50 Years Ago, a Texas Bar Heard George Strait for the First Time — and Country Music Was Never the Same.LC

• George Strait’s career began with his first professional gig in San Marcos, Texas, in 1975.
• After early struggles in Nashville, a chance club gig led to a deal with MCA Records.
• Strait’s debut single and first album reintroduced traditional country to mainstream radio.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 50 years since George Strait played his first professional gig, not knowing then that he would become one of country music’s most iconic stars.

That official start is widely marked by his performance at Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, Texas, on October 13, 1975. But even before that moment, Strait had been quietly making music for years.

Growing up on a ranch in Frio County, just south of San Antonio, Texas, Strait’s earliest musical experience came from playing in a high school rock band called the Stoics. At the time, Strait didn’t listen to country music growing up; rather, his early influences leaned more toward the British Invasion. 

In December 1971, after eloping with his high school sweetheart, Norma Voss, Strait joined the United States Army. Stationed in Hawaii with the 25th Infantry Division, he didn’t just serve — he also performed in an Army-sponsored country band called Rambling Country.

After his military service, Strait enrolled at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, studying agriculture. It was there that Strait came across a flyer looking for a lead singer. He decided to audition, and that moment would mark the beginning of everything that followed.

The band, originally named Stoney Ridge, featured Terry Hale, Mike Daily, Ron Cabal, Tom Foote and Jay Dominguez. When Dominguez left, Strait stepped in as the lead singer. The band soon renamed itself Ace in the Hole.

Their first gig at Cheatham Street Warehouse was memorable. Owner Kent Finlay reportedly said, “I thought he would be a star, probably before he did,” according toSaving Country Music. Following that, they played regularly at Cheatham Street, and even toured regionally. 

Strait later recalled in an interview with Billboard, “Our first gig was at a place in San Marcos, Texas, called Cheatham Street Warehouse. It’s still there today. It sits right up against the railroad track. When the train came through, you just had to ignore it and try to play louder. We later played most every honky-tonk in South and Central Texas. Those were fun days, and I believe that gave me a good foundation for what would come later.”

Despite local success, breaking into Nashville’s music scene proved tough. Finlay even took Strait to Nashville to shop for a record deal, but labels deemed him “too country.” Strait nearly gave up on music altogether and considered becoming a rancher for a cattle company, according to The Ohio State University. 

However, during a lucky break at one of his club performances, Strait caught the attention of former record promoter Erv Woolsey. Impressed by his sound, Woolsey played a role in helping him land a deal with MCA Records in 1981. 

Strait’s debut single, the honky-tonk anthem “Unwound,” climbed to #6 on the Billboard charts that same year. Its success helped pave the way for his first album, Strait Country, which played a crucial role in bringing traditional country sounds back to mainstream radio.

Even as a solo superstar, Strait never abandoned the Ace in the Hole Band. Though members have changed over the years, original players like Hale and Daily remained part of the live act for decades — still performing alongside Strait, just like they did 50 years ago in San Marcos.