Country Artist courtesy of Coral Casino and sports book
George Strait
Born in 1952 in Poteet but grew up in Pearsall, Texas. George Strait is the real mc coy a genuine cowboy who grew up on a ranch near Big Wells, during his teen years he worked cattle in the day and sang country music at night.
After graduating from high school, Strait enrolled in college but dropped out and eloped to Mexico with his high school sweetheart, Norma.
In 1971, he enlisted in the United States Army. During this time he peformed with a country band he was stationed in Hawaii at the time. While still in Hawaii, George and Norma had their first child, a daughter, Jenifer in 1972.
After leaving the army in 1975, Strait went back to school at Southwest Texas State University (SWTSU) in San Marcos, Texas. He graduated in 1979 with a degree in agriculture
He joined the Ace in the Hole band peforming country and honkytonk just like his heroes Bob Wills, Merle Haggard and George Jones.
Strait has acted in two feature films. He had a bit part in The Soldier (1982) and starred in Pure Country (1992). He also appeared as himself in The Horse Whisperer (1998) and Grand Champion (2002).
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 enjoys fishing and riding motorcycles. He and George Jr. are avid team ropers and Strait hosts the annual George Strait Team Roping Classic. He is still married to Norma and lives on a ranch near Cotulla, Texas. His daughter Jenifer was killed in an automobile accident in 1986, at the age of thirteen.
some of George's notable hits are: Unwound, Fool hearted memory, right or wrong, does fort worth every cross your mind, amarillo by morning, the chair, adalida, down louisiana way, the cowboy rides away, and over 50 other great country songs.