Gene Elders obit

George Strait Suffers Devastating Loss Of Two Members Of Inner Circle On The Same Day

All of our prayers go out to both families. 

He was not on the list.

This week has been a devastating one for country music legend George Strait.

The crooner revealed on social media Thursday that his Ace in the Hole Band fiddle player, Gene Elders, died just hours after his manager of 45 years, Erv Woolsey.

“Hard to believe we lost two of our music family members on the same day,” Strait wrote. “Our Ace In the Hole treasured band member Gene Elders passed away yesterday afternoon shortly after we lost Erv. All of our prayers go out to both families. Me and the band won’t ever be the same without our brother Gene. We loved him so much. Go play with Mike again Geno. We’ll come join you guys later.”

Elders played fiddle and mandolin in Strait's band since 1984.

Strait posted a social media tribute to Woolsey the previous day, sharing that the 80 year old died on March 20 following a surgery.

“My manager for around 45 years and most importantly my friend for even longer, Erv Woolsey, passed away this morning,” the King of Country wrote alongside a photo of him and Woolsey. “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.”

According to his obituary, Woolsey also worked with Dierks Bentley, Lee Ann Womack, Clay Walker, and Ronnie Milsap over his extensive career in Nashville.

In the late 70s, Woolsey and his then-wife Connie owned The Prairie Rose, a club in San Marcos, Texas. Per his obituary, "It was there he first saw and met George Strait; recognizing something in the classic Texan’s approach that stood out, Woolsey booked Strait regularly to perform."

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Our hearts are with Strait as well as the families of both Elders and Woolsey during this difficult time.