50 Year Ago: George Strait Plays First Professional Gig

Imagine being able to go back in time to 50 years ago today to the relatively quaint, but nonetheless legendary Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, TX to see George Strait play what is recognized as his first professional show fronting the Ace in the Hole Band. It was the very start of what would ultimately morph into one of the most successful careers in country music history, selling out stadiums, setting the record for #1s in country, and being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Though the Cheatham Street Warehouse gig on October 13th, 1975 is recognized as the official starting point of George Strait’s country music career, it wasn’t the first time he’d played music for others. While growing up on a ranch in Frio County, Texas south of San Antonio, Strait performed in a Beatles-inspired rock and roll band called the Stoics while attending high school.

In December of 1971, Strait eloped with his high school sweetheart Norma Voss, and enlisted in the United States Army as an infantryman. Strait ultimately was stationed in Hawaii as part of the 25th Infantry Division, and performed in an Army-sponsored country band called Rambling Country. They also played a few gigs off base under the name Santee. But at this time, Strait didn’t consider music an occupation or something he was serious about pursuing. It was a hobby to help pass the time.

After serving his five years in the Army, Strait returned to Texas in 1975 and enrolled in Southwest Texas State University (now known as Texas State) in San Marcos to study agriculture. It was during this time that Strait saw a flyer posted at the college for a band looking for a lead singer who could sing honky tonk and Western Swing covers. Strait decided to take up the proposal and audition.

The band had once been known as Stoney Ridge with bass player Terry Hale, steel guitarist Mike Daily, Ron Cabal on lead guitar, Tom Foote on drums, and singer Jay Dominguez. When Jay Dominguez left the band, this created the opening for George Strait. At that time, Strait didn’t think of himself as starting a solo country music career. He was joining a band that renamed itself Ace in the Hole after switching lead singers.

That first gig for the newly-formed Ace in the Hole Band at the Cheatham Street Warehouse was a promising one. Owner Kent Finlay says, “I thought he would be a star, probably before he did.” It would be followed by more gigs at Cheatham Street, along with others at nearby Gruene Hall. Ace in the Hole started touring regionally, including opening shows for more established acts like The Texas Playboys and Asleep At The Wheel.

Cheatham Street owner Kent Finlay would go on to take Strait on his first trip to Nashville to shop demos around. But they would end up hitting the same brick wall that Strait would hit for the next five years. All the labels in Nashville considered Strait “too country.” For a while, Strait considered giving up music entirely, and was offered a job designing cattle pens that could put his agriculture degree to work. At one point he even gave notice to the Ace in the Hole band that he intended to leave. But his wife convinced him to give music one more try.

Finally in 1981, MCA signed George Strait to a deal, but it was only for one song. He recorded “Unwound,” which ended up going #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. That was the proof of concept MCA was looking for, and signed on to release Strait’s debut album. The rest is history.

Time would prove Strait’s value as a solo performer, but his loyalty to the Ace in the Hole Band remained. Though members of the band have passed on and needed to be replaced, Strait’s backing band is still the Ace in the Hole band—the same that Strait played that gig in San Marcos with 50 years ago. Bass player Terry Hale, and steel guitarist Mike Daily are still part of the live outfit.

From humble beginnings and low expectations to the very pinnacle of the country genre, George Strait is an inspiration for all those country performers getting up on stage to play their first professional gig, hoping someday to make it to country stardom.

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