Ace in the Hole (band)

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, U.S.
Genres	Western swing, honky-tonk
Years active	197?–1975 (as Stoney Ridge) 1975–present (as Ace in the Hole)
Labels	D Records, MCA, Texas World
Associated acts	George Strait
Members	Terry Hale, Mike Daily, Ron Huckaby, Rick McRae, Benny McArthur, Mike Kennedy, Gene Elders, Joe Manuel, John Michael Whitby, Marty Slayton, Thom Flora
Past members	David Anthony, Ron Cabal, Ted Stubblefield, Tommy Foote, Jay Dominguez, Bill Mabry, Roger Montgomery, George Strait, Jeff Sturms, Wes Hightower

Ace in the Hole Band
Studio album
Released	April 16, 1995
Genre	Western swing
Length	30:13
Label	Texas World
Producer	Billy Stull, Lucky Tomblin

The Ace in the Hole Band is the backup band for 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 and Johnny Bush. Contemporaries of the band include Asleep at the Wheel and Jerry Jeff Walker.

The Ace in the Hole Band derived from the band "Stoney Ridge," which was composed of Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State) students Ron Cabal (lead guitar), Mike Daily (steel guitar), Terry Hale (Bass guitar), Tommy Foote (drums) and Jay Dominguez (lead vocals). Dominguez and Foote left the band after graduating in 1975, prompting a search for a new singer. The band members posted bulletins around the campus of Southwest Texas. One was noticed by an agricultural science student, George Strait. He contacted the band and was hired after an audition. Soon after, the group was renamed "Ace in the Hole".

The band regularly performed at Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, Texas, where they debuted on October 13, 1975 along with new member Ted Stubblefield, who temporarily replaced Foote as the drummer. Acts such as Asleep at the Wheel and Jerry Jeff Walker also played at the forum. The band appeared at the locale nearly every week until the early 1980s, when they began touring with Strait. Drummer Foote returned to the lineup late in 1975 and remained as drummer until 1983 when he relinquished his position to become the band's road manager, a position he holds to this day.