George Strait

[Kim]

Country superstar George Strait buys stake in Texas golf resort


By The Associated Press
The Canadian Press – 46 minutes ago


BOERNE, Texas - Country superstar George Strait is taking a swing at another of his passions: golf.

Strait says he and his business partner, Tom Cucisk, have purchased the Tapatio (tap-uh-TEE'-oh) Springs Golf Resort and Conference Center in Boerne (BER'-nee), about 25 miles northwest of San Antonio.

Strait says they bought the resort from Textron Financial Corp. and that the deal was closed April 1. He does not provide terms of the deal in his Friday news release.

Textron bought the resort in a foreclosure auction last June for $4.5 million.

The resort, founded in 1981, has three nine-hole courses and more than 100 hotel rooms.

Strait is an avid golfer. He says he has played the resort's courses and always believed it "could be a real jewel."
___

Online:
www.tapatio.com


ca.news.yahoo.com/country-superstar-george-strait-buys-stake-texas-golf-20110408-062127-776.html

[grg_straitfan]

George Strait, ‘Carrying Your Love With Me’ – Lyrics Uncovered

Songwriters Jeff Stevens and Steve Bogard have a good history together, especially when it comes to writing hits for George Strait. Not only did the singer take their song, ‘Carried Away,’ to the top of the charts in 1996, but they did once again the following year with another tune, ‘Carrying Your Love With Me.’

“‘Carrying Your Love With Me’ is a title Jeff Stevens mentioned to me that we didn’t write until about six months later,” Bogard tells Taste of Country. “We just let it percolate, and finally I got the idea for the ‘beat up leather bag’ metaphor.”

“Baby, all I got is this beat up leather bag / And everything I own don’t fill up half / But don’t you worry ’bout the way I pack / All I care about is gettin’ back real soon / A goodbye kiss is all I need from you,” Strait sings in the song’s opening lyrics.

“We pretty much wrote it in a few hours,” notes Bogard. “Our publisher, Michael Knox, called Larry Willoughby, the A&R man for MCA, and he came over and heard it in my little office live. Jeff [was] singing and playing acoustic, and playing bass and singing harmony.”

Strait’s label thought the lyrics of the song’s chorus were a perfect match for the singer:

“‘Cause I’m carrying your love with me / West Virginia down to Tennessee / I’ll be movin’ with the good Lord’s speed / Carrying your love with me / It’s my strength for holdin’ on / Every minute that I have to be gone / I’ll have everything I’ll ever need / I’m carrying your love with me.”

“[They] put it on hold and made us promise not to play the demo, which we hadn’t done yet, for anyone until he could send it to George,” Bogard recalls. “I’m glad we did. It’s a great cut!”

[grg_straitfan]

GEORGE STRAIT'S NEW SINGLE AVAILABLE TO RADIO STATIONS June 6th


George Straits latest single, “I’m here for a Good Time” will be made available to radio stations across American June 6th by MCA Nashville. The single will be the first release off a new CD that should be available sometime in September. The date and title will be announced at a later date. The new single was written by George, his son Bubba and premier Nashville songwriter Dean Dillon. It was one of eleven songs recorded for the new CD. George and Bubba co-wrote seven of the songs, most of them with Dillon. The remaining songs were penned by such Nashville stalwarts as Al Anderson & Chris Stapleton, Chuck Cannon & Allen Shamblin, Jessie Winchester, and Gary Nicholson and Delbert McClinton. Check for George Strait website at www.georgestrait.com for further information when it becomes available.

[grg_straitfan]

GEORGE STRAIT ANNOUNCES MARTINA MCBRIDE AS SPECIAL GUEST FOR 2012 TOUR
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All Tour Dates Will Be Released Later

Nashville, TN (August 31, 2011) - George Strait isn’t called King George for nothing…Year after year, night after night, when it comes to showing fans a good time whether it’s on the road or on the radio, Strait always delivers. And he’s doing it again. His 39th studio album HERE FOR A GOOD TIME is already receiving rave reviews before it’s release next week, the title track is on the brink of Top 10 at radio and his 2012 tour plans are underway.

The King of Country Music revealed he’s invited another award-winning superstar to join him on stage – Martina McBride. The tour will kick off late January. Cities and on-sale information will be announced soon.

“I love Martina. She’s been on our tours before and she’s great, “ commented Strait. “I’m really looking forward to the tour. Martina will definitely make it a special night.”

Strait’s current single, “Here For A Good Time” currently sits at #11 on the Billboard chart. The album Here For A Good Time will be in stores Tuesday, September 6. Strait co-wrote seven of the 11 tracks with his son Bubba and the legendary songwriter Dean Dillon.

George Strait has the most number one singles of any artist in history including Elvis (57 to date inclusive of all charts). He has sold nearly 69 million records and with 33 different platinum or multi-platinum albums has the most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Strait was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

His last CD Twang debuted at #1 on The Billboard 200 chart and the Top Country Albums chart making it the fourth time in Strait's 30+ year career to have an album debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the 13th time to debut at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart.

Martina McBride will release her eleventh studio album titled ELEVEN on October 11, 2011. The current single, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” is climbing the charts at radio and has seen steady online digital sales since it was released on August 19. The music video for I'm Gonna Love Your Through It' was recently the iTunes 'Video of The Week,' garnering over 150,000 downloads. The accompanying video features dozens of cancer
survivors and supporters, including four well-known celebrities – Robin Roberts (anchor for ABC’s Good Morning America); Hoda Kotb (anchor for NBC’s TODAY Show); Grammy award-winning singer Sheryl Crow and ABCjournalist Katie Couric – who each have very personal connections to the disease.

As one of the most spectacular voices in any genre of music, Martina McBride is a four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, three-time ACM Female Vocalist of the Year and GRAMMY® winning recording artist with more than 18 million in album sales.

The breadth of Martina’s talents – as recording artist, producer, songwriter, and concert entertainer – has made her an in-demand performer and personality, appearing on such high-profile programs as VH1 Divas, Dancing with the Stars, The Today Show's 'Today Throws a Wedding,' American Idol, Oprah, The Bachelorette, Private Sessions, a 20/20 special, and much more. Celebrated for her beauty and sense of fashion, as well as her everywoman perspective in life and music, Martina has graced the cover Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, People Magazine, Country Weekly and Shape. Among her hits are such anthemic and empowering songs as 'Independence Day,' 'This One's for the Girls' and 'Wild Angels”. For more on Martina, please visit martinamcbride.com.

[grg_straitfan]

George Strait Gets a New Puppy
By: Amanda Hensel


It seems George Strait has a new bunkmate on his tour bus. KNIX 102.5 in Phoenix reports that the king of country has adopted a new family member: a Golden Retriever puppy.

According to the station (and thanks to a tip from one of Taste of Country’s readers), Strait picked up his new English Creme Golden Retriever pup from a breeder in North Carolina recently, likely before heading out on tour with Martina McBride.

The ‘Here for a Good Time’ hitmaker’s new best friend has been named Jammer.

Adds the station, “We can’t decide whether to congratulate George on his new puppy, or to congratulate the puppy on winning the dog adoption lottery. We can’t imagine the table scraps are too shabby at King George’s house!”

This photo certainly gives new meaning to the saying “lucky dog.” We hope Jammer and Mr. Strait are settling into their new life together!

[grg_straitfan]

George Strait Is a Grandpa
Child's name is a mystery.
Ken Tucker | Published: Feb 07, 2012

In typical George Strait fashion, King George isn't saying much about his personal life, but this much we do know: he's a grandfather now.

As previously reported, George and Norma Strait's son, Bubba, and his wife, Tamara, were expecting their first child early this year. That child, a boy, was born on Feb. 2—facts that George acknowledged at his Feb. 3 concert in Phoenix.

But that's all we know. The child's name or stats have not been revealed by George or his publicist.

Source:
www.countryweekly.com/news/george-strait-grandpa

[grg_straitfan]

George Strait Surprises Nashville Crowd
King George wasn't on Ryman bill.
Bob Paxman | Published: Feb 22, 2012

Any George Strait public appearance is a rare occurrence, to be sure. But industry and media members who attended the Universal Music Group label luncheon show at Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, Wednesday (Feb. 22), received a bonus treat.

George, who was not listed on the bill, was introduced as the first act on the label show, to surprised cheers and loud applause. The event took place on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium. "I want to thank you all for supporting my career," George told the crowd, made up of mostly radio station personnel.

George launched into "I'll Always Remember You" from his latest album, Here for a Good Time, a song with especially poignant lyrics, such as, I'm not saying I'm through by any means / There's still things I want to say and do. After a standing ovation from the audience, George assured everyone, "I'm not through by any means."

He closed out his set with his 2008 single "Troubadour." Following his performance, George was given a plaque honoring his recent single "Here for a Good Time," which hit No. 1 on the Mediabase chart.

"I really enjoyed coming to Nashville to do this today," George said before bidding goodbye.

Other acts on the show included Josh Turner, Lee Ann Womack, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery and Vince Gill. The afternoon closed on a high note when Lionel Richie brought out Luke Bryan for a duet on "Easy," which Lionel originally recorded with the Commodores.

[grg_straitfan]

George Strait cuts KC concert short, reschedules
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) —

Country music star George Strait says he'll play in Kansas City next week to make up for a weekend concert he cut short because he was too sick to continue. Strait made it through two songs Saturday night at the Sprint Center before telling the crowd he couldn't keep going because he was ill. The Kansas City Star reports the singer's voice was labored and hoarse.
Many of the 18,000 in attendance stood and gave him a rousing ovation after they got over their initial disappointment.
Martina McBride opened for Strait with a one-hour set, and she says she will be back next Saturday to open for him again.
All tickets for the first show will be honored at the March 3 concert.

[grg_straitfan]

GEORGE STRAIT LANDS HIS 59th #1 SINGLE

'Love's Gonna Make It Alright' Reaches The Top Of The Chart

Nashville, TN – March 20, 2012 – George Strait does it again! His current single 'Love's Gonna Make It Alright' off his latest CD HERE FOR A GOOD TIME lands the Number One spot this week on mediabase radio chart. This feat ironically marks his 59th career number one hit for the 59 year old country music superstar - one per year of his life! 'Love's Gonna Make It Alright' written by Al Anderson and Chris Stapleton is one of the few Strait did not write with son Bubba and longtime pal Dean Dillon for this album .

'You know, I’ve always thought that whether I’m writing or not, I’ve gotta pick the best songs, whether or not they’re mine,' says Strait. 'I’m not gonna sing ‘em just because I wrote ‘em. I’ve gotta find the best songs to make the best record I can. I think all of these songs deserve to be on the record.'
Here For A Good Time, debuted at Number One on the Billboard Country Album Charts (his 3rd number one album debut in a row) and #3 on Billboard Top 200 Chart (behind Lil Wayne & Adele). Strait co-produced this album with his long-time friend and legendary producer Tony Brown at Shrimpboat Sound Studio in Key West, FL - the same studio where Strait recorded his last three award-winning albums. The Country Music Hall of Famer co-wrote seven of the album’s 11 tracks with his son Bubba and legendary songwriter Dean Dillon.

With a career spanning more than 30 years, George Strait has the most number one singles of any artist in history including Elvis. He has sold nearly 69 million records and with 33 different platinum or multi-platinum albums has the most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Strait was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

George Strait is the only artist who has had 85 out of 90 radio singles make it to Top 10 and 24 albums at the number one position on Billboard’s Country Music Album Chart – George Strait.

www.georgestrait.com

[grg_straitfan]

OFFSTAGE: George Strait's New "Drinkin'" Song
July 17, 2012; Written by Alison Bonaguro

(CMT Offstage keeps a 24/7 watch on everything that's happening with country music artists behind the scenes and out of the spotlight.)

Now that George Strait's "Drinkin' Man," which he co-wrote, is on country radio, all I can think is that it's about time. Strait's tune, like Kenny Chesney's "That's Why I'm Here," is about an alcoholic trying to quit. Which is, as he says five times in the song, a hell of a lot to ask of a drinkin' man.

As sad as this song is, I love it because it is the antithesis of most of today's country music. The music that paints the picture that all anyone ever does is wait until Friday night rolls around and then jump in the truck and head out for cold beer, some Crown and/or some Jack.

And while Strait's song doesn't have a happy ending like Chesney's 1998 hit did -- because the man in "That's Why I'm Here" actually does start going to those meetings down at the Y after years of letting the devil take his hand -- I still think it's worth a listen.

Even if you aren't the drinkin' man, we all know someone who is. And if you are married to that man, I recommend listening to Martina McBride's tragic "When You Love a Sinner."

[grg_straitfan]

George Strait to quit touring after 2013-14 dates

By Randy Lewis
September 27, 2012, 12:41 p.m.
Country kingpin George Strait is riding off into the sunset, at least as far as major touring is concerned. The lanky Texan who’s been cranking out hits since the early '80s announced this week that his 2013-14 tour would be his last, although he was quick to note that he’d probably do individual concerts from time to time and that he would continue recording.

His final circuit on the road, which he’s dubbed the Cowboy Rides Away Tour, begins Jan. 18 in Lubbock, Texas. At a Nashville news conference last week, Strait unveiled only the first 21 dates of the tour, which takes him through a June 1 show in San Antonio. The closest it comes to Los Angeles in the initial round of shows will be stops Feb. 1 in Fresno and Feb. 2 in Las Vegas.

"I just don't want to go to the point where I show up and nobody else does, you know?" Strait told CBS News. "It's been great. I've been doing it for 30-some odd years and I've loved it. Sometimes I've not liked it as much.

“And here lately it's just the walking out onstage part, that's all great,” he said. “I'm still loving that. It's just the hectic part about touring and traveling and bam bam bam bam. I just feel like it's time for me to try something else.

"I'm sure I'll miss it. I'm sure I will," Strait said. "How can you not after doing it for so long? It was a hard decision to make. It was tough. I've lost sleep. But I think about midway through this tour I'll realize that, yeah, I did make the right decision. It's just a part of it."

Strait has charted 59 No. 1 country hits since his recording career began in 1981, more than any other artist.

[grg_straitfan]

This is a sad day if you're a George Strait fan. But at least I've gotten to see him in concert once. And am planning to attend at least one of his shows in the next 2 years. more if possible. So I wish him all the best.

[Kim]

CMT News

George Strait: The CMT Insider Interview - He Tells Host Katie Cook About His Plans for the Future

September 29, 2012


Editor's note: Watch the interview on the new episode of CMT Insider airing Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 29-30) at 11 a.m. ET/PT.

George Strait fans know he rarely grants interviews, yet he did find some time to meet with CMT Insider host Katie Cook just moments before announcing plans for his final tour that will run in 2013 and 2014.

In an interview at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, King George talks about making the big decision, writing his set list and keeping his tried-and-true approach to performing live.

Cook: I can't imagine you would have come to this decision lightly. What are the main reasons for closing this era of your career?

Strait: Well, I think that it's been in the back of my mind for quite a while. And trust me, it wasn't easy. It wasn't an easy decision to make. I've lost a lot of sleep over it, but I just feel like I'm not really retiring. I'm just not going to tour. One point I want to get across to everybody is that I'm still going to make records and I may still do some events. It's not the last time I'm onstage. It's been a part of my life for too long to just quit everything. I just have done it since the '80s, and I think it's time now to maybe see if I can live without that part.

You say it kept you up some nights. It sounds like there was a lot of soul searching.

There was. I mean, like I said, it's been a part of my life for 35 years and ... right now, I'm still having second thoughts about it, but I know that come about the middle of the tour, I'm going to think I made the right decision.

People hear "retirement" and freak out. So we are clear here? Not a total retirement?

No. No, I'm not. It's just a part of my career that I'm kind of retiring from. Like I said, I can't imagine never being onstage again.

You've always planned your tours very carefully, playing select markets and not too many dates. I do have to ask, do you like touring?

Well, I like the part where you walk up on the stage and you're up there for the show. I like that part.

Touring is not as glamorous as people might think. It's a lot of hard work.

It is a lot of hard work and traveling. It kind of gets to you. I don't mind traveling that much when I can go somewhere and stay there for a while, but touring is different. You rarely see anything. You get there early in the morning and you're resting all day, and you go in and do a sound check, and you do the show, and then bam you're gone. So it's not like you're getting to go out and see the sights and all the cities you go to.

You've recorded so many songs over the years. What are still some of your personal favorites?

"The Chair," "Amarillo by Morning," "Troubadour," "Fireman." Gosh, a lot of them. They all still mean a lot to me.

Is it still as exciting to play now as it was then?

Yeah, it's just gotten bigger now. ... Back then, you were kind of cutting your teeth playing the honky-tonks. I don't see how people do it. I'm sure they do it all the time, but the years of me playing the honky-tonks and bars around gave me the experience that I think I needed when the time came for me to out and do bigger arenas. Without those years, it would have been tough.

I have to think that artists come to you often and say, "Come on, what's the secret?" What do you tell somebody that's trying to have a career anything like you've had?

I don't know what to tell them because I don't know what the real key to it is. I've just had some great fans out there that supported me for all these years and still continue to support me. I've just tried for all of these years to find the best records, the best songs that I could find that fit me, and I've had great people to work with all these years. I've been fortunate. It's hard to put my finger on one little thing to tell anybody. I don't know. I really don't know.

What are you most looking forward to in the next couple of years?

It's going to be an emotional thing doing these two years of dates at all these places we've played for the last 35 years or whatever it's been -- 31, 30, I don't know. Who's counting? But it's going to be emotional. I'm going to probably do some really fun things during that time as far as the shows go. I'm going to have some great people out there at some of them. Martina [McBride] is going to be out there all the [first] year with me, and she's great. I love working with her, and we'll have some other special guests throughout the tour. It's going to be pretty special.

You pick amazing songs, and you just get up there and perform them. It's not always about tons of theatrics. But because this is the final tour -- and it's obviously not broken -- have you thought about doing anything different to surprise people?

Well, you never know. I don't want to give away any secrets but ... I'm just kidding, we haven't planned anything different. Like you said if it's not broke, don't fix it. We'll certainly try to put on the best show we can, like we always do.


www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1694690/george-strait-the-cmt-insider-interview.jhtml

[grg_straitfan]

♫♫I got tickets! I got tickets! I got tickets!♫♫ ;D

I got tickets to see him in Grand Froks, ND on Feb/16/2013!

Yippie!!

[grg_straitfan]

My tickets came in the mail today!! Whooohooo!