George Strait Tickets

George Strait has perfected his honky tonk country western sound over the years, which has earned him the title of the "King of Country." His sales back up the claim - he has more No. 1 songs on the Billboard Country Music charts than any other artist, and he has more gold or platinum certified albums than any other artist in the U.S., with the exception of Elvis Presley and The Beatles.

Strait began his music career in a rock band in high school, but influence from Merle Haggard, Bob Wills and Hank Williams soon moved him in the direction of country. After spending time in the army, he toured honky tonk bars in the South with The Texas Playboys, and he eventually scored a solo deal with MCA Records.

"Unwound," Straits first single, was a Top Ten hit. This began a long string of hits, including "Fool Hearted Memory" and ''Down and Out." Strait dominated the country music industry through the 80s, and was one of the few artists to remain relevant when the genre turned to the rock-oriented sounds of Garth Brooks in the early 1990s.

Part of Straits continued success is his ability to reinvent himself and his music effortlessly. While he has remained true to his honky tonk and country roots throughout his career, he has released much lighter albums and much more rock-oriented collections, gaining fans of all kinds along the way.

Throughout his legendary music career, he has remained at MCA Records and amassed 55 No.1 singles along the way. Strait has sold more than 62 million records over the years, including 13 multi-platinum albums, 32 platinum collections, and 35 gold albums.

Strait has also cleaned up in the awards circuit. He won 16 Country Music Academy Awards, and has been nominated for 73 awards. He was also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

While Strait has been releasing albums regularly, he also made a name for himself as a touring act. In the 1990s, Strait set a number of attendance records at venues cross the United States. His 2006 tour grossed $15 million in only 18 performances. Ever the humble performer, the legend claims that his band is the cause for the popularity, as they are "musically very tight."

In October of 2006, Strait celebrated his 30th year in the music industry with the release of "It Just Comes Natural." The album was a commercial and critical success, prompting People Magazine to offer the collection a four-star review and rave, "If ever there was a natural in country music, its Strait."