‘Catch of the Day’ – George Strait – “Cold Beer Conversation” [AUDIO]

Today we feature an artist who, cross-genre, has had more #1 hits than any other artist in history, with more #1's than the Beatles (20) and Elvis Presley (18) COMBINED!

George Strait currently ranks 12th all-time in total albums sold, with over 100 million worldwide. His career has included 70 number 1 hits, 21 #1 albums, a #1 compilation box set and a #1 movie soundtrack album. He is a three time CMA, 2 time ACM Entertainer and 2 time Billboard magazine Top Country Artist of the Year, and in 2000, he was named artist of the decade by the Academy of Country Music.

Not bad for a farm boy from Poteet, TX.

After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1975, Strait enrolled at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos and graduated with a degree in agriculture. He had already joined the band Stoney Creek, changing its name to The Ace In The Hole Band. After touring with the Texas Playboys, the band was given the opportunity to record two Strait originals, "That Don't Change The Way I Feel About You," and "I Can't Go On Dying Like This" for the Houston-based D label.

Off of these recordings, Strait became friends with local promoter Erv Woolsey, who convinced his music row Nashville connections to give the young Texan a listen. The Nashville insiders were impressed, but couldn't see a marketability for the group's Texas Swing sound. Disappointed after being turned downed by every record company in Nashville, Strait considered leaving music behind to return to the family ranch in Texas, being offered a job designing cattle pens, going as far as giving the band his notice. After talking it over with his wife Norma, Strait reconsidered his notice and decided to give it one more year. Soon after, MCA Records offered him a one-song contract with the flier that if the song did well, they would consider an album. That song was "Unwound", which climbed to #3 on the charts.

MCA produced the album, which would be called Strait Country. And the rest, as they say, is country music history.

27 albums, 1 multi-disk #1 compilation, 1 #1 movie and corresponding soundtract, 112 top-10 hits and an incredible farewell tour later, "The King" has kept his promise made before the Cowboy Rides Away" tour. Strait promised fans he was only retiring from touring, not from the country music, and, true to his word, has released a brand new album Cold Beer Conversation. The album's second single and title track are in our spotlight today. George Strait and "Cold Beer Conversation" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.