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Artist manager and record promotion executive Eugene Ervine “Erv” Woolsey, 80, died Wednesday (Mar. 20) in Clearwater, Florida, following surgery complications.

Woolsey was best known as the longtime manager for and champion of country music superstar and Country Music Hall of Fame member George Strait, as well as for managing and championing artists including Lee Ann Womack, Dierks Bentley, Clay Walker and Ronnie Milsap.

“My manager for around 45 years and most importantly 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 overcome it. He was a very tough man, and fought hard, but sadly it was just too much. We will miss him so very much and will never forget all the time we had together. Won’t ever be the same without him.”

Woolsey was born on Feb. 15, 1944, in Houston. After graduating from Southwest Texas State University in 1969 with a BBA degree in business, Woolsey began working in Decca Records’ promotion department. He spent time working at several labels before relocating to Nashville in 1973, when he began serving as the head of promotions for ABC Records’ newly-launched 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. Simultaneously, Woolsey and his then-wife Connie owned the San Marcos, Tex., club The Prairie Rose, where Woolsey first saw and became acquainted with Strait. He immediately recognized Strait’s talent and booked him at 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 for artists including Barbara Mandrell, Don Williams, Loretta Lynn, Tanya Tucker, Conway Twitty and the Oak Ridge Boys, all of whom would become members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

In 1981, following the success of the John Travolta film Urban Cowboy and on the cusp of a new traditionalist movement, Woolsey convinced MCA Records head Jim Fogelsong to sign Strait to the label, where Strait remains to this day. On MCA, Strait released his debut single, “Unwound,” which had an undercurrent of Texas swing; the song reached No. 6 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart and launched Strait’s juggernaut career. In 1984, Woolsey left MCA and devoted himself to managing Strait’s career full-time.

Since then, Strait has earned entertainer of the year accolades spanning four decades and won a Grammy. Strait and Woolsey broke ground with the 1992 Jerry Weintraub-produced film Pure Country, as well as the stadium-sized George Strait Country Festival Tours, which began in 1995 and featured artists including Alan Jackson, The Chicks, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Womack and Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel.

Though Strait has retired from traditional touring, he still plays a handful of stadium dates each year, most recently sharing his 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 project Something Special, as well as the Hot Country Songs chart-topper “I Can Still Make Cheyenne,” which earned a BMI Million-Air award for garnering more than 1 million spins on terrestrial radio. Woolsey also developed a series of clubs and bars, including opening Nashville clubs The Trap with business partner Steve Ford and the Music Row-area mainstay Losers, which was designed as a hole-in-the-wall establishment for publishers, producers and songwriters. Losers’ success led to Winners right next door, as well as the Dawg House. Woolsey also served on the Country Music Association’s board of directors as well as the board of directors for the Tennessee Museum of History.

Late into his career, Woolsey continued his passion for developing new talent, signing artists including Ian Munsick, Davisson Brothers Band, Kylie Frey, Triston Marez, Nick Davisson, Zach Neil, Stone Senate and Vince Herman over just the past few years.

A longtime fan and passionate member of the horse racing community, Woolsey is a lifetime member of the Texas Thoroughbred Association and was a regular at Kentucky’s Churchill Downs and Keeneland, including Super Stock’s run in the Kentucky Derby Grade 1 in 2021 and Jordan’s Henny in the Kentucky Oaks Grade 1 in 2017.

Universal Music Group Nashville Chair/CEO Cindy Mabe told Billboard in a statement, “Erv Woolsey was a really special human. 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, a promotion man at heart, and an entrepreneur who loved music and built his career and businesses around serving the creative community and enjoying life, a good laugh, horse races, and country music. I am honored to have known this iconic country music hero and benefit from so many of the decisions and deals he brokered on behalf of both MCA Nashville and country music in general. He will be sorely missed.”

“Without the savvy and determination of Erv Woolsey, we may never have heard of George Strait,” said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, in a statement. He added, “When execs urged Strait to change his image and his sound, Erv as his manager backed Strait’s determination to stay true to himself. You know the rest. Strait became a superstar who filled stadiums, and together Strait and Erv helped lead country music back to its traditions. All of us owe Erv Woolsey an enormous 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 on funeral arrangements will be shared at a future date.