George Harvey Strait

He was born on May 18th, 1952 in Poteet, Texas. He grew up riding and roping on his family’s cattle ranch and making music with his friends in their own garage band. After graduating from high school, George spent a short time in college, before eloping with his high school sweetheart. Over thirty years later, that union is still as strong as ever.

Following a stint in the U.S. Army, George returned to Texas, earned a degree in agricultural sciences and continued to pursue his music. He worked days on the cattle ranch and nights on the stage, perfecting a true country sound. Unfortunately, this was the late seventies. True country was out. Country Pop was in. Nashville didn’t like his hat or his sound and spent years trying to get him to give up both. George wasn’t willing to do trendy. He might’ve packed in and taken a job designing cattle pins had it not been for a pep talk from Norma, his biggest fan. Shortly thereafter MCA gave the traditional singer a chance. His first single, “Unwound”, hit number six on the charts and the rest has truly been history. George Strait has since enjoyed a record breaking fifty #1 singles. He’s also remained true to MCA for that leap of faith. George Strait has sold over sixty million albums and owns more Gold albums than any artist in Country Music history. He’s a five time winner of the CMA “Vocalist of the Year” and the only artist ever to receive the honor in two different decades.

In today’s Southern Quote, we honor a man who’s been able to achieve success while remaining a loving father and loyal husband with both cowboy boots planted squarely on the ground. When this Country Music Hall of Fame legend was asked why he won the 2001 entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Awards, George Harvey Strait humbly replied, “‘Cause I got more votes.”

~Shellie