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WILLIE NELSON – HAPPY 83RD BIRTHDAY – TIMH

+10 HS
Whoa Nellie's picture
April 29, 2016 at 6:58am
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Willie Nelson, true American original and legendary country music star, celebrates his birthday today – and maybe tomorrow, too. See, Willie Hugh Nelson was delivered in Abbott, TX, before midnight on April 29, 1933, but the doc didn’t register the birth until the next day. Willie actually got a nice head start on this year’s celebration on Tuesday night in New Braunfels, TX, where he appeared at the kickoff concert of Neil Young’s tour with Promise of the Real, featuring Willie’s sons Micah and Lukas. Willie joined in his song “Are There Any More Real Cowboys?” and “Okie From Muskogee” – in honor of his friend and writer of the song Merle Haggard, who died earlier this month.

There is very little that isn’t already known about Willie, so we won’t even pretend to inside info. But, Willie’s long journey has been an interesting one, indeed, so forgive the recap. Basically abandoned by their parents, Willie and his older sister were raised by their paternal grandparents. His grandfather gave him his first guitar and taught him his first chords when Willie was 6. He’d written his first song by 7, was in his first band, Bohemian Polka, at 9, and performed with country swing king Bob Wills at 13. Willie also loved football and was a halfback in high school.

After graduation, Willie joined the Air Force, but was medically discharged because of a bad back after less than a year of service. He studied agriculture at Baylor U for a while, but dropped out to pursue a music career. Willie spent several years bouncing around Texas, San Diego, Portland, OR, Vancouver, WA, Colorado, and Missouri. He played when he could, wrote songs, was a DJ, and also made his living selling Bibles, encyclopedias and vacuum cleaners door to door.

In 1960, Willie moved to Nashville, TN, and became a paid writer for music publisher Pamper Music. He started making $50/week when a friend and co-worker who was due a raise told the boss to pay it to Willie instead. Willie’s songs started hitting the charts and jukeboxes as performed by others, particularly “Crazy” by Patsy Cline. In 1970, his Ridgetop, TN, home burned down the day after he wrote “What Can You Do To Me Now?” Willie took it as a sign and moved back to Texas. No doubt the move was also motivated by a desire to perform his own songs, and the fact that his appearance, voice and style would never be accepted by the conservative Nashville establishment.

Back in Texas, Willie flourished as a leader of the sub-genre “outlaw country.” The category would come to include friends and collaborators Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and others. Red Headed Stranger (which became his nickname), was Willie's 1975 breakthrough concept album and his first #1 record. Willie later formed the hugely successful Highwaymen with Jennings, Krisofferson and Cash. His duet album with Merle Haggard, Pancho & Lefty, is also a standout. Willie became known for his long red hair, often braided into two pigtails, as well as his old guitar, Trigger. Roy Roger’s had his old horse, and so, too, did Willie. Willie still plays that 1969 Martin N-20. It’s been signed by over a hundred musicians and friends, Leon Russell being the first autograph. The pigtails are gone, though. Willie gave them to Waylon Jennings to celebrate his friend’s sobriety. They were later auctioned by the Jennings estate, fetching $37,000.

It’s estimated that Willie Nelson has written some 2500 songs and released nearly 300 records over a career spanning 7 decades. He has charted an all-time record 46 Top 10 country albums (including studio, live, collaborations, and compilations). 17 of those albums have been #1s.

Willie has also appeared in 30 films, the first being The Electric Horseman, in 1979. The next year, he starred in Honeysuckle Rose. In fact, Willie wrote his signature song “On the Road Again” during that time while on an airplane with the movie's director Sydney Pollack.

The White House became a regular stop for Willie during Jimmy Carter’s administration. He claims to have smoked marijuana on its roof. And, in 1980, Willie performed at the White House, including a duet with First Lady Rosalyn Carter on “Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother.” Oh yeah, Rosalyn rocked, y’all.

Washington, DC, came calling on Willie with a different intent in 1990, when the IRS hit him with a $32 million tax lien. His assets were; seized and sold at auction. He was able to hide and save Trigger, saying "When he's gone, so am I." Willie then released the double album The IRS Tapes: Who’ll Buy My Memories? the proceeds going to the treasury and paying off the balance of his debt by 1993.

Willie currently lives in Maui, HI, and on his ranch near Austin, TX. His 4th of July blowouts have been a tradition since 1973. Willie holds a 2nd degree black belt in ju jitsu, and loves to golf. He is also a social activist for causes such as Farm Aid, which he founded with John Mellencamp and Neil Young in 1985, NORML, bio-diesel fuels, and human and animal rights.

Happy Birthday to the Red Headed Stranger, Willie Nelson!

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