Ace in the Hole Band | |
|---|---|
 George Strait and the Ace in the Hole Band in Hartford, Connecticut, 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Stoney Ridge |
| Origin | San Marcos, Texas, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Labels | D Records, MCA, Texas World |
| Members | George Strait, Terry Hale, Mike Daily, Ron Huckaby, Rick McRae, Benny McArthur, Joe Manuel, John Michael Whitby, Marty Slayton, Wes Hightower |
| Past members | David Anthony, Ron Cabal, Ted Stubblefield, Tommy Foote, Jay Dominguez, Bill Mabry, Roger Montgomery, Jeff Sturms, Thom Flora, Mike Kennedy, Gene Elders |
Ace in the Hole Band is the backup band for American country music performer George Strait, who was the band's lead singer before beginning his solo career in the early 1980s. The band formed at San Marcos, Texas in the 1970s, and recorded several singles for "D Records" including the Strait-penned "I Just Can't Go On Dying Like This" and "I Don't Want To Talk It Over Anymore". After Strait attained status as the "King of Country", the group released an album of its own in 1995 featuring vocals from Darrell McCall and Mel Tillis.
The band, originally known as "Stoney Ridge", performs such styles of traditional country music as honky-tonk and western swing and were influenced by such performers as Bob Wills, Johnny Bush, and The Strangers. Contemporaries of the band include Asleep at the Wheel and Jerry Jeff Walker.