Veteran artist manager Erv Woolsey, CEO/Founder of the Nashville-based Erv Woolsey Company, died today (3/20) in Clearwater, FL at the age of 80 due to complications from surgery. Best know for his nearly four decades of handling the career of George Strait, Woolsey also co-managed Lee Ann Womack and Ian Munsick. Other current clients included Tyler Halverson, Kylie Frey, Stone Senate and The Davisson Brothers. He founded his management company with Strait in the early 1980s, adding the digital-focused label Rollin' The Dice Records in 2020 (CAT 7/16/20).

Also a songwriter, Woolsey received a BMI "Million-Air Award" last year for one million broadcast perfformances of Strait's platinum-certified hit "I Can Still Make Cheyenne," which he co-wrote. The BMI celebration took place at Losers Bar & Grill in Nashville, one of several bars Woolsey co-owned in Nashville and Las Vegas. Woolsey and Strait sold their publishing company, Muy Bueno Music, in 2015 (CAT 11/13/15).

Said Strait, Woolsey's client and friend of 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.” Details on funeral arrangements will be shared at a later date.