Fourth Annual George Strait Country Music Country Music Headliners and Brightest Stars Come Together For One of the Largest and Most Successful Tours in the Industry Nashville, Tenn. (November 10, 2000) become the annual event for country music. Strait event.” Country music icon George Strait plays host The fans know they are guaranteed fabulous It’s the quality of the show and the exposure once again to some of the finest talent in the music, a quality experience when it’s a George it garners that makes artist managers and book- industry. The Fourth Annual George Strait Country Music Festival, which kicks off March 2001, will continue the tradition of its platinum-selling and award-winning line-up. Artists to-date include superstar Alan Jackson, multi-platinum group Lonestar, chart-topping traditionalist Lee Ann Womack, this year’s CMA“Horizon award-winner Brad Paisley and Grammy award-winners Asleep at the Wheel. Additional performers for the all-day festival will be announced at a later date. The exact tour dates and cities are not finalized but will be announced in January along with tick- et on-sale dates. Nominated for “Tour of the Year” and “Most Creative Tour of the Year” by Pollstar three years running, The George Strait Country Music Festival has been of the highest-gross- ing tours in the industry alongside such stellar acts as Bruce Springsteen, N’Sync, Elton John, Dave Matthews Band and The Rolling Stones. It is the only music tour of any kind that plays stadium dates annually. Since its inception, the tour has grossed over 90 million dollars in ticket sales alone, played to over 2 million people with just under 45 stadium dates and averaged an audience of 45,000 people per show. Bruce Hinton, Chairman of MCARecords remarked, “George Strait is an icon in our business and his festival stadium shows have STRAIT TALK
Fourth Annual George St rait Country Music Festival Reveals All-Star ing agents compete to have their clients invited McGraw, the Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Martina second stage featuring country music up-and- to join the elite line-up. McBride, John Michael Montgomery, Clay comers. The family atmosphere of Straitland is And it is the type of exposure that has made Walker, Lee Ann Rimes, Jo Dee Messina, always a hit for fans of all ages. artists such as the Dixie Chicks and Kenny Kenny Chesney, Mark Chesnutt, Lee Ann As for the host, George Strait has been named Chesney credit the tour as being one of the key Womack, Asleep at the Wheel, Clay Davidson, country music’s top grossing touring artist of elements of their career strategy. Lila McCann, Mark Wills and others. the past decade and has won and been nominat- “The George Strait Tour was part of our tour “Fans consider the 10-hour event a bargain,” ed for countless “Entertainer of the Year” nods strategy in 1999,” said Emily Robison of the says Louis Messina of SFX Music Group. from both the Country Music Association and Dixie Chicks. “We wanted to build our fan “There is no other tour like it in country music. the Academy of Country Music. But it’s fellow base before launching our own tour and by per- Or other genres for that matter.” tour mate, Tim McGraw that says it best, forming in stadiums packed with country Borrowing a carnival element from Lollapa- “There’s nothing like kicking back, drinking a music lovers, we did just that. The enthusiasm looza, the festival devised Straitland, a midway beer and watching a master (Strait) on stage.” from that many people was staggering - it offering games, a variety of food and drink, For additional information on the George made for a really fun show.” autograph booths, contests to win prizes includ- Strait Country Music Festival, check out the “Being on these tours is priceless,” says ing front row seats and backstage passes and a official Strait website at www.georgestrait.com. Kenny Chesney, who was on the Strait bill for the last two years. “You can’t put a dollar amount on it. The relationships you make with George Strait Country Music Festival the people there, the things that you learn from Host - George Strait Lonestar everybody are just unbelievable. There’s some- • MCARecording Artist - Recorded 27 • BNA/RLG Recording Artist - Multi thing to be learned from people who have had albums, all platinum or multi-platinum Platinum (approaching 5 million) • Current Album: George Strait • Current Album: Lonely Grill, This Christmas careers like George Strait has.” (September 2000 street date) Time Joe Galante, Chairman of RCALabel Group • Current Single: “Go On” (Top 5) • Current Single: “Tell Her” (Top 20) adds, “The fact that Kenny Chesney was on the • Recent Honors: 2000 CMAEntertainer of • Recent Honors: In 2000, Lonestar’s the Year Nominee and 2000 CMA Award for “Amazed” was a multi-format Number 1 last two George Strait tours was a big part of Vocal Event of the Year with Alan Jackson single and won ACM’s Single and Song of his album debuting at #1 on the country charts. for “Murder on Music Row” the Year. It was also voted the “#1 Love The Festival’s fans are active buyers. They • To date, he has won a combination of 5 Song Of All Time” on America’s Online. remember when someone does a great job on “Album of the Year” awards, 8 “Male Other honors include an ACM nomination Vocalist” awards and 3 “Entertainer of the for Top Vocal Group, CMAnominations for stage and has great music, and at some point, Year” awards from the Country Music Vocal Group of the Year and Song of the they go buy it. Also, it’s one of the best tours Association (CMA) and the Academy of Year (“Amazed”) and Grammy nominations that I’ve ever seen in country music.” Country Music (ACM). for Country Vocal Group of the Year and It’s evident why acts wishing to take their • In the past 19 years he has had 58 singles in Country Song of the Year (“Amazed”). the top 10 on Billboard’s charts. • Upcoming TV appearances: “The Today careers to greater heights join the troupe but • Website: www.georgestrait.com Show” airing on December 12, “CNN what makes artists who have headlined their Showbiz Today” airing on December 13 and own tours and who have “Entertainer of the Alan Jackson “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’Eve” • Arista/RLG Recording Artist - Sold over 30 (ABC) airing on December 31. Year” status choose to participate? million albums • Website: www.lonestar-band.com When asked about his participation on the • Current album: When Somebody Loves You upcoming tour, Alan Jackson replied, “I’ve (November 7 street date) Brad Paisley always respected George Strait, his music, and • Current Single: “www.memory” (Top 15) • Arista/RLG Recording Artist - Platinum • Recent Honors: 2000 CMA Award for Vocal Debut Album career. I’ve been a fan of his for 20 years. Event of the Year with George Strait for • Current Album: Who Needs Pictures His music is one of the reasons I came to “Murder on Music Row” (Platinum) Nashville, so naturally I’m honored to tour • Upcoming TV appearances: “A&E • Current Single: “We Danced” (Top 10) Biography” debuts on November 14th on • Recent Honors: 2000 CMAHorizon Award with him next year. Besides, you got cowboy the A&E Channel, “CMT Video Bio” debuts • Upcoming TV appearances: 75th Grand Ole hats, screaming women, partying good ol’ on November 15th on CMT, 75th Grand Ole Opry Celebration - airing on November 23, boys, and great country music - how could I Opry Celebration airing on November 23rd. “Route 66: America’s Main Street” on TLC say no?!” • Website: www.alanjackson.com airing on December 15. • Website: www.bradpaisley.com What began 7 years ago in San Antonio, Lee Ann Womack Texas at the Alamodome as a celebration hon- • MCARecording Artist - Platinum Asleep At The Wheel oring hometown hero and country music super- • Current Album: I Hope You Dance • Current Album: Ride With Bob star - George Strait, is now a day-long festival (Platinum) • Recent Honors: 2000 CMAnominations for • Current Single: “Ashes By Now” both Vocal Group of the Year and Vocal Event that brings thousands of fans to the stadium for • Recent Honors: “I Hope You Dance” won of the Year with the Dixie Chicks for “Roly some of country music’s hottest performers. CMASong of the Year and CMASingle of Poly.” That one-day music spectacular has become the Year in 2000. She will perform the song • The only act to appear on all four Strait Tours at the Nobel Peace Prize Presentation in besides Strait himself. one of the most heavily attended events of the Oslo, Norway in December. • Upcoming TV appearances: The Late Late past three years outselling Lilith Fair and other • Website: www.leeannwomack.org Show with Craig Kilborn on December 12, notable mainstream music shows. And it’s no 2000; Billy Gilman’s TNN Christmas Special wonder. Artists who have previously appeared airing December 5. • Website: www.asleepatthewheel.com on the festival stage have included Tim STRAIT TALK New Changes In Fan Club For many years fan club seating has only aside a specific number of seats and make the special fan club seating, we must have been available at one box office in each them available to fan club members 48 your email address on file. Please go to the city, and for many years we have had ques- hours in advance of each on-sale date. Each website at www.georgestrait.com and click tions as to why it could not be expanded show will have a special fan club code that on the section in the middle of the home and made available to everyone everywhere will be e-mailed to our fan club members in page that says “Information For Fan Club by phone and fax as well as in person. The advance of the on-sale date. Members will Members Only.” Please complete the form answer has simply been that there is not then go to the George Strait Website and and this will assure you that all necessary enough manpower available to do it right. click on the Ticket Master link that will be information is on file. With our annual tour hitting bigger venues handling the tickets. Remember that fan In the past, members have been allowed to but fewer cities, many fans have to travel club seats are not, and never were designed purchase 2 tickets to each performance. further and do not have the opportunity to to be the best seats in the venue and there is This will be changed in 2001 to 4 tickets. It benefit from fan club seating. Well, technol- no guarantee as to the exact location of the is imperative that we point out that fan club ogy and the Internet has come to our rescue tickets. They were only created in order to seating is only for the fan club members and changed all of that. make sure that our fans were given the and anyone found abusing the privilege Effective with the beginning of the 2001 opportunity to purchase good seats before would be eliminated from our membership George Strait Country Music Festival Tour, they were sold out. The very best seats may rolls. Special Fan Club seating will now be avail- still be available to anyone who is willing We hope you like the changes. While no able only through the Internet. This will to stand in line at the box offices or take system is perfect, we are always working to give fan club members all over the country, their chances purchasing tickets through do the best for our members and provide and the world, the opportunity to purchase Ticket master on-line. the most benefit to the most fans. good seats for each tour stop. We will set In order for members to take advantage of Fan Collect able Column December 2000/ January 2001 • The Spokesman - Review, 10-15-2000, • Temple Daily Telegram - Temple, TX - • Country Music Magazine - Nashville, P. F-5 Entertainment Section - Album 10/5/2000. Pg. 9AArticle - CMA TN. Oct/Nov 2000. Letter section, ad, Review. Spokane, Wash. Awards. Pg. 34 - Mentioned w/photo, Pg. 57 - • Courier, 10-6-2000, P. 4B Issue #237, • Houston Chronicle - Houston, TX - photo, Pg. 62 - List of favorites for Mentioned. Russellville, AR. 10/5/2000, Pg. 8AArticle - CMA CMA Awards, Ad page. • The Victoria Advocate - 10/13/2000, P. Awards. • Country Weekly, Nashville, TN - Oct. 3, 6 Music Section, Story. Victoria, TX. • Houston Chronicle - Houston, TX - 2000. Pg. 20 Mentioned, Pg. 22 • News-Leader - 10/15/2000, Music 10/8/2000,Pg. 13 - Review of New LP. Mentioned, Pg. 24 Article, Pg. 28 Section, Review. Rolla, MO. • Austin American-Statesman - Austin, Mentioned, Pg. 34 CMAArticle, Pg. 44 • Country Weekly - 10/31/2000, P. 4 TX - 10/9/2000. Pg. B2 story-auction. CMA - Ask The Fans. Letter Section, P. 5 Ad, Pgs. 8-9 • Chicago Sun-Times - Music Section, • Country Music Today, Nashville, TN. Photo/mentioned, P. 70 Chart. Chicago, IL - 10/8/2000, Pg. 3E Article. Oct/Nov. 2000. Ad pg. 57-58 Story, Ad Nashville, TN. • Country Weekly - Nashville, TN - page, Pg. 75 mentioned. • Country Music Live - Oct/Nov 2000, 10/17/2000, Pg. 8 Mentioned, Pg. 50 • The Courier-Journal - Features Vol. 1, Issue 6, P. 8 Mentioned, P. 9 Mentioned, Pg. 72 Mentioned, Pg. 58 Louisville, KY - 10/4/2000. Mentioned photo and ad. Mentioned, Pg. 61 Ad. in Story pg. 1D. • The Oregonian - 10/6/2000. Arts and • San Antonio Express-News, San • Newsday - Howard Beach, NY - Entertainment Section, Review P. 52. Antonio, TX - 10/9/2000, Section B-2 10/1/2000 - Top 10 Country Albums - Portland, OR. Story, auction. G.S. #1. • Houston Chronicle - 10/19/2000, • Tulsa World Weekend - SPOT - Tulsa, • Cowboys and Indians Magazine - Houston Yo Section, P. 3 Photo/ OK - 10/6/2000. Billboard Charts. Photo 11/2000, Pg. 177 ad for new LP. mentioned. Houston, TX. with single/albums. • San Antonio Express-News - San • The Denver Post - 10/8/2000, P. 11I • San Francisco Chronicle - San Antonio, TX - 10/4/2000. Mentioned in (Scene Section) Review of LP. Denver, Francisco, CA - 10/5/2000, Pg. E10 story, Section G-1. CO. Mentioned. • St. Louis Post Dispatch Paper - St. STRAIT TALK Fan Collect able Column Louis, MO - 10/4/2000. “Everyday Sioux Falls, S.D. TN. Section” Mentioned. • Herald-Zeitung - 10/5/2000. Pg. 3A • Houston Chronicle-Zest Section - • Sunday World-Herald - 10/8/2000. County Local Section, Mentioned. New 10/8/2000, Pg. 6 photo with review. “Entertainment Magazine” Lincoln, NE, Braunfels, TX. Houston, TX. Story w/photo. • San Antonio Express-News - 10/5/2000. • The Washington Post TV Week Guide - • Detroit Free Press - 10/5/2000 - Front page story w/photo “Strait is a hit 10/1 - 7/2000, Pg. 3-4 Mentioned, Pg. “Feature Page” pg. 6G mentioned. at CMA.” San Antonio, TX. 38 Ad w/photo. Fredericksburg, VA. Detroit, MI. • The Courier-Journal” The Buzz, News • Neighbors - 11/2000. Alabama Farmers • Oregonian - 10/5/2000 - Sectin A Pg. 3 and Nonsense” mentioned. Section C - Federation, Pg. 20-21 mentioned. mentioned. Gales Creek, OR. Front Page. Louisville, KY. • American Cowboy - Nov/Dec 2000, Pg. • Dayton Daily News - 10/5/2000. • Bona Fide Country - 10/2000. Front 57 Ad for Team Roping Video. Review of LP. Dayton, FL. Cover photo with story and photo, Pg. • Country Weekly - 11/14/2000, Pg. 6 • The News Tribune - 10/6/2000. Story 3, 4, 5 and 14 mentioned w/photo. Letter, Pg. 32 Mentioned w/photo, Pg. pg. SL4. Tacoma, WA. Portland Metro/SW Washington Edition. 48 Mentioned, Pg. 70 Chart. • Herald-Zeitung - 10/3/2000, Pg. 1A • The Tennessean - 10/8/2000. Pg. 5F • Rodeo Country - Sept. 2000 - Photo story. New Braunfels, TX. Arts and Entertainment - Music Section. w/story, pg. 40 International issue. Sao • Argus Leader - 10/4/2000. Pg. 4D story. Lyrics to “Go On” w/photo. Nashville, Paulo, Brazil.
The following George Strait Fan Club Members submitted to the Collectable Column… And We Thank You! As a GSFC member, you can join in and earn Strait Cash, receive your Strait Talk 1st Class and a Collector’s Card. This is all you need to do - collect magazine or newspaper articles, photos or reviews - send them in and if we use them, your name is added to the list. It’s easy. Remember to enclose the article, where it came from, date, page #, issue and your name and address. Thank You!!!
Ms. Jeanie Hawkins - Rolla, MO Alexis Gaffney - Gales Creek, OR Trudy Holderby - Davenport, WA Beverly Enlow - Louisville, KY Betty Bruner - Victoria, TX Dotsie Lehr - New Braunfels, TX Laura Brown - Russellville, AR Katie Burasco - Independence, MO Jan Moran - Portland, OR Shirley J. Kuhle - Sioux Falls, SD Florence Bieniek - Amsterdam, NY E. T. Balog - Kettering, OH Maxine Schilz - Oshkosh, NE Debbie Erickson - Taylor, MI Rodrigo Haddad - Brazil Margaret Pavelka - Lincoln, NE Diane Barrett - Baltimore, MD Kim S. Davis - Louisiana, MO Wanda Bishop - Cedar Bluff, AL Barbara Kelly - Park City, MT Jeanie Spears - Blue Springs, MO Mary Tillman - Alamo, TN Geraldine Larson - Tacoma, WA Leona De Joseph - Howard Beach, NY Dorothy Briggs - Lamposas, TX Shirley Everett - Burnet, TX Vickie Kulp - Fredericksburg, VA Ann L. Brownson - Mt. Vernon, VA Dee Walker - Tuscaloosa, AL Geneva H. Heneger - Tulsa, OK Jean Hurt - Beech Grove, IN Terri Beese - Alta Loma, CA Nan Byczynski - Houston, TX Angel Herring - Channelview, TX Julia Markowski - Houston, TX Linda Moreno - Houston, TX Elaine Sledge - Bowling Green, KY STRAIT TALK
LIMITED EDITION SWEATSHIRT
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George Strait CD Art is design #1110 Umbrella for the following items: #396 Candle and #1032 Coaster #989 Team Roping Video STRAIT TALK Anit a’s Here we are again. We were right about how October and November would fly. It Happy Anniversary felt as if we just finished the last issue of Strait Talk and boom, time for the next issue. Time travels so quickly. It would be nice to enjoy it a little more. George and Norma have been enjoying their time off. They have been traveling, ranching, fishing and being the parent of a college-aged student. In between all of that, he has been working with the Nashville office making all of the important decisions pertaining to next year’s tour. When we visited with George after the CMA Awards at the Hard Rock Café in Nashville, he looked tan and relaxed. He was very happy to win the “Vocal Event of the Year” Award for his collaboration with Alan Jackson on the song “Murder on Music Row.” Congratulations and best wishes for future awards. On November 10, 2000, George’s Tour Publicist, released a press release on the 4th Annual George Strait Country Music Festival Tour for 2001. The entire story is on George and Norma Strait page 1 of the newsletter. We are very excited about the outstanding line-up of stars that have been put together with more to come. It December 4, 2000 looks like a great time and we will see you there in 2001. There have been some major changes in
the way Fan Club seating will be handled for from Blue Springs, MO; she is the creator of the 2001 Tour. Check out the complete story many of the games that we publish in Strait According to R&R, elsewhere in the newsletter. Talk. Remember that you can be as creative We would like to congratulate the follow- as Jeanie, and submit a game to earn Strait Country radio ing Fan Club members who submitted their Cash. winning entries of the multiple-choice game Talking about earning Strait Cash - for has played from the Oct./Nov. issue of Strait Talk. those of you who are new, we have ways to They are: earn bonus bucks called Strait Cash that you “George Strait” 1st Place: Linda Ramos can spend on George Strait merchandise at Arlington, TX the Fan Club. If you send in photos, letters, more than any other 2nd Place: Linda Urey comments, reviews, games or fan club col- Mercer, PA lectible items that we use in the newsletter, artist so far 3rd Place: Frances Hughes we will send you $5.00 in Strait Cash, your Staten Island, NY Strait Talk by 1st Class Mail in an envelope in 2000. Congratulations to our 3 prize winners. and a collectors card. It’s that easy.You Your prizes are being mailed to you. Also, would be surprised how easy it is to earn a we would like to congratulate Jeanie Spears Continued on following page STRAIT TALK
Tom Foote (Road Manager) Scott Kernahan (Artist Development) Anita’s Notes Frank Bohman (CPA) Eddie Tidwell (Creative Dir.-Publishing) little Strait Cash. Ted Moffitt (Ranch Foreman) Tarryn Smith (Creative Mgr.-Publishing) For those of you who have access to the Linda Scales (Administrative Assistant) GSFC website at www.georgestrait.com, and Terri Herrington (Administrative Assistant) GEORGE STRAIT FAN CLUB: according to the latest statistics about 70% Anita O’Brian (President) of the population does, your user name and ACE IN THE HOLE BAND: Pam Garrett (Operations Manager) password for this issue of Strait Talk is: David Anthony (Acoustic Guitar & Vocals) Judy Dismang (Adm. Asst.) Mike Daily (Steel Guitar) Katie Swafford (Operations Asst.) User Name: wise Gene Elders (Fiddle) Kelly Colbert (Data Entry) Password: blues Terry Hale (Bass) Darci O’Brian (Creative Director) Ronnie Huckaby (Keyboards) You must use these in special fan club Mike Kennedy (Drums) areas that are for members only. Remember Benny McArthur (Guitar, Fiddle & Vocals) n to use lower case letters when entering the Rick McRae (Guitar & Fiddle) User Name and Password. Wes Hightower (Vocals) We will be closing the Fan Club office for Liana Manis (Vocals) the Holiday Season on Dec. 21st and re- Pen Pals open on January 2nd of 2001. If you need to ROAD CREW: DECEMBER 2000/ JANU- check on an order before the 21st, please Lee Roy Eichler (Dir. of Transportation) (Fans that exchange letter through mail) call us at 1-615-824-7176 from 8:30a.m.- David Latimer (Band Driver) 4:30p.m. Central Time, Monday thru Friday. Jimmy Spivey (Driver) Howard Schiff If you need to return an item after the holi- George Hurtado (Pilot) P.O. Box 913 days, please enclose your Invoice, reason for Max Benoit (Concession Manager) Beaufort, NC 28516 the return, size needed and daytime phone Joe Hayes (Concession Sales) number. The items that need to be returned Paul Rogers (Production Manager) Evelyne Hofacker (42 years old) must be in excellent, new condition as they Jim Harrell (Concessions Driver) Neumattstrasse l3 were received. If it was damaged in ship- Carl Haddock (Concessions Driver) 4455 Zunzgen ment, please call us before returning. If you Wilson Hudgins (Concession Sales) Switzerland have any questions, please call us or fax us. Jimmy Smith (Concession Sales) The phone number is 615-824-7176 and our Bobby Whittan (Band Driver) fax number is 615-822-2527. Ryan Calonge (Concession Sales n I believe that this is it from this part of the world. We hope that you and your family IN NASHVILLE, TN: have a wonderful and blessed holiday sea- Erv Woolsey (Personal Manager) son. From the George Strait Organization to Danny O’Brian (Tour Coordinator) St rait all of you, we wish you Feliz Navidad Connie Woolsey (Executive Director) (Merry Christmas) and a very Happy New Dottie Oelhafen (Office Manager) (Fans that submit photos that are used Year! Cheryl Valuja (Adm. Asst.) in the newsletter) Felicity Tidwell (Accounting) IN TEXAS: Casey Robertson (Receptionist) TERRY CALONGE - GOODLETTSVILLE, TN George, Norma and George Strait, Jr. Tom Cheney (Artist Development) MCARECORDS - NASHVILLE, TN
MOVERS MOVERS ARE YOU MOVING? DROP US YOUR NEW ADDRESS BY MAIL OR CALL! GSFC ¥ P.O. BOX 2119 ¥ HENDERSONVILLE, TENNESSEE 37077 (615) 824-7176 (MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM CENTRAL TIME)