If you live in Texas but not under a rock, you no doubt have heard the name Willie Nelson, if not also his numerous chart-topping country hits. One of the most recognized crooners in country music, Willie marked his 88th birthday this year.
Born April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas, Willie Hugh Nelson grew up not only to be a musician, but also an actor and activist. He received his first guitar at age 6 and sold his first song for $50.
As a teen, Willie performed with Bud Fletcher and the Texans in area honky-tonks. He played the local circuit until graduation in 1950, when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Chronic back problems led to an honorable discharge within a year, and Willie enrolled in Baylor University’s farming program.
Working as a disc jockey, Willie’s heart was still in music. He ultimately abandoned his studies, leaving Waco for Nashville. He first gained recognition in his 30s, writing notable songs such as “Crazy” for Patsy Cline and “Night Life” for Ray Price. By the 1970s, a series of original releases saw little commercial success but resulted in a loyal fan base. He partnered with country star Waylon Jennings, and the duo developed a genre best known as “outlaw country,” mimicking Willie’s own lifestyle.
1970 was also the year Willie’s Tennessee home burned down, but that loss was Texas’ gain. He moved back to Texas and became a staple of Austin’s burgeoning music scene.
Willie’s first two albums following his Texas return did not chart well, and his bandana-wearing, braided-hair persona belied his professional skill as a performer. 1975 would change that, when Willie’s ironically titled album, Redheaded Stranger, made him a stranger to no one.
Songs like “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” crossed over from country to pop charts, and it was said that Willie appealed to vast audiences by blending not just country and pop, but also blues, folk, jazz, swing and more. “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” would be his first No. 1 hit, earning a GRAMMY Award for best country vocal performance.
In 1978, Willie would take home the GRAMMY for best country vocal performance by a duo with Waylon Jennings on “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” and his cover of “Georgia On My Mind” earned him a second “best country vocal” GRAMMY.
To further show his diversity, Willie took to the big screen in 1979’s The Electric Horseman, earning an Academy Award nomination for best original song with “On the Road Again.” From 1980 to 2018, he held some 48 additional roles in TV and film, including the screen adaptation of Redheaded Stranger in which he played the Reverend Julian Shay.
In 1982, another best country vocal performance GRAMMY was his with “Always on My Mind.” Then “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before” — Willie’s duet with Julio Iglesias — resulted in international acclaim. In 1985, Willie again partnered with Waylon Jennings, along with Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, to form the country group, the Highwaymen, which went on to some commercial success.
In 1985, Willie partnered with performers Neil Young and John Cougar Mellencamp for the first Farm Aid concert, raising nearly $10 million to help family farmers keep their land. The program continues to assist farmers and led to Willie’s induction into the National Agricultural Hall of Fame.
Willie is known for his animal activism and being a proponent of green fuel. He has also long touted the benefits of cannabis, and his company, Willie’s Reserve, has grown and sold marijuana products in states where it is legal since 2015.
Because of his well-recognized, laid-back persona, Willie has often been called on for cameos such as that in 1999’s Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and larger roles like Uncle Jesse in 2005’s The Dukes of Hazzard. He also voiced himself in cameo appearances on popular animated shows such as The Simpsons and King of the Hill.
Living the lyrics of his songs, Willie developed a reputation as a bit of an outlaw and landed himself in trouble a few times in his life. But loyal fans of the beloved Texan helped him through those times.
Willie continues to tour and perform to a variety of acclaim, including a 2008 GRAMMY for the single “Lost Highway,” performed with Ray Price, the singer for whom Willie had penned one of his earliest successful songs. He has collaborated with the likes of Cyndi Lauper, Sheryl Crow and Snoop Dogg in more recent years, and his career totals 94 studio albums including solos, collaborations, compilations and soundtracks.
Sources:
1. Allmusic.com
2. Biography.com
3. IMDb.com
4. Time.com
Written by Angel Morris
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