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October 13, 1975 - George Strait and Ace in the Hole played their first gig ever...for the next several years, George and the boys played weekly at Cheatham Street Warehouse. That show is among Strait's greatest moments. CLICK HERE to see CMT's Greatest Moments feature on George Strait. |
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George Strait at Cheatham - 1975 |
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George Strait has gone on to record more Number 1 songs than any other single artist in history and has sold over 62 million records. Strait holds the Country Music Association’s all time record for most career nominations with a total of 73. He was the CMA “Vocalist of the Year” 5 times and the only artist in history to be so honored in two different decades. We're real proud. |
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Back on October 13. 1975, George Strait and his Ace in the Hole Band played their first gig ever---at Cheatham Street Warehouse, of course. What an important night that was! After that, they played at Cheatham Street practically every week for years until they got so busy in the early 80's that they were on the road for weeks at a time. George's first trip to Nashville was in the fall of 1977 -- in the Cheatham Street Warehouse cargo van - with Darrell Staedtler and Kent Finlay. They had an army cot in the back and just two seats up front, so the three of them took turns sleeping...and driving...and riding shotgun. George cut some impressive demos at the time, and a couple of years later, he was able to land a record deal with MCA Records.
And now, it's over 30 years later - and George has broken ALL the records! 52 number 1 songs and still counting! And it all started at Cheatham Street Warehouse where so many others have gotten their start. Kent Finlay wants to say congratulations to George Strait and all the guys in the Ace in the Hole Band for such an illustrious 30 years. Thank you for the music and for making Cheatham Street Warehouse feel so proud!
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In the February 1977 issue of Action Magazine, there appeared an article about a local San Marcos band:
Ace in the Hole can’t be classified as a college band. The members of this solid little country group admit that Southwest Texas University in San Marcos is more of a sideline than their music business. Today, as it was then, music is still first with George Strait’s Ace in the Hole Band, and college is a thing of the past for all but Starit and steel guitar player Mike Daily. And graduation is almost upon these two. The popularity of Ace in the Hole was manifest last month as the band celebrated its third anniversary of existence at the honky-tonk where the band got its start. Kent Finlay’s Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos. “I think Ace in the Hole is one hell of a band” Finlay said while watching an ant-like stream of students pour into Cheatham Street. “George has all the tools to become a successful recording artist, and all the members of his band are serious about their music. These are the kind of people who eventually succeed in the music business.”
In offering a 50 cent admission and a free keg of beer, Finlay insured his favorite band a good anniversary crowd. But the free beer was only icing on the cake, for Ace in the Hole draws Texans with its tight, solid brand of country honky-tonk stomp. Coeds at SWTSU were carrying “Ace in the Hole Anniversary” placards on campus that day of the party and others were displaying gas-filled balloons which floated in the night sky above Cheatham Street Warehouse. Like Finlay, the students and fans of the town were showing their appreciation to a band of hard working musicians.
Strait’s name fits the man, for there isn’t a straighter looking and shooting young musician in the business. Nor a more dedicated one. And he was letting the hammer down at the anniversary party, playing first one country song and then another as Ace in the Hole believers filled Finlay’s dusty and ill-lighted dance floor wall to wall.
“Everyone is out of school except me and Mike Daily,” Strait said. “I’ll get out next semester, and I believe Mike will graduated after this semester. And then its music all the way.”
That the band has stayed intact to a member is stark evidence that Ace in the Hole means business. And there is no indication that steel player Mike Daily, drummer Tommy Foote, bass player Terry Hale, or lead guitarist Rob Cable will do anything other than ride the road with Pearsall native George Strait in the months and years to come.
“We will go into the studio to do an album” Strait said.” We cut a single last year that got a little air play here and there and this kinda surprised me. We are inexperienced, but I believe that more work and more time in th studio will pay off for us in the long run. We are paying our dues, and we will continue paying them until something breaks. I’ve go some original songs that will go on the album, and we also intend to record some of Darrell Staedtler’s stuff. Something might come of it. We are going to record at the Sound Masters Studio in Houston. That’s where Frenchy Burke and Kenny Dale record. It’s a good studio.”
Although Strait and Mike Daily still have college courses to attend, Ace in the Hole is for all practical purposes a full time working band. They have regular gigs from San Marcos to Houston to Huntsville to Luckenbach and all points inbetween. And this solid country group is still searching for a solid location closer to San Antonio than their regular stop at Pat Molak’s Gruene Hall. “We’ve played San Antonio a few times,” Strait said, “ but not enough to establish a regular following. And I sure would like to find us a spot. I feel that San Antonio country music fans might like us.” And that they would, for Ace in the Hole and George Strait are country musicians fashioned after the style of Moe Bandy. Their country is hard, tight and without frills and many rock licks. There is a marked improvement in the overall sound since last year, and Strait works with a new intensity and confidence, which was lacking when the boys got together. His demeanor is reserved and shy, but his voice is forceful and bell clear.
Want To Read More? Check out the following links:
George Strait in the early days...
