George Strait: The Ironic Innovator of Country Music
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It’s a rare breed of artist who can steer a genre innovatively back to its roots. George Strait, the “King of Country,” has led the charge in the world of country music. He’s a different kind of ‘Innovator’ on the Cool Continuum. For Strait, innovation didn’t mean breaking away from tradition, but returning to it, thereby creating a potent form of innovation within tradition.
George Strait’s work has consistently evoked the essence of traditional country music while ushering in a fresh, invigorating interpretation of it. This was not about following the fads of the day; instead, he embraced the spirit of country music’s past, thereby setting a course for its future.
In fact, one might say Strait’s own last name seemed to serve as an omen. He kept country music on a ‘strait’ path, consistent with its roots, even when mainstream trends threatened to divert its course. It’s as if his name was a calling, an innate responsibility to uphold the timeless tenets of country music.
Strait’s pivotal album, “Strait Country,” is credited with sparking the neotraditional movement in country music. His rich blend of hardcore honky tonk, Western swing…
