And Now, The Latest From The King . . .

Just out, from the King of Country Music, George Strait. Bellissimo!

HONKY TONK TIME MACHINE, available now at https://umgnashville.lnk.to/HTTMYP 

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Music video by George Strait performing Codigo. © 2019 UMG Recordings, Inc. http://vevo.ly/1XE9ww

Of All Of Them, These Are The Very Best!

OK, we can all start playing Christmas music now.
And since there's no Christmas like a Country Christmas, that means country music.
Because, somehow Christmas and country music just seem to go together.
So it should come as no surprise that many of the best Christmas songs you will ever hear are country Christmas songs.
To begin with the single best Christmas album we've ever heard is by Alabama and it's simply titled "Christmas." This is the first Alabama Christmas album issued in 1985.
Every song on this album is wonderful but some of our favorites include Santa Claus (I Still Believe In You), Christmas Memories, Tennessee Christmas and Christmas in Dixie.
We also like all of the songs on Clint Black's 1995 album "Looking for Christmas."
Favorites from a variety of other albums include: 364 Days to Go by Brad Paisley, This Is My Prayer by Reba McEntire, When It's Christmas Time In Texas and Christmas Cookies by George Strait, Goin' Home for Christmas by Merle Haggard, and (a perennial favorite) Christmas Times A-Comin' by Bill Monroe.
Among non-country Christmas songs we like Santa Baby (the original by Eartha Kitt) When My Heart Finds Christmas and I Pray On Christmas by Harry Connick, Jr. as well as It Happened In Sun Valley by Mel Torme and Christmas in New Orleans by Louis Armstrong.
A friend who takes a somewhat different view of Christmas has asked that we add Merry Christmas From The Family by Robert Earl Keen and Granma Got Run Over By A Reindeer by Elmo and Patsy Shropshire.
So there, we've added them.

Music Legend Announces Dates For Farewell Tour

One of the most successful popular musical performers of all time will give up major, extended concert touring at the end of his final tour. Fans will have their last chance to see him perform at such venues  during a nationwide tour that will begin on January 9, 2014 in Louisiana and end in June, 2014 in his native Texas.

Musical icon George Strait has announced the dates for the second leg of his final two-year tour – The Cowboy Rides Away Tour. In a press conference streamed live on georgestrait.com from AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, earlier today, Strait revealed the final 26 markets he will visit during the winter and spring legs of his 2014 tour.

Additionally, Strait revealed he will have special guests on each tour weekend that will be matched with the corresponding tour date and market via a “tweet to unlock” campaign. Special guests will include Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Ronnie Dunn, Vince Gill, Merle Haggard, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack, Chris Young, and more.

“The first leg of the tour earlier this year was very fun, but also very emotional,” said Strait. “Every city and venue holds such great memories. I’m really looking forward to seeing our fans out on the road in 2014.”

George Strait fan club members will have an opportunity to purchase tickets for the concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles during a pre-sale beginning at 10 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, September 24. Additionally, American Express® Cardmembers can purchase tickets before the general public. Tickets available to the general public will go on sale in select markets beginning Sept. 27 at 10:00 a.m. (time zone restraints apply) at www.georgestrait.com. Fan Club members may check the calendar of events in the Members Only section of the website for more on-sale dates.

The Cowboy Rides Away Tour 2014 dates are as follows:

January 9, 2014 CenturyLink│Bossier City, La.
January 10, 2014 Frank Erwin Center│Austin, Texas
January 17, 2014 CenturyLink Center│Omaha, Neb.
January 18, 2014 Sprint Center│Kansas City, Mo.
January 30, 2014 SAP Center│San Jose, Calif.
January 31, 2014 Valley View Casino Center│San Diego, Calif.
February 1, 2014 MGM Grand Arena│Las Vegas, Nev.
February 7, 2014 US Airways Center│Phoenix, Ariz.
February 8, 2014 Staples Center│Los Angeles, Calif.
February 14, 2014 The Palace of Auburn Hills │Auburn Hills, Mich.
February 15, 2014 Nationwide Arena│Columbus, Ohio
February 28, 2014 Wells Fargo Arena│Philadelphia, Pa.
March 1, 2014 Prudential Center│Newark, N.J.
March 7, 2014 KFC Yum! Arena│Louisville, Ky.
March 8, 2014 Allstate Arena│Chicago, Ill.
March 21, 2014 Bridgestone Arena│Nashville, Tenn.
March 22, 2014 Philips Arena│Atlanta, Ga.
April 4, 2014 Intrust Bank Arena│ Wichita, Kan.
April 5, 2014 Pepsi Center│Denver, Colo.
April 11, 2014 The Moda Center│Portland, Ore.
April 12, 2014 Tacoma Dome│Tacoma, Wash.
April 18, 2014 Wells Fargo Arena│Des Moines, Iowa
April 19, 2014 BOK Arena│Tulsa, Okla.
May 23, 2014 LSU Tiger Stadium Bayou Country Superfest │Baton Rouge, La.
May 31, 2014 Gillette Stadium │ Foxborough, Mass.
TBD AT&T Stadium │Dallas, Texas

Strait, who recently renewed his record deal with MCA Records during a celebration at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center, will continue to record new music and play select dates around the country following the completion of the tour. The Cowboy Rides Away Tour will offer fans a final opportunity to see Strait’s live show filled with hits from throughout his remarkable career, including many of his 60 No. 1 hits (more than any other artist in any genre). 

Additionally, Strait will receive Billboard’s Legend of Live Award in November in a ceremony in New York City. This is the magazine’s most coveted touring award, and he is the first country music artist to achieve this honor.

For more information on George Strait and for tour updates, please visit www.GeorgeStrait.com or follow Strait on Facebook and Twitter @georgestrait.

George Strait Sets Astounding Record!

Country music star George Strait has set a Billboard record.
The trade magazine said Tuesday that the country legend is the first act to hit the top 10 on any Billboard chart for 30 straight years.
The song that set the record was "I Gotta Get You," which has reached No. 9 on Billboard's top country songs list.
Strait's first country top 10 hit was in 1981, with "Unwound," and he has cracked the top 10 every year since then. His latest hit is his 82nd top 10 country hit.

Best Christmas Songs

In no particular order, here are ten of the best (and most original) Christmas songs I know:
This Christmas - This song has been getting more airplay in recent years. There are two good versions; one by Harry Connick, Jr. and another by Danny Hathaway.
Goin Home For Christmas - This haunting piece by Merle Haggard summons up so much feeling. It's a perfect pastiche.
Santa Baby - Don't buy any updated versions. Trust only the original by Eartha Kitt.
Christmas In Dixie and Santa Claus (I Still Believe In You) - Both by Alabama and both on Alabama's first (red) Christmas album. These are two of the best songs and this is one of the best Christmas albums you will ever find.
Christmas Was Made For Children - I really like the Mel Torme version on his album, Christmas Songs.
Christmas in New Orleans and Christmas Night In Harlem - Both feature the great Louis Armstrong with the Benny Carter Orchestra. Check them out on The Best of Louis Armstrong and Friends, The Christmas Collection.
When It's Christmas Time In Texas - By King George himself, George Strait. Full of wonderful imagery!
New York City Christmas - By the Cover Girls. This may be hard to find but it's got plenty of high energy. It turns up on a lot of compilation albums.
As you can see I like Christmas songs that evoke certain times and places.
That's because Christmas is a time for memories, dreams and imagination.
And these songs trigger memories, enrich dreams and enliven imaginations.

That Country Crowd

Watching the Academy of Country Music Awards the other night I started thinking about how many of country's current crop of stars seem inauthentic. And, I'm also troubled by the fact that these awards shows rarely showcase country's best.

For example, Dwight Yoakam was a presenter but he didn't perform. That's a shame because Dwight is one of the most electrifying country performers I've ever seem.

Thank goodness Reba McEntire hosted the event. Reba is the quintessential country star: great looks, great voice, great personality. She's got it all.

But it gets dreary watching Kenny Chesney win the "Entertainer of the Year" Award again and again. This miniature beach bum is such a shameless self-promoter that it's almost pitiful.

On the other hand Montgomery Gentry are just as they are. Troy and Eddie are irrepressible crowd pleasures and they exude so must testosterone that it restores your faith in the future of manhood.

And I always enjoy seein the beautiful Leann Rimes -- what a powerhouse. LeeAnn can sing most any type of song but she remains a country music giant. I also like another Lee Ann - the grogeous and talented Lee Ann Womack.

I was happy that Brad Paisley was honored but I wish he would do fewer novelty numbers and show us a more serious side.

And I find that Keith Urban brings an enormous amount of depth and sensitivity to his performances.

Also, Trace Adkins was in fine form and it's great to see how he has grown as an artist with a newly-diverse repertoire. His new song, "You're Gonna Miss This" is a poignant country classic.

And Garth Brooks was back (Did he ever really retire?) and regrettably as self-absorbed as ever.

But why in hell was Dr. Phil on the show? Can someone tell me what this windbag has to do with country music?

Of course, King George (Strait) doesn't really have to sing if he doesn't want to. All he has to do is show up. Any country gathering become an official EVENT when the King Is In The House!

BTW: Of the two annual country awards shows I much prefer the Country Music Association Awards from Nashville. The ACM Awards and Show are the Real Deal!

No April Foolin!

They'll be no April Foolin come Tuesday.
This is the real deal: George Strait hits stores April 1 with his 37th album, Troubadour.

The “King of Country Music,” continues to raise the standard as he follows up his CMA Album of the Year, It Just Comes Natural. This new album’s first single, “I Saw God Today,” already set a personal mark when it debuted at No. 19 on the country radio charts—higher than any other song he’s released in his career. Currently it sits at #4 on R&R/Billboard.

“It’s a great record to start it out with,” says Strait. “Anyone who has had a kid can relate to seeing them for the first time and know that it is really and truly is a gift from God.” From a creative vantage point, the album as a whole promises to be remarkable. We're told that Strait explores new musical turf with the calypso R&B in “River Of Love”; opens up to meaningful—and rare—guest appearances by Patty Loveless, Vince Gill and songwriter pal Dean Dillon; and delivers the 12-song set with a voice that continues an extremely graceful evolution.

“He’s always good,” friend and co-producer Tony Brown says, “but he sang really good on this album.”

“His vocal tone has progressed very, very nicely in the last five or six years,” observes Dillon, who should know: He’s written 13 of Strait’s hits, dating back to the first, 1981’s

George Strait has more gold and platinum albums than any other country artist. He joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006, making him the only performer who’s earned a plaque in the hallowed halls while still consistently racking up hits.

“Troubadour…you know it does tell a pretty good story that fits my whole career from start to finish,” admits Strait. “cause that’s really what I’ll be when I grow to an age I can’t do this anymore. I’ve always wanted to be around as long as I could for sure. I’m still after longevity. I want to make records as long as I can cause I still enjoy it just as much as I always did.”