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Sep. 24th, 2014 01:04 pm This is for an oral presentation I have to give for my Music Appreciation class. We have to discuss an assigned musician, the evolution of their music, and how they influenced American music culture. I was assigned George Strait
~*~
Out of all the new country singers to emerge in the early '80s, George Strait stayed the closest to traditional country. Drawing from both the honky tonk and Western swing traditions, Strait didn't refashion the genres; instead, he revitalized them for a new decade.
He is known for his neotraditionalist country style, cowboy look, and being one of the first and main country artists to bring country music back to its roots. In the process, he became one of the most popular and influential singers of the decade, sparking a wave of neo-traditionalist singers from Randy Travis and Dwight Yoakam to Clint Black, Garth Brooks, and Alan Jackson.
Neo-Traditionalist country refers to the legions of country singers that emerged in the late '80s, of which, George Strait is arguably the leader. The reworked and updated classic sounds of honky tonk and traditional country, with contemporary production touches to make it more commercially viable, was essentially hardcore country.
Honky tonk music represented a radical break from the course of traditional country music that evolved in the Appalachians, strongly religious, family-based, rural music. Instead, honky tonk was made by Southerners living in cities, lyrically detailing the pleasures and miseries of urban life.
His song “Unwound”, released in 1981, showcases both the Western Swing style of music and the Honky Tonk cliche of a man having issues with his woman. He’s out drinking and everything is coming unwound...
His influences include Merle Haggard, Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, Hank Williams, George Jones, Frank Sinatra. "I've always wanted to do a totally swing album," George says. "Maybe someday I'll do an album of old Sinatra-flavored swing with a huge band." (Fabian)
Strait holds the record, along with only Elvis Presley and The Beatles, for having the most number one albums, including gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums in music history.
His voice has been described as a “mixture of caramel and whiskey” (Tipping, 2014). With his trademark black cowboy hat, George Strait has lead a generation of country fans as the proclaimed King of Country.
The fourth track from George Strait's new album "Love Is Everything" takes the band back to the 1976 single "I Just Can't Go On Dying Like This" which George wrote. While not exactly the honky tonk swing sound of the 80’s, this version fits the song in George's "new" sound, which is more polished and refined.
~*~
Out of all the new country singers to emerge in the early '80s, George Strait stayed the closest to traditional country. Drawing from both the honky tonk and Western swing traditions, Strait didn't refashion the genres; instead, he revitalized them for a new decade.
He is known for his neotraditionalist country style, cowboy look, and being one of the first and main country artists to bring country music back to its roots. In the process, he became one of the most popular and influential singers of the decade, sparking a wave of neo-traditionalist singers from Randy Travis and Dwight Yoakam to Clint Black, Garth Brooks, and Alan Jackson.
Neo-Traditionalist country refers to the legions of country singers that emerged in the late '80s, of which, George Strait is arguably the leader. The reworked and updated classic sounds of honky tonk and traditional country, with contemporary production touches to make it more commercially viable, was essentially hardcore country.
Honky tonk music represented a radical break from the course of traditional country music that evolved in the Appalachians, strongly religious, family-based, rural music. Instead, honky tonk was made by Southerners living in cities, lyrically detailing the pleasures and miseries of urban life.
His song “Unwound”, released in 1981, showcases both the Western Swing style of music and the Honky Tonk cliche of a man having issues with his woman. He’s out drinking and everything is coming unwound...
His influences include Merle Haggard, Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, Hank Williams, George Jones, Frank Sinatra. "I've always wanted to do a totally swing album," George says. "Maybe someday I'll do an album of old Sinatra-flavored swing with a huge band." (Fabian)
Strait holds the record, along with only Elvis Presley and The Beatles, for having the most number one albums, including gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums in music history.
His voice has been described as a “mixture of caramel and whiskey” (Tipping, 2014). With his trademark black cowboy hat, George Strait has lead a generation of country fans as the proclaimed King of Country.
The fourth track from George Strait's new album "Love Is Everything" takes the band back to the 1976 single "I Just Can't Go On Dying Like This" which George wrote. While not exactly the honky tonk swing sound of the 80’s, this version fits the song in George's "new" sound, which is more polished and refined.