George Strait Mourns The Losses Of Longtime Manager, Bandmate
George Strait’s manager of 45 years, Eugene Ervine “Erv” Woolsey, passed peacefully at age 80 this week (3/20) in Clearwater, Florida.
Strait’s Statement
The King of Country Music, Strait, said, “My manager for around 45 years and, most importantly, my friend for even longer, Erv Woolsey, passed away this morning.”
The Country Music Hall of Fame Member continued, “He had complications from a surgery and just couldn’t overcome it. He was a very tough man and fought hard, but sadly, it was just too much. We will miss him so very much and will never forget all the time we had together. Won’t ever be the same without him.”
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Woolsey’s Legacy
Woolsey was under doctors’ care due to complications from surgery. The Texas-born, longtime Nashville resident changed the face of modern country music through his stewardship of Strait’s career and the careers of Lee Ann Womack, Dierks Bentley, Clay Walker, and Country Music Hall of Famer Ronnie Milsap.
Woolsey and his then-wife Connie owned The Prairie Rose, a club in San Marcos, Texas, in the 1970s. He first saw and met George Strait there, recognizing something in the classic Texan’s approach that stood out. He booked Strait regularly to perform.
Signing Strait
In 1981, in the wake of “Urban Cowboy” and on the verge of a new traditionalist movement, Woolsey convinced label head Jim Foglesong to sign Strait to a recording deal at MCA Records, his label home to this day.
In a more current post on his Instagram, Strait announced another sad death in his music family: his fiddle player Gene Elders. He captioned the post, “Hard to believe we lost two of our music family members on the same day. Our Ace In the Hole treasured band member Gene Elders passed away yesterday afternoon, shortly after we lost Erv. All of our prayers go out to both families. Me and the band won’t ever be the same without our brother Gene. We loved him so much. Go play with Mike again, Geno. We’ll come join you guys later.”
Elder’s cause of death is unknown at this time.
George’s First Single “Unwound”
Only Texas Show in 2024
Strait recently announced the only performance in his home state this year with a concert set for Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field. He will be joined by special guests Parker McCollum and Catie Offerman. Tickets here.
The country music icon will once again team up with Chris Stapleton to perform one-off stadium dates this year with stops at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Chicago’s Soldier Field, Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, and more. Joining the King of Country and Stapleton for those nine dates are special guests, Little Big Town.
Five Country Superstars Who Are Not Opry Members
George Strait
Vince Bucci/Getty ImagesGeorge played the Grand Ole Opry show once, his debut performance on the stage in October of 1982. That was the first and last time, and no one really knows why. There is a theory that he could not make the Opry commitment to play the stage very much because he never lived in Nashville; he has always resided in Texas.
Kenny Chesney
Scott Gries/Getty ImagesKenny made his Opry debut in 1996. He has been on the Opry stage a handful of times and once when he paid tribute to George Jones singing his classic, “White Lightning.” These days it’s very rare to see Chesney on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
