signed Strait. The Ace in the Hole Band continued to play with Strait, but now as his backup/touring band.
Acting Career Strait has acted in multiple feature films. He had a bit part in The Soldier (1982) and Mystery, Alaska (1999) and starred in Pure Country (1992). He also appeared as himself in The Horse Whisperer (1998) and Grand Champion (2002). The film Pure Country featured George Strait in the lead role as "Dusty", a famous country singer who strays too far from his country roots and traditional sound. It provided the opportunity for Strait to branch out from his own traditional country sound for a more rock-and-roll approach. The soundtrack to the album, also called Pure Country, produced several hit singles for Strait.
| VITAL STATS | | | Eye color: | Green | | Height: | 5'10" | | Nickname(s): | King George | | Notable features: | Cowboy Hats, Wrangler Jeans | | Education: | Graduated from Southwest Texas State University (SWTSU) in San Marcos, Texas in 1979 with a degree in agriculture sciences. | | Family: | Father: John Step mother: Anna Brother: Buddy (older) Wife: Norma Voss (since December 4, 1971) Son: George Jr. (Bubba) (born 1981) Daughter: Jenifer (1972- 1986)
| | Resides in: | San Antonio, Texas USA | | Religion: | Baptist | | Musical Instruments: | Guitar/Piano | | Interests/hobbies: | Steer-roping, Hunting, Fishing, Skiing, Golf | | Charities/Causes: | After their daughter Jenifer was killed in an automobile accident in San Marcos, Tx in 1986. The family set up a foundation, Jenifer Lynn Strait Foundation, which donates money to children's charities in the San Antonio, Texas area. | | Commercial endorsements: | - Resistol Hats
- Wrangler Jeans
- Justin Boots
- Cavender Chevrolet
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