George Strait

While stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii as a part of the 25th Infantry Division, Strait auditioned and began performing with an Army-sponsored country music band, "Rambling Country", which also played off-base under the name "Santee".

George and his brother John "Buddy" Jr. (1950–2009), were raised by their father.

For most of his early life, Strait spent most ranching alongside his older brother Buddy and his father John.

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 influence and inspiration from the Beatles and other British Invasion-era rock groups.

"The Beatles were big," Strait confirmed.

"I listened to them a lot and that whole bunch of groups that were popular then."

Strait would perform in other rock bands during his high school tenure.

His musical preference soon turned to country with singers Hank Thompson, Lefty Frizzell, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Bob Wills, Hank Williams, and Frank Sinatra influencing his style.

Strait did not tune to the country music radio often as a youth, usually listening to the news and the farmer's report.

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.

George Harvey Strait Sr. (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer.

George Harvey Strait Sr. was born on May 18, 1952, in Poteet, Texas, to John Byron Strait Sr. (January 11, 1922 – June 4, 2013), and Doris Jean Couser (June 26, 1930 – January 30, 2010).

The couple initially married in Mexico on December 4, 1971.

That same year, he enlisted in the United States Army as an infantryman.

On October 6, 1972, while still in Hawaii, George and Norma had their first child, Jenifer.

Strait is credited for pioneering the neotraditional country style in the 1980s, 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 named the "King of Country Music" by writers and music critics.

Strait currently holds the record for most number one songs on all charts by an artist, in any genre of music."

During the 1980s, seven of his albums reached number one on the country charts.

Strait's success began when his first single "Unwound" was a hit in 1981, helping introduce the neotraditional movement to the mainstream.

Strait was named CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1989, 1990 and 2013, and ACM Entertainer of the Year in 1990 and 2014.

He has been nominated for more CMA and ACM awards and has more wins in both categories than any other artist.

His best-selling album is Pure Country (1992), which sold 6 million (6× platinum).

His highest certified album is Strait Out of the Box (1995), which sold 2 million copies (8× Platinum due to being a box set with four CDs).

In the 2000s, Strait was named Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music, elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and won his first Grammy award for the album Troubadour.

He grew up in nearby Pearsall, in Frio County, where his father was a junior high school mathematics teacher and the owner of a 2000 acre cattle ranch outside of Big Wells, Texas.

The family worked at the ranch on the weekends and in the summers.

When George was in the fourth grade, his father and mother were divorced, and his mother moved away with his sister, Pency.

By 2009, he broke Conway Twitty's previous record for the most number-one hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart when his 44 number one singles surpassed Twitty's 40.

Strait has amassed 60 number-one hits.

According to the RIAA, Strait is the 12th best-selling album recording artist in the United States overall selling over 69 million records across the United States.

"Give It All We Got Tonight" was number one in 2013, breaking a record also previously set by Twitty.

Strait holds the record for most number one songs on all charts by an artist in any genre of music."

Strait is also known for his touring career when he designed a 360-degree configuration and introduced festival style tours.

For example, the Strait Tours earned $99 million in three years.

His final concert for The Cowboy Rides Away Tour at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in June 2014, drew 104,793 people, marking a new record for largest indoor concert in North America.

Strait has sold more than 120 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

He holds the RIAA record for most certified platinum albums by any artist, with 33 certified platinum albums.

Strait also has 13 multi-platinum and 38 gold albums.