George Strait Team Roping Classic Coming up in July Strait and Beach
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George Strait Team Roping Classic Coming Up In July The 17th Annual George Strait Team The event, sponsored by Chevy Trucks lic June 4th at Ticketmaster outlets in the Roping Classic is just around the corner. and Bud Light, will feature two rounds of Corpus Christi area. he event, scheduled for July 9th & 10th roping on July 9th with the top qualifying The entry fee for Team Ropers is $400 in Kingsville, Texas, will pit many of the teams moving on to the Classic finals on per team and ropers who would like to world’s greatest Team Ropers against each Saturday morning, July 10th. George Strait compete may register between 5 p.m. and other for cash and prizes expected to and his “Ace In The Hole Band” will be 10 p.m. on June 28th & 29th by calling xceed $125,000. More than 200 teams joined by “Asleep At The Wheel” for a (512) 668-1513. The Classic staff will be are expected to register by the time the concert on Saturday night. The remaining available both nights to assist in the r egis- vent gets underway on Friday morning, tickets for the concert that were not pur - tration. uly 9th. chased by mail will go on sale to the pub - Strait and Beach Have New Instructional Video For Team Ropers George Strait and his good friend, three would like to order by mail send a chec k time National Rodeo Finals qualifier Bret or money order for $37.95 plus $3.95 for Beach, have teamed up to offer an instruc- shipping to: tional video for anyone wanting to learn George Strait & Bret Beach how to be a Header in Team Roping. This Heading Video is a unique instructional video that is easy P.O. Box 592 to understand and entertaining too. The Boerne, TX 78006 price of the video is $34.95 plus $3.95 for Texas residents need to add 8.25% sales shipping and handling and may be ordered tax. Please allow 2 weeks for delivery of using Visa, MasterCard or American phone orders and 4 weeks for delivery of Express by calling 1-800-444-0627. If you mail orders. George Strait Makes History Written by Bob Cannon, Larry Holden George Strait make country music history. “Through my career I’ve always had and Wendy Newcomer - Country Weekly Readers voted him six trophies, which is great fans. They’re very loyal. I see some Submitted by Florence Bieniek, the most ever won in one year by any per - of the same ones at almost every show that Amsterdam, NY former. “This is a record for me ,” George we do - and it’s really neat to have that The results of our fifth annual Golden tells COUNTRY WEEKLY. “Thank you kind of support. Pick Awards are in - and you’ve help very much. I appreciate it. I really do. Continued on next page — Playing It Strait — Written by Mario Tarradell/The Dallas Trouble,” the group’s undeniable chart- native was much more subdued than he’s Morning News topping hit. been in previous Strait festivals. That Submitted by Nicki Miller, Forney, TX But the Chicks is not a one-woman could be thanks to his new sensitive singer For such a low-key artist, George Strait ensemble. Sisters Emily Erwin and Martie image. In the last two years, the man who sure knows how to make a dramatic Seidel may not be as vocal, but they sure launched his career with the inane ditty entrance. are heard. During “Roanoke,” an instru- “Indian Outlaw” has turned to forlorn bal- It’s five minutes before showtime Sunday mental bluegrass number from the act’s lads - “Everywhere,” “One of These Days” night at Texas Stadium and the dome- early days, the siblings showcased their and the current single “Please Remember shaped venue is packed. Suddenly, the musicianship. With help from a stellar Me.” place goes dark, the crowd roars. There’s six-piece band, including Lloyd Maines Such attention to emotions can backfire Mr. Strait’s face on a video screen. Folks (Natalie’s father) on steel guitar, Ms. on Mr. McGraw. His voice, his interpretive can’t contain their anticipation as they Erwin plucked the banjo while her sister skills lack range, and only when he tackles watch rancher George tend to his horses, sawed through the fiddle. a superb song such as “One of These then climb into his Chevy truck, an obvi- Mr. McGraw, who performed before Mr. Days’can he pull it of f. The lanky star is ous plug for one of his tour sponsors. Strait, was not as animated. The Louisiana better suited for up-tempo tunes such as When he finally takes the stage, he casu- native was much more subdued than he’s “Just to See You Smile”. ally works his way to the microphone, straps on his guitar and beams his aw- shucks smile. Soon every disciple in the George Strait Makes History (Continued) house is singing “CheckYes or No,” a Strait staple from two years back. “I really appreciate these awards, because a higher average attendance than The The sold-out audience came to see and they’re from the fans. A lot of the other Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, U2 and hear their king. Sure, he brought his coun- awards are voted by membership, and if Elton John. y court - Asleep at the Wheel, Mark you’re not a member you don’t have a In fact, it was so successful he’s Wills, Jo Dee Messina, Kenny Chesney, voice.” launched it again this year. The tour will Dallas’ Dixie Chicks and Tim McGraw - The record-setting haul accents a banner entertain about a million concert fans in ut there’s a reason they call this shindig year for the talented performer. His five 18 cities before it wraps up June 6 in the George Strait Country Music Festival. nominations for the 1998 CMA Awards Pittsburgh. “This is the kind of tour that’s The white-hatted Texan wasted no time show made him the most nominated act in easy, with a lot of great acts on the show,” diving into his 20-year reservoir of songs. CMA history, with 47. Then he walked George says. “They’re all nice folks, we Early on, he offered the twin-fiddles away with Male Vocalist of the Year for get along and have a good time out there. punch of “Heartland,” the honky-tonk the fifth time. We’re just having fun. heartiness of “When Did You Stop Loving His platinum “One Step At A Time,” co- Two of his tour partners are certainl y Me” and the reflective splendor of produced with Tony Brown, was voted among his biggest fans. “The power and “Carried Away.” your Golden Pick favorite. It generated respect George commands when he walks Of course, everything Mr. Strait does three Top 10s - including the No. 1 “I Just onstage is amazing,” says Tim McGraw. pays homage to his Lone Star heritage and Want To Dance With You,” which stayed at “When he walks out there, you know the traditional country blood that runs the top spot for three weeks. The single, somebody of stature is there - and you through his veins. Classics - the swinging written by John Prine and Roger Cook, know you’d better pay attention.” “Take Me Back to Tulsa,” the melancholy picked up two Golden Pick honors - Kenny Chesney declares, “What George “Milk Cow Blues” - and currents - the Favorite Song and Favorite Line Dance stands for personally and what he stands waltzy “Meanwhile,” the Elvis-like “We Song. for in country music is just awesome.” Really Shouldn’t Be Doing This” - all Now his new, 24th album, “Always What’s next for George? “I’ve got anoth- bask in the singer’s pure artistry. Never the Same,” has certified platinum in er album to do in September, but I’m Speaking of distinct artists, how about just over eight weeks and will undoubtedly doing a Christmas album right now. So those Dixie Chicks? The Dallas trio ripped push him past the 40 million sales mark. we’re going through Christmas songs in through a set filled with material from the He’s racked up more platinum albums - 24 May! It’s hard to get in the mood in Ma y, Grammy-winning “Wide Open Spaces.” - than any other act on the country music but if we waited till December it’d be too Dressed in navel-bearing purple outfits charts. late.” and wearing platformed sneakers, they How does he keep his act fresh? “We’re No matter the level of success he performed with in-your-face pizazz. doing about six or seven cuts from the new achieves, how many records he sells or Especially lead singer Natalie Maines, album on the tour. It helps when you add how many Golden Pick awards he wins, whose powder-keg voice and manic stage new material for the show. George remembers his long journey to the presence amuse and astound. She tore up a “I just love it. I love singing all the songs spotlight. new song, the frenetic “Sin Wagon,” with that we do out there. Every time I sing “Success for me didn’t come that quick- the spirit of somebody who knows. Her them, it’s still kind of fresh to me. It’s ly,” he explains. “I spent a lot of years out take on Maria McKee’s “Am I The Only exciting. I’m having a good time.” there playing the bars and honky-tonks in One (Who’s Ever Felt This Way)” had Last year, George’s star-studded tour Texas.