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This page was last updated on: December 5, 2005
This page is dedicated to the most amazing band in all of country music, the Ace In the Hole Band. Some of these dedicated, loyal and very talented musicians have been with George Strait since the very beginning. They are exemplary musicians, excelling in their craft far above and beyond other bands in the business. They make George's songs he records with studio musicians sound even better in person, which is a testament to their capabilities and experience. And they are as nice as they are talented. We also salute the road crew who help put the tours together and oversee the thousands of details to make each show possible as well as to protect George from overzealous fans. We the fans salute them for their wonderful music, their attention to detail, their dedication, their ability to entertain us on tour and for their friendship. Thank you!!! |
Rondal Huckaby - Keyboards Benny McArthur - Lead Guitar and Fiddle & Vocals Rick McRae - Lead Guitar Mike Daily - Steel Guitar Gene Elders - Fiddle Terry Hale - Bass Mike Kennedy - Drums David Anthony - Acoustic Guitar Jeff Sturms - Acoustic Guitar Anthony Bazzari - Keyboards Wes Hightower - Background Vocals Marty Slayton - Background Vocals Road Crew: Tommy Foote - Road Manager Paul Rogers - Production Manager Lee Roy Eichler - Director of Transportation David Latimer - Band Driver Jimmy Spivey - Driver Max Benoit - Concessions Manager Joe Hayes - Concession Sales |
Name: Rondal Huckaby Nickname: Huck, Huckster Single or married? Single Family: one daughter, Lindsey, nine and a half Primary Instrument Played in Ace in the Hole Band: Piano Other Instruments Played: a little acoustic guitar. tenor sax in high school Year started with AITHB: 1983 City Born: Waco, Texas Current City Residence: San Marcos, TX. but moving to Round Rock, TX. Hobbies: smoking cigars How do you spend time when not on tour with AITHB: I do session work for other artists and play gigs with local groups. One thing the other band members most kid you about: being bandleader How do you spend time when traveling on the AITHB bus? reading, watching movies, eating Favorite all-time movie? Home From the Hills Can you recommend a good book? "Different Dances" by Shel Silverstein Favorite foods/drinks? My mom's fried chicken, the Broken Spoke's chicken fried steak, a good vodka martini. Most exciting moment as part of this band (in overall career): Playing Camp David with George and Rick McRae for George H.W. and Mrs.. Bush. Most embarrassing moment as part of this band (in overall career): Anytime I mess up - playing a wrong note. Best memory of being in Pure Country? Getting to see behind the scenes, the whole movie making process, and being a part of that. Anything else you'd want the fans to know about you? That I appreciate and thank them for supporting George and the band for all of these years. Best part of touring with George and the band? This is the best band that I have ever been in. I have a lot of respect for these players. Worst part of touring with George and the band? Being away from my family. My favorite Ronnie memories: Ronnie always in suit & tie onstage; watching his amazing piano solos especially during Western swing songs like Cherokee Maiden. |
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Name: Jeffrey Sturms Nickname: Jeff Single or married? Married Family: Wife Darlene, 3 sons: Zachary (Zach) 17, Nicholas (Nick) 14, and Endulas (Endy) 3 Primary Instrument Played in Ace in the Hole Band: Acoustic Guitar Other Instruments Played: Keyboards and Mandolin Year started with AITHB: 1999 City Born: Festus, Missouri Current City Residence: San Antonio, Texas Hobbies: Deep Sea Fishing, watching my Boys grow How do you spend time when not on tour with AITHB: Wes Hightower and I Co-produce Custom Projects for up and coming artists. I write and arrange music for some TV Shows, Produce shows for Six Flags Theme Parks, Sea World. I write vocal and instrumental arrangements for a large church in Austin. One thing the other band members most kid you about: Being the new guy. How do you spend time when traveling on the AITHB bus? Working on arrangements and production chores for outside projects. Oh yeah, lots of reading and movies. Favorite all-time movie? Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory, or maybe Shenendoah. Can you recommend a good book? Any Ann Rice,Tolkien, or Tom Clancy Favorite foods/drinks? I love Italian food. Ketel One and Tonic w/ lime Most exciting moment as part of this band (in overall career): Playing on the CMAs Most embarrassing moment as part of this band (in overall career): Almost getting sick on stage (Stomach virus) Best memory of being in Pure Country? Missed out on that one. what is it by the way? Ha Ha Ha Ha Anything else you'd want the fans to know about you? Nah. Best part of touring with George and the band? Playing for all the fans with the greatest band in country music Worst part of touring with George and the band? The seemingly endless hours on the bus between shows. My Favorite Jeff Memories: Watching the pure joy on Jeff's face as he performs with George. His beautiful acoustic guitar solos, and his smile. Jeff always has time for fans and to say hello. |
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PORTIONS PULLED FROM REVIEW AT ALL MUSIC GUIDE - Charlotte Dillon "The Ace in the Hole Band really got its start in Texas in October 1975. Called Stoneyridge, members were bassist Terry Hale, drummer Tommy Foote, lead-guitar Ron Cable (now deceased) and steel guitar player Mike Daily. The young guys had performed together some, but the lead singer was offered a contract at RCA and left. What the band really needed was a good lead singer to front the group. While at Southwest Texas State University, it just so happened that a young artist by the name of George Strait was starting out and looking for a band. When George answered an ad from the university bulletin board (supposedly, he was the first to answer the ad and the only singer who auditioned), magic was born. They played their first public performance on October 13, 1975. Things really took off for the band in about 1981 when George signed with MCA Records. Soon the Ace in the Hole Band was in Nashville, working at popular clubs and shows. In the early '80s there were some other changes for the band; pianist Ronnie Huckaby came aboard to play keyboards and so did guitarists David Anthony and Rick McRae, fiddlers Gene Elders and Benny McArthur, and drummer Mike Kennedy. In 1994, the Ace in the Hole Band released a self-titled album. The work received good reviews and showcased country numbers like "I'll Be Waiting Til Then," "Back in the Swing of Things," "My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You," and "What Comes Natural to a Fool." The band, which was working as George Strait's touring band around that time, had already caught the public's attention in 1991 when they walked away as Touring Band of the Year for SRO. " Today, they are the tightest band in country music. Each of the members is sought-after to appear as studio musicians on cd's of other artists and several co-produce music for other artists or play with other bands in the off-season. A few write songs regularly including Bennie McArthur and David Anthony. |
To return to main gallery, click below: |
Name: Gene Elders Nickname: Gene, The Professor Single or married? Married to musician Betty Elders Primary Instrument Played in Ace in the Hole Band: Fiddle Other Instruments Played: Violin, saxophone Year started with AITHB: City Born: Wheaton, Illinois College: American Conservatory of Music in Chicago Current City Residence: Austin, TX Favorite Gene memory in concert: No question--it's on Amarillo by Morning when Gene is highlighted playing the fiddle. The sound of the lone fiddle towards the closing moments of the song as George and Gene are silhouetted is the best! Additional information you probably didn't know about Gene: Gene studied violin from the age of 6. According to Gene's website, Gene found his musical tastes transformed by the music of Charlie "Bird" Parker, Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis. He ventured to New York and studied jazz improvisation for awhile with renowned teacher, David Baker. Gene has played on numerous cd's including performing on 6 of George Strait's cd's. He plays a custom-made curly maple 5-string violin handcrafted by Arthur Conner of Copper Hill, Virginia. |
Name: Benny McArthur Nickname: Benny Single or married? Married Primary Instrument Played in Ace in the Hole Band: Lead guitar, fiddle and vocals Current Residence: Austin, TX Favorite Benny memory in concert: I love when George and the band do any western swing number and Gene and Benny do their twin fiddle combination. Benny always has a wonderful time performing and has a big smile for the fans. Also, when George introduces the band, Benny sometimes uses his fiddle bow as a pointer to point to the band members as George announces them. Favorite Benny song in concert: Murder on Music Row when Benny and Gene do the twin fiddle solo and on Take Me Back To Tulsa. |
Name: Rick McRae Nickname: Lonesome Rick Single or married? Married Primary Instrument Played in Ace in the Hole Band: Lead guitar Other Instruments Played: Fiddle Current City Residence: San Antonio, TX Favorite Rick memory in concert: When George used to do "Maria" in concert, Rick did an amazing acoustic guitar performance. His solo performance on Milk Cow Blues is the best! Favorite Rick song in concert: Folsom Prison Blues. Rick really nails the guitar on this song! Favorite memory of Rick: Teaching Rick to do a waltz and foxtrot to dance with his daughter at her wedding. |
Name: Mike Daily Nickname: Mike Single or married? Married Primary Instrument Played in Ace in the Hole Band: Steel Guitar Current Residence: San Marcos, TX Favorite Mike song in concert: My Life's Been Grand has a wonderful steel guitar solo. Mike was one of the original founders of the "Ace in the Hole" Band, along with it's predecessor "Stoneyridge". He is one of the finest steel guitar players in country music. He's also very modest about his accomplishments. |
Name: Terry Hale Nickname: Terry Single or married? Married Primary Instrument Played in Ace in the Hole Band: Bass Guitar Other Instruments Played: Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar Current City Residence: Austin, TX Terry is one of the finest bass players in country music. Terry has performed everywhere from New York's Madison Square Garden to the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, on television shows from Austin City Limits to the BBC. As an original founding member of the "Ace in the Hole Band", Terry has been supplying the "bottom end" for MCA recording artist George Strait for the last thirty years and as such has appeared on numerous gold and multi-platinum selling albums, two major motion pictures, "Pure Country" 1992 (Warner Bros.) and "The Soldier" 1980 (James Glickenhous Films). He has also performed on many television and radio commercials, videos and countless syndicated radio broadcasts. He has performed live on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson as well as with Jay Leno, multiple music awards shows, "pay-per-view" telecasts and two HBO specials. |
Name: Mike Kennedy Nickname: Mike Single or married? Single Primary Instrument Played in Ace in the Hole Band: Drums Current City Residence: Nashville, TN (although George introduces him from San Antonio) Favorite Mike memory in concert: Seeing Mike click his drumsticks to count off the next song. Favorite Mike song in concert: Mike does a great job in concert. I especialy like his opening to Blue Clear Sky where he does a great job on drums. He plays his heart out on every song. |
Here are some former members of the band who have performed and are currently not performing with the band for various reasons: |
Name: Anthony Bazzari Nickname: Anthony, "New Guy" Primary Instrument Played in Ace in the Hole Band: Keyboard Current City Residence: San Antonio, TX Anthony came on board right after Jeff Sturms. Anthony was not on the 2005 concert tour. |
Name: Wes Hightower Born: Weatherford, TX. Nickname: Wes Single or married? Married (wife Niki) Primary Instrument Played in Ace in the Hole Band: Vocalist Hobbies: Travel, snow skiing, good food, golf, and boating Current City Residence: Nashville, TN Wes moved to Nashville in 1993 and has been touring with George since 1999. Wes was on the list of top 5 background vocalists for 3 years (Music Row Magazine).and finally won the Nashville Musician's Award in 2002. Wes has written several songs and had a song recorded by George Strait and another by Montgomery-Gentry. In addition to touring and singing on George's albums, he sings on Brad Paisley's cds. |
Name: Marty Slayton Nickname: Marty Single or married? single Primary Instrument Played in Ace in the Hole Band: Vocalist Current City Residence: Nashville, TN Marty started touring with Reba McEntire in 1999 replacing Linda Davis. Since the Reba tour, she has worked not only with George, but with LeeAnn Womack, and Alan Jackson both touring and on various television shows like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Today Show, The Academy of Country Music Awards, the Country Music Association Awards, and the Grand Ole Opry. She sang on various recordings like Alan Jackson's "Where Were You?" Marty has a new cd called "Plan B". She was a finalist on Nashville Star on USA Network in 2004. You can purchase Marty's cd by clicking on this link: |
Name: Tommy Foote Nickname: Tommy Single or married? Single Primary Role with Ace in the Hole Band: Road Manager. Instruments Played: Used to be drummer of Stoneyridge and Ace in the Hole Band in the early days. Current City Residence: Houston, TX Tommy does an amazing job protecting George from overzealous fans. If you go to a show, watch how intently Tommy looks out for George while he's onstage. He works with local security to ensure the concerts run smoothly. If you see Tommy, George can't be far away!! Thanks Tommy for letting us use our cameras and extended lenses! |
Here are the vocalists who perform for each concert: |
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Name: David Anthony Nickname: David Single or married? Married Primary Instrument Played in Ace in the Hole Band: Acoustic Guitar. David also does vocals. Current City Residence: Oklahoma City, OK David has been with the Ace in the Hole Band since the 80's. He has had a back injury and been absent from the band for the past couple of tours. He appeared briefly again in '05 but disappeared again. David, we hope you are well again soon!!! |
Name: Paul Rogers Nickname: The Wizard Single or married? Married Primary Role with Ace in the Hole Band: Production Manager Current City Residence: Unknown Paul has been working as George's trusted production manager since the 80's. One of the pre-concert rituals is for Paul to tune George's guitars onstage, test microphones and ensure the stage is set to perfection. Paul has also been instrumental in allowing us to use our cameras and extended lenses at George's shows. If we ever had hassles with security over camera use, Paul always came to our rescue! Thank you Paul! |
If anybody has a photo of David Anthony, please scan it to me!! |
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