f.From the wide-eyed boy in a striped shirt to the silver-haired King holding his guitar before thousands, George Strait’s story can almost be read in these four photographs.f
Every legend has a beginning, and for George Strait, it all started with “Unwound.” Released in 1981, this was the very first single that introduced the world to a young Texan with a cowboy hat, a steady voice, and a style that felt both classic and brand new at the same time.
Written by Dean Dillon and Frank Dycus, the song tells the story of a man whose love life has come undone—his woman’s left, and he’s left with nothing but a broken heart and a honky-tonk to lean on. On paper, it’s a simple heartbreak song. But when George Strait sang it, it became something bigger: a revival of traditional country music at a time when the genre was shifting toward pop sounds.
What makes “Unwound” so special is that it captured George’s essence right out of the gate. His voice wasn’t flashy, but it was pure—steady as the Texas plains and honest as a Saturday night dance hall. Country fans heard it and immediately knew: this wasn’t just another singer passing through. This was the real deal.
And history proved them right. “Unwound” climbed into the Top 10, launching a career that would span decades, with more No. 1 hits than any other artist in country music history. But even after all the awards and milestones, George Strait still looks back on this song as the one that started it all.
For fans, listening to “Unwound” today feels like opening the first page of a book you already know by heart. It’s where the King of Country took his first step—and the genre was never the same again.
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