George Strait, a country music icon, recently revealed the deaths of two beloved members of his musical family on the same day. He stated, “Won’t ever be the same.” The iconic singer shared his condolences on his Facebook page following the deaths of his manager, Eugene Ervine “Erv” Woolsey, and band member Gene Elders.
Erv Woolsey, Strait’s manager since the early 1980s, died at the age of 80 due to complications following surgery.
What did George say?
Woolsey, a Houston native and Southwest Texas State University graduate, relocated to Nashville and made substantial contributions to the music industry. Strait met Woolsey at The Prairie Rose, a nightclub Woolsey operated in San Marcos, which paved the way for their long-term relationship and friendship. Strait lamented:
“Erv Woolsey, my manager for approximately 45 years and, more importantly, a friend for even longer, died this morning. He was unable to overcome the consequences of his surgery. He was a tough man who battled hard, but it was ultimately too much. We will miss him dearly and will never forget the time we spent together. Will never be the same without him.”
On the same day, Strait lamented the death of Gene Elders, a major part of his Ace in the Hole band since 1984. Strait remembers Elders, a fiddler and mandolin player, as a valued “brother” in music.
“We send our heartfelt prayers to both families. I and the band will never be the same without our brother Gene. We adored him so much. Go play with Mike again, Geno. “We’ll come join you later,” Strait wrote.
The country music community and fans around the world send their heartfelt condolences to George Strait during this difficult time, as he mourns the loss of two significant characters in his life and career.