Willie Nelson

Artist Image: Willie Nelson
Attribution
Image Credit: (This file was derived from: Willie Nelson at Farm Aid 2009.jpg: Willie Nelson at Farm Aid 2009.jpg), CC BY 2.0

Biography

Willie Hugh Nelson (Born April 30, 1933) is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978), made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music. He was one of the main figures of outlaw country, a subgenre of country music that developed at the end of the 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound. Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of Biofuel and the legalization of marijuana. Born during the Great Depression, and raised by his grandparents, Nelson wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band at ten. During high school, he toured locally with the Bohemian Polka as their lead singer and guitar player. After graduating from high school in 1950, he joined the Air Force but was later discharged due to back problems. After his return, Nelson attended Baylor University for two years but dropped out because he was succeeding in music. During this time, he worked as a disc jockey in Texas radio stations and a singer in honky tonks. Nelson moved to Vancouver, Washington, where he wrote "Family Bible" and recorded the song "Lumberjack" in 1956. In 1960, he signed a publishing contract with Pamper Music which allowed him to join Ray Price's band as a bassist. During that time, he wrote songs that would become country standards, including "Funny How Time Slips Away", "Hello Walls", "Pretty Paper", and "Crazy". In 1962, he recorded his first album, And Then I Wrote. Due to this success, Nelson signed in 1964 with RCA Victor and joined the Grand Ole Opry the following year. After mid-chart hits during the end of 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s, and the failure to succeed in music, Nelson retired in 1972 and moved to Austin, Texas. The rise of the popularity of Hippie music in Austin motivated Nelson to return from retirement, performing frequently at the Armadillo World Headquarters. In 1973, after signing with Atlantic Records, Nelson turned to outlaw country, including albums such as Shotgun Willie and Phases and Stages. In 1975, he switched to Columbia Records, where he recorded the critically acclaimed album, Red Headed Stranger. The same year, he recorded another outlaw country album, Wanted! The Outlaws, along with Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser. During the mid 1980s, while creating hit albums like Honeysuckle Rose and recording hit songs like "On the Road Again", "To All the Girls I've Loved Before", and "Pancho & Lefty", he joined the country supergroup The Highwaymen, along with fellow singers, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. During 1990 Nelson's assets were seized by the Internal Revenue Service, that claimed that he owed US $32,000,000. It was later discovered that his accountants, Price Waterhouse did not pay Nelson's taxes for years. The impossibility of Nelson to pay his outstanding debt was aggravated by weak investments made by him during the 1980s. Nelson released in 1991 The IRS Tapes: Who'll Buy My Memories?, the profits of the double album, destined to the IRS and the auction of Nelson's assets cleared his debt by 1993. During the 1990s and 2000s, Nelson continued touring extensively, and released albums every year. Reviews ranged from positive to mixed. Nelson explored genres such as reggae, blues, jazz, and folk. Nelson made his first movie appearance in the 1979 film, The Electric Horseman, followed by other appearances in movies and on television. Nelson is a major liberal activist and the co-chair of the advisory board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, which is in favor of marijuana legalization. On the environmental front, Nelson owns the bio-diesel brand Willie Nelson Biodiesel, which is made from vegetable oil. Nelson is also the honorary chairman of the Advisory Board of the Texas Music Project, the official music charity of the state of Texas.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed
Number of Albums 114
Record Label
Website www.willienelson.com
Wikipedia Willie Nelson on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

When did he bounce back with a new recording?

1993

.... But, demonstrating an indomitable spirit, he managed to bounce back in 1993 with a new recording that a number of critics called his best in years, ...
Who raised Nelson and his older sister, Bobbie?

paternal grandparents

.... Nelson and his older sister, Bobbie, were then raised by their paternal grandparents , who were strict, churchgoing people. They were also devoted am...
How old was Willie when he wrote his first song?

seven

...lie in mailorder lessons at age six. He wrote his first song when he was seven and began playing in a local band at age nine. Willie didnt like pickin...
When did he begin playing in a local band?

nine

...is first song when he was seven and began playing in a local band at age nine . Willie didnt like picking cotton so, to help earn money, he began playi...
How old was Willy when he began playing with local German and Czech polka bands?

13

...e halls and honky tonks with local German and Czech polka bands, from age 13 through high school. He was quite successful (local girls founded the Wil...
Who founded the Willie Nelson Fan Club?

local girls

...olka bands, from age 13 through high school. He was quite successful ( local girls founded the Willie Nelson Fan Club), but stayed in Abbot High in ord...
Where did Nelson stay to compete in sports?

Abbot High

...ssful (local girls founded the Willie Nelson Fan Club), but stayed in Abbot High in order to compete in sports as a football halfback, a basketball gu...
How much did Bob Wills cost to play over in Whitney, Texas?

seven hundred and fifty dollars

...idols. I was putting together shows. Bob Wills, I hired for seven hundred and fifty dollars to play over in Whitney, Texas. I hauled a piano on the ba...
Where did Bob wills play over?

Whitney, Texas

... Wills, I hired for seven hundred and fifty dollars to play over in Whitney, Texas . I hauled a piano on the back of a pickup over, so that his band co...
What did I haul a piano on the back of a pickup over?

so that his band could have a piano

... in Whitney, Texas. I hauled a piano on the back of a pickup over, so that his band could have a piano . I managed to take in enough money and pay him....
What was Willie's father's job?

mechanic

...His father, Ira Doyle Nelson, worked as a mechanic , and his mother, Myrle Marie, was a homemaker. Willie did not have an average childhood. Soon after...
What was his mother's occupation?

homemaker

...Doyle Nelson, worked as a mechanic, and his mother, Myrle Marie, was a homemaker . Willie did not have an average childhood. Soon after his birth, his ...
Who raised Willie and his sister, Bobbie?

their grandparents

...ying another woman. Willie and his sister, Bobbie, were raised by their grandparents , who lived in Arkansas and taught music for a living. Under their...
What state did Willey and Bobbie's grandparents live in?

Arkansas

...nd his sister, Bobbie, were raised by their grandparents, who lived in Arkansas and taught music for a living. Under their guardianship, Willie and Bo...
How old was Willeie when he got his first guitar?

6

...d getting inclined toward music. Willie got his first guitar at the age of 6 . His grandfather would take the siblings to a nearby church where Willie ...
How old was Nelson when he started writing his very first song?

7

... would play the guitar and his sister would sing the Gospel. By the age of 7 , Nelson started writing his very own songs, and a few years later, he joi...
Where did he make money by playing music?

parties, halls, and other small venues

...g music all over the state. His family picked cotton during summers, but Willie made money by playing music in parties, halls, and other small venues ....
What genre of music did he write?

country

... his first guitar at age six and within a short time was writing woeful country songs and playing in polka bands. During his teenage years he played a...
What was the name of his first song?

No Place For Me

...ould plague him throughout his life), he sold his first song called No Place For Me while getting by with menial jobs as a janitor and doortodoor Bibl...
How many children did Willie and his wife have?

two

.... Married in 1952 to a fullblooded Cherokee, he and first wife Martha had two children. Willie initially came to be known in Nashville for selling his...
In what year was he married to a fullblooded Cherokee?

1952

... with menial jobs as a janitor and doortodoor Bible salesman. Married in 1952 to a fullblooded Cherokee, he and first wife Martha had two children. Wi...
How many of his albums helped him gain some stature?

Two

...performing and recording his own songs instead of selling them to others. Two of his albums, Shotgun Willie and Phases and Stages, helped him gain som...
Who is Nelson's father?

Ira D. Nelson

...devote time to charitable and political causes. The son of Myrle and Ira D. Nelson , Willie and his older sister, Bobbie, were raised by their paternal...
Nelson continues to record, tour and devote time to what?

charitable and political causes

...is 80s, Nelson continues to record, tour and devote time to charitable and political causes . The son of Myrle and Ira D. Nelson, Willie and his older ...
What was the name of his older sister?

Bobbie

...auses. The son of Myrle and Ira D. Nelson, Willie and his older sister, Bobbie , were raised by their paternal grandparents during the Great Depression...
Where did Willie and his sister receive their earliest exposure to music?

Methodist church

...h their grandparents, Willie and Bobbie attended their towns small Methodist church , where they received their earliest exposure to music. Their lovin...
Who did Nelson describe as dedicated musical teachers?

Their loving grandparents

... church, where they received their earliest exposure to music. Their loving grandparents had a musical background and Nelson has described them as ded...
Where did Nelson order musical books from?

Chicago

...s sister to play and learn, going so far as to order musical books from Chicago . His famous gospel song Family Bible draws from his early exposure to ...
Which gospel song did Nelson sing?

Family Bible

...o far as to order musical books from Chicago. His famous gospel song Family Bible draws from his early exposure to religious music. He sold the song t...
Who did Nelson sell Family Bible to?

Paul Buskirk

...is early exposure to religious music. He sold the song to his friend Paul Buskirk , a guitar teacher, for 50 in 1959. Mama Nelson had to tether toddler...
What is the purpose of tethering Willie to a pole in the yard?

to keep him from wandering off

... friend Paul Buskirk, a guitar teacher, for 50 in 1959. Mama Nelson had to tether toddler Willie to a pole in the yard to keep him from wandering off ....
Who is a Scottish rugby player?

Willie Neilson

...oxer, see Willie Nelson (boxer). For the Scottish rugby player, see Willie Neilson . For other similarly named people, see William Nelson. Willie Hugh ...
When was Willie Hugh Nelson born?

April 29, 1933

...imilarly named people, see William Nelson. Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933 ) is an American musician, actor, and activist. The critical success...
Who is an American musician, actor, and activist?

Willie Hugh Nelson

...ie Neilson. For other similarly named people, see William Nelson. Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American musician, actor, and activis...
When was Shotgun Willie released?

1973

..., actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie ( 1973 ), combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Strang...
What was the name of the album that made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music?

Shotgun Willie

...an musician, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of Red He...
What subgenre of country music developed in the late 1960s?

outlaw country

...ognized artists in country music. He was one of the main figures of outlaw country , a subgenre of country music that developed in the late 1960s as a ...
How many films has Nelson acted in?

over 30

...e conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound. Nelson has acted in over 30 films, coauthored several books, and has been involved in activism for...
At what age did he join his first band?

ten

...ts, Nelson wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band at ten . During high school, he toured locally with the Bohemian Polka as their ...
What band was he a member of?

Bohemian Polka

...s first band at ten. During high school, he toured locally with the Bohemian Polka as their lead singer and guitar player. After graduating from high ...
In what year he graduated from high school?

1950

...heir lead singer and guitar player. After graduating from high school in 1950 , he joined the U.S. Air Force but was later discharged due to back probl...
Willie Nelson was born in what city?

Fort Worth

...Willie Nelson, (born April 29, 1933, Fort Worth , Texas, U.S.), American songwriter and guitarist who was one of the most popular country music singers...
Who taught Nelson how to play the guitar?

his grandfather

...ingers of the late 20th century. Nelson learned to play guitar from his grandfather and at the age of 10 was performing at local dances. He served in ...
How old was Nelson when he learned to play guitar from his grandfather?

10

...ury. Nelson learned to play guitar from his grandfather and at the age of 10 was performing at local dances. He served in the U.S. Air Force before be...
Where was he based in 1961?

Nashville

...s performing in public and writing songs then. By 1961 he was based in Nashville , Tennessee, and playing bass in Ray Prices band. In the early 1970s N...
Where did Nelson move back to in the 1970s?

Texas

...playing bass in Ray Prices band. In the early 1970s Nelson moved back to Texas and, with Waylon Jennings, spearheaded the country music movement known...
In what year was Red Headed Stranger released?

1975

...as outlaw music. Beginning with the narrative album Red Headed Stranger ( 1975 ), which featured the hit song Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, he became on...
What hit song was featured in the 1975 film?

Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain

...lbum Red Headed Stranger (1975), which featured the hit song Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain , he became one of the most popular performers in country mus...
Nelson's unique sound and gutstring guitar were what?

most distinctive elements

...axed behindthebeat singing style and gutstring guitar were the most distinctive elements . Unusual for a country album, songs by Hoagy Carmichael, Irvi...
What was the name of the album that sold more than five million copies in the U.S.?

Stardust

...l, Irving Berlin, and other mainstream popular songwriters made up his Stardust (1978), which eventually sold more than five million copies in the Uni...
What was the name of Nelson's 1982 album?

Always on My Mind

...ited States. Nelson found further crossover success with the album Always on My Mind (1982) and the single To All the Girls Ive Loved Before (1984), a...
What year did Nelson release his album Always on My Mind?

1982

...Nelson found further crossover success with the album Always on My Mind ( 1982 ) and the single To All the Girls Ive Loved Before (1984), a duet with Ju...
Who did Nelson have a duet with on his 1984 single To All the Girls Ive Loved Before?

Julio Iglesias

...further crossover success with the album Always on My Mind (1982) and the single To All the Girls Ive Loved Before (1984), a duet with Julio Iglesias ....
Who was Nelson's first wife?

Martha Mathews

...Nelson did a brief stint in the Air Force and married Martha Mathews (the first of four wives) in 1952. He played in various local Texas bands and wor...
How many wives did Nelson have?

four

... a brief stint in the Air Force and married Martha Mathews (the first of four wives) in 1952. He played in various local Texas bands and worked as a D...
When did Nelson make his earliest selfreleased recordings?

Vancouver, Washington

...us local Texas bands and worked as a DJ at stations in Texas and Vancouver, Washington , where, in the mid1950s, he made his earliest selfreleased reco...
What area did Nelson perform extensively in?

Houston

... day jobs and performed extensively in roughandtumble honkytonks in the Houston area. Nelson soon blossomed as one of Music Citys most gifted and prol...
Who popularized Crazy?

Patsy Cline

...c Citys most gifted and prolific writers. Crazy (first popularized by Patsy Cline ), Funny How Time Slips Away (a hit for Billy Walker), and Hello Wall...
What was a hit for Billy Walker?

Funny How Time Slips Away

...nd prolific writers. Crazy (first popularized by Patsy Cline), Funny How Time Slips Away (a hit for Billy Walker), and Hello Walls (Faron Young) are a...
Who is Nelson's second wife?

Shirley Collie

...tions from the early 1960s. In 1963 Nelson married his second wife, Shirley Collie (exwife of Biff Collie). In 1962 Nelson signed his first major labe...
In what year did Nelson marry Shirley Collie?

1963

...are a few of the best known of his compositions from the early 1960s. In 1963 Nelson married his second wife, Shirley Collie (exwife of Biff Collie). ...
What record label did Nelson sign his first record deal with in 1962?

Liberty Records

...n 1962 Nelson signed his first major label recording contract, with Liberty Records . In that same year his first two singlesTouch Me and Willingly (a ...
What is the name of Willie Nelson's beatup autographed Martin classical guitar?

Trigger

...long braided hair, his beatup autographed Martin classical guitar named Trigger , his welltraveled tour bus named Honeysuckle Rose, and his outspoken a...
What is the name of Willie Nelson's well traveled tour bus?

Honeysuckle Rose

...in classical guitar named Trigger, his welltraveled tour bus named Honeysuckle Rose , and his outspoken advocacy for marijuana legalization. Willie Nel...
Who once nicely summarized Willie's approach to life by writing?

Billy Joe Shaver

...in outlaw, he has usually kept a few steps ahead of everyone else. Billy Joe Shaver once nicely summarized Willies approach to life by writing, Willy ...
In what Texas town was he born?

Abbott

...life Willie Hugh Nelson was born on April 29, 1933, in the tiny town of Abbott in eastcentral Texas. His mechanic father, Ira, and his mother, Myrle, ...
When did Willie's father and mother divorce?

when he was only six months old

.... His mechanic father, Ira, and his mother, Myrle, divorced when he was only six months old , and his mother left home to work as a dancer, waitress, a...
What band did they eventually play?

Willies Family band

...ealer. Willie and his twoyearsolder sister Bobbie, who would eventually play piano in Willies Family band , were raised by their paternal grandparents....
Where did Willie Nelson abandon Nashville for in the early '70s?

his native Texas

...untry music. During the early '70s, Willie abandoned Nashville for his native Texas , setting up shop with the redneck hippies in Austin and taking con...
Who did Nelson find a kindred spirit in?

Waylon Jennings

...hotgun Willie and Phases & Stages. Nelson found a kindred spirit in Waylon Jennings and, together, they spearheaded the outlaw country movement that f...
What movement did Nelson and Jennings spearhead?

outlaw country movement

...d spirit in Waylon Jennings and, together, they spearheaded the outlaw country movement that finally made him a star by 1975. Even when he was a star,...
When did Nelson's hit singles dry up?

early '90s

... never played it safe musically. Nelson's hit singles dried up by the early '90s , but he kept performing and recording at a prodigious pace, both on h...
What country supergroup did Nelson work with?

the Highwaymen

...variety of collaborative settings, including the country supergroup the Highwaymen . Nelson wasn't one to rest on his laurels, either. During the 2010s...
Who did Nelson collaborate with in the 2010s?

Buddy Cannon

...uring the 2010s, he struck up a fruitful collaboration with producer Buddy Cannon , who helmed a series of relaxed, mortalityminded albums over the nex...
What year was A Beautiful Time released?

2022

...mortalityminded albums over the next decade, a string that culminated in 2022 's A Beautiful Time. Nelson began performing music as a child growing up ...
Where did Nelson begin performing music as a child?

Abbott, Texas

...autiful Time. Nelson began performing music as a child growing up in Abbott, Texas . After his father died and his mother ran away, Nelson and his sist...
What instrument did he pick up at age seven?

guitar

...andparents, who encouraged both children to play instruments. Willie picked up the guitar , and by the time he was seven, he was already writing songs....