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, United States
Genres	Alternative country neotraditional country Western swing
Years active	1975–present
Labels	D Records, MCA, Texas World
Members	Terry Hale, Mike Daily, Ron Huckaby, Rick McRae, Benny McArthur, Joe Manuel, John Michael Whitby, Marty Slayton, Wes Hightower
Past members	David Anthony, Ron Cabal, Ted Stubblefield, Tommy Foote, Jay Dominguez, Bill Mabry, Roger Montgomery, George Strait, Jeff Sturms, Thom Flora, Mike Kennedy, Gene Elders

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