Singer
Willie Nelson

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 develo ... ped 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. See more [+]

Always On My Mind |||||

Maybe I didn't love you Quite as often as I could have May...

On The Road Again |||||

On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again....

Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain |||||

In the twilight glow I see her Blue eyes cryin' in the rain ...

Pancho And Lefty |||||

Livin' on the road, my friend Was gonna keep you free and cl...

All Of Me |||||

All of me, why not take all of me Can't you see, I'm no good...

City Of New Orleans |||||

Ridin' on the City of New Orleans Illinois Central Monday mo...

Angels Flying Too Close To The Ground |||||

If you had not have fallen Then I would not have found you A...

Seven Spanish Angels |||||

He looked down into her brown eyes and said Say a prayer for...

Aint It Funny How Time Slips Away |||||

Well hello there, it's been a long long time How ya doing, I...

Georgia On My Mind |||||

BRIDGE Repeat BRIDGE This is a simplified busking version of...

Whiskey River |||||

Whiskey River take my mind Don't let her memory torture me W...

Just Breathe |||||

Yes I understand, that every life must end, uh-huh As we si...

You Are My Sunshine |||||

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping I dreamed I held you...

You were always on my mind |||||

Maybe I didn't love you Quite as often as I could have And m...

Ac-Cent-Tu-Ate The Positive |||||

You've got to ac - cen - tu - ate the positive, E - lim - in...

Always |||||

Ev'rything went wrong, and the whole day long, And feel so b...

Frosty the Snowman |||||

Frosty the Snow Man was a jolly happy soul With a corn-cob p...

September Song |||||

When I was a young man a-courtin' the girls, I played me a w...

Good Hearted Woman |||||

A long time forgotten are dreams that just felt by the way. ...

Heartland |||||

There's a home place under fire tonight in the Heartland And...

Here Comes Santa Claus |||||

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down S...

Reasons To Quit |||||

Reasons to quit the smoke and booze don't do me like before ...

Moonlight in Vermont. |||||

Pennies in a stream, Falling leaves of sycamore. Moonlight i...

Are You Sure |||||

Oh, look around you Look down the bar from you The lonely fa...

Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys |||||

1. Cowboys ain't easy to love and they're harder to hold. 2....

Bloody Mary Mornin |||||

Well it's a Bloody Mary Mornin' - baby left me without warni...

Jingle bell rock |||||

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock, Jingle bells swi...

Make The World Go Away |||||

(Chorus:) Make the world go away And get it off my shoulders...

Help make it through the night |||||

1. Take the ribbon from your hair, shake it loose and let it...

Blue Skies |||||

Blue skies smiling at me, Nothing but blue skies do I see. B...

My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys |||||

1. I grew up dreaming of being a cowboy 2. Cowboys are speci...

Poncho And Lefty |||||

Living on the road my friend, is gonna keep you free and cle...

Funny How Time Slips Away |||||

1. Well, hello there, my, it's been a long, long time. How ...

A Foggy Day |||||

I was a stranger in the city; Out of town were the people I ...

Someone To Watch Over Me |||||

There is somebody I'm longing to see I hope that as she tur...

Crazy |||||

Crazy, crazy for feeling so lonely. Crazy, crazy for feelin...

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