Introduction
“Amarillo By Morning,” a country music staple, owes its signature sound to George Strait, but the song’s journey began a decade earlier. Songwriters Paul Fraser and Terry Stafford crafted the original version in 1972. This earlier rendition leaned more towards a Western swing style, featuring a prominent fiddle.
However, it was George Strait’s 1982 rendition on his album “Strait From The Heart” that catapulted the song to fame. Strait’s signature neotraditional country sound, with its focus on clean vocals and a stripped-down arrangement, resonated with audiences. The song’s simple story of a down-on-his-luck traveler leaving a dusty town at dawn perfectly complemented Strait’s image as a genuine Texan.
“Amarillo By Morning” became an instant hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The song’s success solidified Strait’s position as a rising star and is often credited for helping to revive a more traditional country music sound in the early 1980s.
So, as you hear the opening guitar twang and George Strait’s smooth vocals, remember the song’s rich history. It’s a tale of two songwriters, a genre-defining artist, and a lonesome whistle that forever captured the spirit of a restless heart leaving Amarillo at dawn.