George Strait to Present Jim Lauderdale with Americana Honor
The Americana Honors and Awards have seen some pretty high tone dignitaries make their way onto the stage during their 17-year run, but the 2016 installment may see some of the biggest star power yet. It has been announced that “King” George Strait will make a rare public appearance after his official touring retirement to present Jim Lauderdale with the Wagonmaster Award named for country music icon Porter Wagoner during the September 21st awards at the Ryman Auditorium.
The reason George Strait is in the unique position to bestow the award to Jim Lauderdale is due to Strait recording over a dozen Jim Lauderdale songs during his career, and counting. Lauderdale, whose name has become synonymous with Americana, is the Americana Awards’ annual Master of Ceremonies, and was the very first Americana Artist of the Year in 2002 when the awards began.
The Americana Honors & Awards are part of the greater Americana Music Conference happening between September 20th and 25th in Nashville, drawing folks from all around the country and world. Nominees for the awards were announced in May, and recently the Americana Music Association announced an initiative called #roadtoamericanafest, encouraging bands, artists, fans, media, and others to spread interest in the awards organically. Also as part of the initiative, Americana is giving away a trip to AmericanaFest.
Jim Lauderdale is one of the most prolific artists in Nashville, having recorded nearly 30 records since 1991, and lending his voice to many recordings. It was Lauderdale’s snubbing by the country music industry that partially inspired Americana to form as an alternative to the mainstream. Here is a list of the Jim Lauderdale songs George Strait has recorded:
“The King of Broken Hearts” — Pure Country Soundtrack
“Where the Sidewalk Ends” — Pure Country Soundtrack
“I Wasn’t Fooling Around” — Easy Come, Easy Go
“Stay Out of My Arms” — Easy Come, Easy Go
“Nobody Has to Get Hurt” — Lead On
“What Am I Waiting For” — Lead On
“Do the Right Thing” — Blue Clear Sky
“We Really Shouldn’t Be Doing This” — One Step at a Time/Latest Greatest Straitest Hits
“One of You” — Always Never the Same
“What Do You Say to That” — Always Never the Same
“Don’t Make Me Come Over There (and Love You)” — George Strait
“She Used to Say That to Me” — Honkytonkville
“Twang” — Twang
“I Gotta Get to You” — Twang
July 30, 2016 @ 11:36 am
Well deserved and great choice. Makes me think of my departed friend Jerry and our chats about the songs both Lauderdale and Dean Dillon wrote that were covered by Strait.
July 30, 2016 @ 4:18 pm
This gives me the warm fuzzies
July 30, 2016 @ 4:22 pm
I have that same, beautiful shirt that George is wearing, except its green/blue instead of orange/blue.
July 30, 2016 @ 4:29 pm
Had no idea JL had written all of those tunes for George . Thanks for the education Trigger .
July 30, 2016 @ 8:16 pm
So many good songs. 🙂 I think “What Do You Say to That” might be my favorite of the bunch…
July 31, 2016 @ 6:42 am
Meant to comment on this last night but I got caught up with something, the fact that George Strait is giving an award involving a genre not getting a lot of Mainstream Attention, makes him more of a class act than already possible.
July 31, 2016 @ 10:09 am
George isn’t getting much mainstream attention at country radio. This is a good business move for him and an intro into the Americana world.
July 31, 2016 @ 10:06 am
Strati also recorded Jim’s song Whisper… I think. Besides honoring Jim, this is an opportunity being taken by the Americana folks to attract big country star power that can’t get big country radio airplay anymore, like LeAnn Womack and it’s an opportunity for George to have a home and place of relevance as his country radio career dwindles. Americana is becoming big business just like the CMA’s and a home for faded pop and country stars like Robert Plant, Bonnie Raitt, LeAnn Womack, etc.
July 31, 2016 @ 3:21 pm
I always thought “She used to say that to me” should have been a single. Perfect for country radio back in 2004. Jim has some great songs! He and Dean Dillion are staples on Strait Albums. I would love Strait to cut an Americana album with Cobb as producer.