The Mega Star Series has to feature George Strait.  He is one of the defining artists in the format's history.  He was also the catalyst for real change in country.  I started working in country radio  at WOBL the same exact time Strait hit the air, and I am proud to say I played every one of his 60 plus number one hits on great radio stations all across the country.

The stage was waiting for Strait in 1981.  He recorded an album or two in the mid 1970's with zero luck. The reining stars of 1981 were mostly long-time established stars, some as far back as the late 1950's.  Conway Twitty, Ronnie Milsap, George Jones, Waylon, Willie, Loretta, Dolly, Kenny Rogers, Tammy Wynette and others.  There were also those made more famous by Urban Cowboy like, Don Williams, Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee, Ed Bruce, Eddie Rabbitt, to name a few. There were some newer acts too, Lee Greenwood, Leon Everette, Razzy Bailey, TG Shepard, Sylvia, Janie Fricke and others. 

All of them recorded good music and I played them all for years.  But I'm not sure Nashville knew what fans were really looking for then. We were trying to be a lot of things to a lot of people and that seldom works well in any part of life. What we needed was a clear direction.  Alabama burst on the scene and they were gaining momentum so fast it was staggering.  They were young, and looked like the listeners we didn't have then and wanted. That in itself was a step forward.  Hank Williams Jr., was turning the corner for superstardom, John Anderson was a new traditional favorite, Reba too, and Earl Thomas Conley was fresh and new.  Then, there was George Strait.  

Strait was different, he was young, handsome, wore jeans, boots, a big belt buckle, a hat and was pure country. Unlike Alabama, he was not a crossover artist. His name even sounded country. He became the prototype for the next 20 plus years for others.  His unassuming personality was endearing, his music was honest, and in a very short while, was the talk of the format.  Strait is the only person to have a top 10 hit every year for over 30 years. He sold 100 million albums and won over 60 awards, with more than 60 number one songs, with 30 years of sold out shows. Simply incredible. But how did that happen?  How was it that HE was able to have the longevity that others dream of and pray for?

Well, there is no definitive answer to that, but I have always had a theory that is the only explanation I can possibly give you.  FIRST - without question he is incredibly talented, and got his hands on really amazing songs.  But my theory begins here...... 

George Strait never had that gigantic hit song that you can't follow up well. Sometimes those HUGE hits can be a problem in the long run. He was incredibly consistent. He branched out of course, but he never drifted so far from who he is, and his fans were never alienated by some new direction.  They liked who he was.  BUT THEN there are the SIX SONGS that to me -  made him, defined him, and made fans fall in love with him over and over again.  From my seat, these six songs are the among the reasons George Strait became  - and stayed a Mega Star.

1981 - Unwound -   His first big hit.  It was totally country at a time pop country was the rage so it cut through. It was fun, upbeat, short, with an amazing hook that got him noticed. But as much as anything, this song made you want to hear more from him. And to me that is the only job of a debut song.

1982 - Amarillo By Morning - This song is loved for its honesty and grit. He showed fans that he understood the lifestyle of rodeo, and the lives of country people in general. That things are tough but we push on because we have to, and we love our country lifestyle.  This song is a work of country music art. 

1985 -  The Chair  - A simple song that gave a voice to every dude with the fear of asking a woman on a date or to simply dance. Incredibly vulnerable and sweet, you can feel the nerves and the tension. This song showed that Strait understood the listener absolutely.  A wonderful story song that's timeless and forever relevant.  One of the smartest songs he ever recorded.

1987 - All My Exes Live In Texas  - Just a flat out great country song in every regard.

1992 - I Cross My Heart  - Is everything that's great about a country love song. This is a perfect example of the perfect artist meeting the perfect song.  This is loved all these years later by virtually every country music fan.

1995  - Check Yes or No  -  Everyone on earth can identify with this song in one way or another. I can't imagine anyone else singing this major hit song.

Strait changed everything. He was the lightning bolt that "younged" us up by sounding older school, quite a feat then.  Strait precipitated the changing of the guard in Nashville, by signaling the end of mutton chops, bad hair dye jobs, leisure, rhinestone and 3 piece suits, He inspired and ushered in new hat wearing stars in jeans, boots, and belt buckles. George Strait never had to reinvent himself either.  He is who he is and we are fine with that.  He is an icon in country music. His arrival was the beginning of the eventual end for many on the charts, but it was also the start of country's greatest movement forward and opened the door for many others to walk through.

Strait spearheaded the traditionalist movement when he appeared during Urban Cowboy, which was the other end of country.  He went through early and mid 80's pop-country, he paved the way for Randy Travis and other traditionalists in 1986. He joined in with the Neo-traditionalists of 1989 and beyond. He even recorded during Bro-country. He was always there, always on top of the charts.  He also revolutonized country concerts with his all-day festival style shows at stadiums, and once did a show in front of about 105,000.  Many of the biggest stars in country opened for him at his stadium shows over a number of years. 

A Little Later Strait - One Of My Favorites From Him - Simply Fantastic! 

Strait is the bar that all are measured by over that last 40 years.  His name shows up in countless songs, and is looked upon as the reason a slew of country stars wanted to become stars in the first place. 

Mega Star?  You bet - in the 1980's, 1990's, 2000's and beyond.  He was the beginning of the new beginning.

I love me some Eggplant Parm.  In fact, when "parm" is involved, I'm IN! So let's make the best parm we can!

Love a good parm....

Eggplant Parm? Uh, Yeah!

Even automatic dishwasher soap has gone high tech.  I ran across this article that shows you how many uses there are OUTSIDE of the dishwasher to use it.

After reading, makes sense, but I never would have thought of it.

You're welcome!  Click the link below!

I Never Knew This!

Aaron Goodvin has released a new song called "Boy Like Me" from EP Lucky Stars which is available now! Aaron wrote the song about how he felt when he met his wife, Victoria. When you finally meet that person and you instantly know they are the one.

Callista Clark has released her next single called "Gave It Back Broken". She decribed what the song is all about when she made the announcement: 

My new single, "Gave It Back Broken" is finally HERE! ✨ It’s about getting your heart broken by the person you trusted the most. I wanted to write this song equally vulnerable and powerful lyrically. I hope y’all love it as much as I do! ? https://t.co/4VJF9x7uIZ pic.twitter.com/QurLCX6LMQ

— Callista Clark (@callistaclark) April 8, 2022

Take a listen and let us know what you think on Facebook! 

Little Big Town debuted their new single "Hell Yeah" last night at the CMT Awards! Philip Sweet takes the lead on their first single in two years, and it will be on their forthcoming 10th studio album. The song was co-written by LBT's Philip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook, as well as Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line and Corey Crowder. In a press release Sweet said, “this song is a classic breakup song, flipped upside down".

Little Big Town will be joining Miranda Lambert at Blossom Music Center on Saturday, June 4th for The Bandwagon Tour with The Cadillac Three. Click here to purchase tickets!

Thompson Square is back with their upbeat new song "Country In My Soul". This new song will have you singing along with the windows down and the volume up! 

This new song was co-written by Lainey Wilson, Daniel Ross, and James McNair.

Box Office Results - Sonic the Hedgehog 2  -  71 Million

New This Week - Father Stu (Wednesday)  /   Fantastic Beasts 3

The Batman - Starring Robert Pattinson, will become available for streaming on HBO Max  -  MONDAY!  (Story)  

New To Video - Spiderman; No Way Home -  (Story) 

Mark Wahlberg - May "retire" from acting soon – Possible he may make more “Faith Based” content  (Story)

Brie Larson - Has joined the cast of Fast and Furious 10  (Story)

Ben and JLO - Are engaged again!  - This is her 6th engagement  (Story)

Ben – Proposed to JLo while she was taking a bubble bath  (Story)

The Academy - Has banned Will Smith from attending The Oscars and Academy events for 10 years (Story) 

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)   Hank Williams Jr.

You would think being the child of a country music giant would be an easy thing. But at second glance, you figure out - it really isn't.  Sure, you have the "in" in some ways, but then it gets tough.  Just ask Rosanne Cash, Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis or more recently, Jessie Keith Whitley, and many others.  Now imagine being Hank Williams Jr., the son of the father of country music, and one of the fathers of rock and roll.  His father, Hank Williams Sr. had a lot to do with many kinds of music in a very short period of time.  Now that's pressure.  (More on that sentence later).  I played Jr's songs and watched his career from behind the mic for many years. 

Yes, This is Hank, Long Before The Hank We All Know  (Fun to see)  - 1972  -  (A Much Loved Song Then)

Hank Williams Jr., so far has led a very interesting life and an equally interesting, highly successful country music career. He is a mega star in every sense of the word.  Hank Sr,. died at 29, when Jr., was about 5.  Jr., started performing at a very young age with the heavy load of being asked to sing mainly his daddy's songs as his dad was one of the most prolific songwriters of the 20th century.  Hank Jr., was a kid.  But as with all kids, they grow up and things change.  Hank Williams Jr., through it all, having many personal issues, even falling off a mountain, but somehow landing safely on his own star went on to dominate country music on the charts, award shows, and more importantly in the hearts of millions of country fans for years.

This Song Began The Big Change

Hank Jr., has recorded some 60 albums, many of them were long before any real success.  After being ushered onto various TV variety shows that were the rage in the early 1960's, he was singing his fathers music and recording music that wasn't really his own. His charting success was marginal, as country music of the 60's and 70's was very, very different. Then, artists would record many times a few albums every year.  Then in 1975, while climbing in Montana, he literally fell 700 feet off Ajax Peak mountain and somehow survived.  His recovery was years long as a result of severe head injuries and his physical appearance was forever changed.  He had to learn to talk again, and sing too. A beard, long hair, dark glasses, and hat helped to mask the injuries, and to this day is seldom seen without them. But after that incident, everything changed in his career, and I think within him too.

Early Success - Fans Loved This!

In 1979 he recorded the song and album, Family Tradition, and things began to change.  The first three singles were mildly successful but the title song began his rapid acceleration to the top. Two more albums were released with good success. And then 1981 and his aptly named The Pressure Is On album was released and Hank Williams Jr., was now on top. The songs, All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down, and Country Boy Can Survive joined Family Tradition as country song royalty and the legend began.  Hank Jr., reinvented himself and spawned a decade of greatness that would reach far beyond country and just his own success.  The beauty of these early successes was this - Hank invented a new sound, but lyrically he was paying homage to his father, family name, and the established stars of the era. Super smart!  A win-win.

First Single From This Breakout Album #1

I always felt his music came from the outside of the norm.  It was country, southern rock, blues, and a ton of other styles. People who couldn't stand country music in 1981, loved Hank Jr.  He was spoken in the same breath as Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, Tom Petty, Waylon. Willie, The Eagles, The Doobie Brothers and others.  But deep country listeners loved the fact that his mega hit Country Boy Can Survive gave them a voice, and helped them through the deep recession gripping them and the entire country at the time, as they lost their jobs, just as Merle Haggard's Big City album did the exact same year.  Both were right on time.

Immense Hit -  #2

Through the 1980s Hank ran off a long line of big hit songs.  He was a five time Entertainer Of The Year Award Winner, and was ten time Grammy nominee and a 1 time winner, and sold over 70 million albums.  Keep in mind, the album to me that broke him wide open, The Pressure Is On was his 33rd album. The line of statistics on him is insane. But honestly, on top of that there is so much more.

Big Song - Many Influences

It's very hard to explain to those who were not there. Hank Jr., was a hero to many when country music needed them. The Urban Cowboy sound wasn't resonating with many, and even though new acts like Alabama, George Strait, Reba, Earl Thomas Conley (ETC toured with Hank a lot) and John Anderson were starting up a new direction away from Urban Cowboy. Hank was viewed as not from Nashville, as different, not as formula, and to many as "my guy."   He also became his own guy.  Turned out he was a most imaginative songwriter like his dad. He may have been with his sound, the most important artist then as we were looking for a newer, younger direction.

This Song Has Had Many Lives

In any great country career you would hope and pray for that one "country anthem" to be on your concert playlist. A song like Friends In Low Places by Garth, where everyone stops in the bar and sings and knows all the words.  Hank Jr., has four, Family Tradition, Country Boy Can Survive, Young Country, and All My Rowdy Friends (Are Coming Over Tonight).  That last one of course has been the Monday Night Football theme for a generation or two, or three.  Hank Jr., in his quest to be his own man and performer succeeded far beyond anyone's imagination.  He has recorded with everyone on the planet from every format, and still sells out concerts.  He was with Chris Stapleton at Blossom a few years ago here, and this summer he headlines Neon Nights in August, where the crowd will be loud and immense.

How's This For Collaboration?  Reba, Willie, Tom Petty, And Reverend Ike  (Written By Hank Sr.)  #1

Hank Jr., has led a life of controversy as well at times, with various legal and personal issues -  some large, and many times saying and doing things publicly that later I'm sure he wished he hadn't. He has his detractors  -  as well as millions of hugely loyal fans. He's not perfect, but that is precisely one of the reasons for his gigantic popularity.  In a time with a lot of super model stars, Hank was just a guy, and fans loved that, as they love Luke Combs today.  Hank's the every man to them.  In addition, he was amazingly influential to many stars coming up through Nashville in image, look, style, and sound. And to the stars after them and to many today.  (Just like his dad was).

Later Hank - This Became A Country Music Battle Cry  (Look at the amount of celebs in this video)

Think about the artists I have mentioned in this article.  Hank Jr., is a major influencer, contemporary, and peer of them all. He was more than just country, he was pop culture, he was a huge risk taker, and married about ten different styles of music and made them one, but never left his country roots for a possible greener pasture.  Then after 32 albums, found his way and his own path and really helped change country in the 1980's. He and others started a newer sound in 1981 that led to Randy Travis, and Dwight Yoakam in 1986, to Garth. Clint, Travis, and Alan in 1989. 

(Photo From The Incredible Justina Bucceri)  At Blossom!

In our history, he is one of country's biggest, most influential, and iconic stars. He isn't just country - He's Hank Williams Jr. 

And Can Still Have Number One's With His Dad's Songs Too.

Life does not always work out the way we hope, but sometimes things do go the way you wish.  I love golf, I love traveling, and I love different adventures. Luckily the Beautiful Windy feels the same.

Bucket List Stuff

We were fortunate to be able to attend the practice round of The Masters at Augusta National last week.  We got lucky. You see the only way you can go is to win a lottery at Masters.com.  This is not some huge high roller big money thing.  This year I was lucky and blessed.  Actually I was chosen in 2020, but well, you know....  But that chance was honored this year.  The hard part is simply being lucky.

Saw Tiger

Tickets are extremely reasonable for the event, in fact they are far less that any of the local sports teams for the most part.  The concessions are ridiculously cheap too.  How about a sandwich for $1.50?  It's true! The most expensive thing for food is a $5 beer!  Merchandise?  Well, that's a different story, LOL.  But parking is free and is done incredibly well.

Amen Corner

This is a bucket list thing and I'm glad we got to go. This is a place of immense beauty, and tradition, and is a real golfers utopia. Windy had never been there, as for me, it was my second time as my friend Don was lucky and won tickets in 2013 and we went then. 

I Didn't Qualify This Year........

If you know someone who LOVES golf, set up an account and enter the lottery every year.  If you are chosen, you will be the hero of all heroes to them. That I promise you.   Masters.com It's every golfers dream.

You could be a "Patron."