Washington
15 April 2008
Humble, unassuming and reliable are words often used to describe Country legend George Strait. Since 1981, the 55-year-old Texan has sold close to 70 million albums worldwide and collected over 50 major industry awards. As VOA's Mary Morningstar tells us, George Strait's success continues with his latest release, Troubadour.
George Strait has earned the nicknames "King George" and "The Texas Troubadour." Since making his debut in 1981 with the Top 10 hit Unwound, he's topped Billboard's Country Singles chart 42 times.
Despite his phenomenal success in Country music, George has never moved to Nashville, Tennessee, regarded by many as the "Country music capital of the world." Instead, George lives in his home state of Texas, where he owns a private home and a cattle ranch. George and his son, George, Jr., use the ranch to practice their favorite sport, team roping. George is a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and hosts the annual Team Roping Classic.
Troubadour is Strait's 25th studio album and his 19th to top the Country chart. The collection also became his third to debut at Number One on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. Although some of the tracks are typical of his contemporary, pop-influenced style, George also threw in everything from calypso rhythms and country-rock to two-step and Western swing.
West Texas Town is a duet with Dean Dillon, who co-wrote four songs on Troubadour.
Patty Loveless also guests on the album. She sings with George on House Of Cash, which deals with the 2007 fire that destroyed the former Tennessee home of the late Johnny Cash.
A U.S. satellite radio company is devoting a channel to George through the end of May. Strait Country features music from his three-decade career, plus exclusive interviews and commentaries from newer Country stars who credit him as a musical influence.
The first single from Troubadour, I Saw God Today, entered the Country chart at Number 19 to become the highest debut of Strait's career.