George Strait And Team Devastated By Sudden Passing of Drummer and Road Manager, Tom Foote
Strait and his camp have suffered three losses in recent weeks.
George Strait, Tom Foote; Photo Courtesy George Strait
George Strait and his team have suffered another unimaginable loss with the passing of Tom Foote, his drummer turned road manager. According to a social media post from Strait, Foote died suddenly at his home on Monday, April 29, just after attending tour rehearsals with Strait and the band.
“We lost another one of our good friends and a huge part of our musical journey yesterday. Tom Foote, our one-time drummer and long-time road manager for around 48 years, suddenly passed away at his home after our rehearsal,” Strait explained. “The band and I were with him most of the afternoon and he was great. Just doing what he loved to do which was making sure we were taken care of.”
Foote’s passing sent shockwaves through Strait’s camp, particularly because it’s the third loss the crew has endured in recent weeks. On March 20, Strait’s longtime manager, Eugene Ervine “Erv” Woolsey, passed away at the age of 80. That same day, just hours after Woosley’s passing, Gene Elders, a longtime member of Strait’s Ace in the Hole band, also died.
“2024 is taking its toll on the Ace in the Hole group,” Strait admitted. “We’re all heartbroken to say the least. Rest in peace brother Tom. You will be hugely missed. I’ll see you down the road amigo.”
Woosley passed away due to complications from surgery. He managed Strait for “around 45 years.”
“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,” Strait shared in a heartfelt post.
The following day, he reflects on Elders’ passing, writing, “Hard to believe we lost two of our music family members on the same day. 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.”
Through these losses, fans have rallied around George Strait and his crew on social media, offering heartfelt condolences and prayers. They have continued to do so after Tom Foote’s sudden passing.
George Strait is scheduled to kick off his 2024 tour on Saturday, May 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. It appears the show will go on as planned.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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