Willie Nelson, country music legend, was born on April 30, 1933, during the time of the Great Depression. Nelson is part of the sub genre of Nashville, having a reputation as a “country music outlaw”. Although he may have raised the eyebrows of some of the more conservative folks in Nashville, Nelson has written some of the all time most popular country music hits, including “Crazy”, made famous by the late Patsy Cline, and ” On The Road Again”, which Nelson made famous himself. More than just a musician, Nelson is also recognized for his contributions as a philanthropist, songwriter, and actor. This biography of Willie Nelson touches on all of these aspects of Nelson’s life.
* Willie Nelson’s Early Years
Willie Nelson was raised by grandparents living in Abbott, Texas. By the age of seven, Nelson was already penning his first songs and was a member of his first band by age ten. Nelson served as guitar player and lead singer of a local band called Bohemian Polka during his high schools year. Upon graduating Abbott High School in the year 1960, where he had played on the football team as a halfback, Nelson decided to join the U.S. Air Force, then was later discharged after several months due to problems with his back. Nelson then attended college only two years, then decided to leave in pursuit of a career in music. As opposed to picking cotton with his family during the summer months, Willie instead pursued jobs in the music field.His early jobs in music field included a disc jockey job in Texas, as well as working as a singer in honkey tonk bars. Nelson then made a move to Washington State, living in Vancouver, where he made some early recordings.
* Early Music Career
The move to Washington proved to be the formal start to his long running musical career. Although he had experienced some limited success selling a few songs, Nelson was still an unsigned artist in 1960, prompting him to make the move to Nashville. Nelson then scored his first record deal, signing with Pamper Music with the help pf Ray Price, whom he later played bass guitar for in his touring band. At this time, Nelson’s songwriting was spawning huge music hits for artists such as Roy Orbison and Patsy Cline. After a few years and some record label changes, Nelson recorded a first album with RCA Victor Records. This move led to his joining the Grand Ole Opry and becoming friends with fellow “country outlaw”, Waylon Jennings.
* Nelson’s “Outlaw Country” Style Brings Him Success
Although Nelson had been in the music industry for some time, real mainstream success did not happen until Nelson adopted his ” country outlaw” image, which were considered to be non-conformist by the typical standards of Nashville artists. His collaboration with Tompall Glaser and Jessi Colter in 1976, called Wanted!The Outlaws, resulted in the first album to reach platinum in the country music genre. That same year, The Sound In Your Mind was released, eventually turning both gold and platinum, along with his first gospel music release entitled Troublemaker, which hit gold status in 1986. The seventies were good years for Nelson, providing him with hits such as “Mommas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys”and his successful collaboration with Waylon Jennings.
Success continued in the 1980’s, with the formation of the super group, The Highwaymen, consisting of Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash. The year 1980 also found Nelson giving a performance on the White House lawn for the President.
* Financial Difficulties and Personal Losses
After several poor financial investments and the fact that his accountants had neglected to pay Nelson’s taxes for several years, most of the musician’s assets were seized in 1990, with the IRS claiming Nelson owed a staggering $32,000,000. To help gather the money he owed, Nelson released an album titled, The IRS Tapes: Who’ll Buy My Memories. Nelson in turn sued the responsible Price Waterhouse accountants over the financial mess with the lawsuit settling at an amount that was undisclosed. Nelson made good on his debt with the IRS by 1993.
He has also faced his own personal struggles, having been married and divorced three times, and suffering the loss of one son who committed suicide on Christmas Day in 1991.
* Willie Nelson The Humanitarian
Nelson is an active participant in many causes and organizations. One of Nelson’s most memorable is his participation in setting up Farm Aid with Neil Young and John Mellencamp, a live concert event done to assist American farmers who were struggling and were at risk of losing their farms. Nelson also serves as the co-chairman of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, supporting marijuana legalization.
Nelson is also active in the Democratic Party and has helped support Democratic political campaigns. Along with his wife, he has also formed Willie Nelson Biodiesel, a company that markets environmentally friendly fuel made from vegetable oils that can be used in diesel engines.
An animal activist as well, Nelson has actively campaigned to get the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act passed, and has called attention to the poor living conditions of cows raised solely for the production of milk.
* Willie Nelson- Gospel Singer and Actor
Willie Nelson has also starred in several movies, including the 1980 release Honeysuckle Rose. Many of Nelson’s movies have spawned hit songs from the soundtrack.Nelson has also made his share of gospel albums, including Gospel Favorites, Farther Along, The Troublemaker, and How Great Thous Art, where Willie adds his distinctive style to much loved gospel favorites. There are also several ” Best of” music collections that include many of his most popular country and crossover pop hit songs.
* Career Milestones
Some of Nelson’s most memorable career milestones include his Grammies for “On The Road Again” in 1980, where it won for Best Country Song, and “Always On My Mind” in 1982 for Best Country Vocal Performance. His music has also won him countless American Music and Country Music Awards. He has also written over 2,500 songs and released well over 200 albums, and was honored with an all-star tribute in 2012 by the Country Music Association.
* Philosophy
Willie Nelson’s philosophy in life seems to be pretty simple. Willie is a simple man who has devoted his talents and monetary success, to help support people in need, animals in danger, help the environment, and to support the beliefs and values he holds dear. His down to earth attitude and unique voice and musical talents, as well as these philosophies, are some of the things that have endeared him to so many fans during his longtime career.
