George Harvey Strait Sr. Strait has sold over million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He is credited for pioneering the neotraditional country style in the s, [ 6 ] famed for his authentic cowboy image and roots-oriented sound at a time when the Nashville music industry was dominated by country pop crossover acts.
Given his influence on the genre, Strait has been nicknamed the " King of Country Music " by writers and music critics. Strait's career in country music began performing with his band Ace in the Hole in Texas honky-tonks in the s, recording tracks for the Houston -based independent record label D Records.
During the s, seven of his albums reached number one on the country charts. Strait has been known for his touring career beginning when he designed a degree configuration and introduced festival style tours. He grew up in nearby Pearsall , in Frio County , [ 1 ] where his father was a junior high school mathematics teacher and the owner of a 2,acre ha cattle ranch outside of Big Wells , Texas. George and his brother John "Buddy" Jr.
Strait began his musical career while attending Pearsall High School, where he performed in a rock and roll garage band , known as the Stoics, taking most of their influence and inspiration from the Beatles and other British Invasion -era rock groups. Strait did not tune in to and listen to country music radio often as a youth, usually selecting the news and the farmer's report instead. His introduction to country music came mostly by way of live performances, which according to Strait could be heard in every town in Texas.
He eloped with his high school sweetheart, Norma Voss after their high school graduation. In the same year, he enlisted in the United States Army as an infantryman. While stationed at Schofield Barracks adjacent to Wahiawa, Hawaii , as part of the 25th Infantry Division , George auditioned and began performing with an Army-sponsored country music band, Rambling Country, which also played off-base under the name Santee. He graduated with a degree in agriculture.
