Willie Nelson Biography, Photos and Posters

Willie Nelson

Biography

Born: April 30, 1933
City and Country of Origin: Abbott, Texas
Music Training: mail order music lessons at age 6;
Awards: Grammy 2002 Best Country Collaboration With Vocals-Lee Ann Womack & Willie Nelson, "Mendocino County Line;" 1982 Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, "Always On My Mind;" 1980 Best Country Song, "On The Road Again;" 1978 Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, "Georgia On My Mind;" 1978 Best Country Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group-Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson, "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys;" 1975 Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain"
Top Recordings: "Hello Walls," "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboy," "Funny How Time Slips Away," "On the Road Again," "City of New Orleans," "Crazy"
Willie Nelson Biography: William Hugh "Willie" Nelson was born in Abbott, Tesas and raised in Forth Worth. He rose to national fame during the outlaw country movement of the 1970s. He was raised by his grandparents after his father died and his mother ran away. He learned to play guitar while his sister Roberta played the piano. Both siblings joined the Bohemian Fiddlers whle Willie was in high school.

He joined the air force upon being graduated from high school, but left due to a bad back. He attended Baylor University for one year, then gained work as a DJ at a Fort Worth country music station while singing in local honky tonk bars. He moved to Vancouver, Washington in 1956 where he made his first recording "Lumberjack" by Leon Payne. The song's sales were respectable, but not enough to launch his career. He sold a song called "Family Bible" which became a hit for Claude Gray in 1960, while he continued his career as a disc jockey.

Willie's next move would be to Nasville, Tennessee where he was unable to land a record contract, but did land a publishing contract with Pamper Music. After his song "Night Life," reputedly the most covered country song of all time, was recorded by Ray Price he joined Price's touring band as a bassist. It was during his time touring with Ray Price & the Cherokee Cowboys that Willie's career gained traction. Many of his songs like "Funny How Time Slips Away" by Billy Walker, "Hello Walls" by Faron Young, "Pretty Paper" by Roy Orbison and Patsy Cline's recording "Crazy" became hits. This led to a recording contract with Liberty Records in 1961 where he recorded "Willingly" with his wife, Shirley Collie and "Touch Me." However, he was unable to achieve the same success with his songs as other artists did and his career ground to a halt. During this time he battled alcoholism and was unable to hold a job.

Willie moved to RCA in 1965 and joined the Grand Ole Opry. After a few minor hits Nelson quit the music business and moved to Austin, Texas. With Austin being the center of a burgeoning hippie music scene, Willie decided to renew his music career. In Austin he played his own brand of rock, jazz and folk influenced country music and his popularity soared. This is when he developed a passion for running and made a commitment to his own health.

In 1973 after signing wit Atlantic Records he released Shotgun Willie an album which received excellent reviews, but failed to sell. 1974's concept album Phases and Stages included the hit single "Bloody Mary Morning." He then said addios to Atlantic and moved to Columbia Records where the concept album Red Headed Stranger with only a guitar and piano as accompaniment was a huge hit. Around this time Willie teamed up with another hot country artist Waylon Jennings to create a new country genre called outlaw country, since it did not conform to Nashville standards. Together they along with Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser released Wanted: The Outlaws!, in 1976, which went on to become country music's first platinum album. During this time he continued to hit the charts with hits like "Good Hearted Woman" a duet with Jennings, "Remember Me," "If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time," "Uncloudy Day." Two more platinum albums would follow in 1978 Waylon and Willie which included the hit single "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" and Stardust a string based album of pop tunes.

Nelson began his acting career in 1979 appearing with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda in The Electric Horseman. He followed it up with an appearance in Honeysuckle Rose, the following year, and Red-Headed Stranger, Wag the Dog, Gone Fishin and the 1986 TV movie Stagecoach. Nelson still continues to record and tour.

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