Artist manager and record promotion executive Eugene Ervine “Erv” WoolseyThe 80-year-old died on Wednesday (March 20) in Clearwater, Florida, following complications from surgery.
Woolsey was best known as the long-time manager and champion of country music superstar and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee George Strait, as well as managing and championing artists such as Lee Ann Womack, Dierks Bentley, Clay Walker and Ronnie Milsap.
“My manager of nearly 45 years and especially my friend for even longer, Erv Woolsey, passed away this morning,” Strait said in a statement. “He had complications from a surgery and just couldn't get over it. He was a very tough man and fought hard, but unfortunately it was too much. We will miss you so much and will never forget all the time we spent together. It will never be the same without him.”
Woolsey was born on February 15, 1944 in Houston. After graduating from Southwest Texas State University in 1969 with a BBA in business, Woolsey began working in the promotion department of Decca Records. He spent time working at various record companies before moving to Nashville in 1973, when he began serving as head of promotions for ABC Records' fledgling country division. There, he helped guide the careers of Johnny Rodriguez, Jimmy Buffett, Billy “Crash” Craddock, Donna Fargo, Freddy Fender and the Amazing Rhythm Aces. At the same time, Woolsey and his then-wife Connie owned the San Marcos, Tex., club The Prairie Rose, where Woolsey first saw and met Strait. He immediately recognized Straight's talent and booked him into the venue as a regular performer.
Woolsey followed his success at ABC Records with an unprecedented run at MCA during the 1980s, bringing radio success to artists such as Barbara Mandrell, Don Williams, Loretta Lynn, Tanya Tucker, Conway Twitty and the Oak Ridge Boys , who would all become members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Erv Woolsey and George Strait
Courtesy of The Erv Woolsey Co.
In 1981, after the success of John Travolta's film Urban Cowboy and on the cusp of a new folk movement, Woolsey convinced the head of MCA Records Jim Fogelsong to sign Strait to the label, where Strait remains to this day. At MCA, Strait released his debut single, “Unwound,” which had a Texas underground undertone. the song reached No. 6 Advertising signon the Hot Country Songs chart and launched Strait's career. In 1984, Woolsey left MCA and devoted himself to managing Strait's career full-time.
Since then, Straight has won artist of the year awards for four decades and won a Grammy. Strait and Woolsey broke ground with 1992 Jerry Weintraub– production film Clean Countryas well as the stadium-sized George Strait Country festival Tours, which began in 1995 and featured artists such as Alan Jackson, The Chicks, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Womack and Western swing band Sleep at the Wheel.
Although Strait has retired from traditional touring, he still plays a handful of stadium dates each year, most recently sharing the stage and audience with Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town.
Along the way, Woolsey also found success as a songwriter, co-writing “In Too Deep” on Strait's 1985 album. Something special, as well as the Hot Country Songs chart-topper “I Can Still Make Cheyenne,” which won a BMI Million-Air Award for amassing more than 1 million spins at terrestrial radio. Woolsey also developed a number of clubs and bars, including opening Nashville club The Trap with a business partner Steve Ford and Music Row-area mainstay Losers, which was designed as a hole-in-the-wall for publishers, producers and songwriters. Losers' success led to Winners right next door, as well as the Dawg House. Woolsey also served on the board of the Country Music Association as well as the board of the Tennessee History Museum.
Late in his career, Woolsey continued his passion for developing new talent, signing artists such as Ian Munsick, Davisson Brothers Band, Kylie Frey, Triston Marez, Nick Davisson, Zach Neil, Stone Senate and Vince Herman in just the last few years .
A longtime fan and passionate member of the horse racing community, Woolsey is a lifetime member of the Texas Thoroughbred Association and has been a regular at Kentucky's Churchill Downs and Keeneland, including running Super Stock in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in 2021 and Jordan's Henny in the Kentucky Oaks Grade 1 in 2017.
Universal Music Group Nashville President/CEO Cindy Mabe he said Advertising sign in a statement, “Erv Woolsey was a truly special man. God broke the mold with this character who is as much a part of the fabric of country music as George Strait. He was a legendary manager, promoter at heart and businessman who loved music and built his career and businesses around serving the creative community and enjoying life, a good laugh, horse racing and country music. I am honored to have met this iconic country music hero and benefit from so many decisions and deals he brokered on behalf of both MCA Nashville and country music in general. He will be greatly missed.”
“Without the knowledge and determination of Erv Woolsey, we might never have heard of George Strait,” he said. Kyle Young, The CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, in a statement. He added, “When executives urged Straight to change his image and sound, Erv as his manager supported Straight's determination to stay true to himself. You know the rest. Straight became a stadium-filling superstar, and together Straight and Erv helped lead country music back to its roots. We all owe Erv Woolsey a huge debt of gratitude for leading with his convictions and always supporting artists and new talent.”
Woolsey is survived by his son Clint, ex-wife Connie, brother David and sister Beth. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mavis Woolsey, and brother Johnny Woolsey.
Details of funeral arrangements will be shared at a future date.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/country/erv-woolsey-dead-george-strait-longtime-manager-music-exec-80-1235637504/