Willie Nelson

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Willie Nelson (2009)

Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933 in Abbott , Texas ) is an American country singer, guitarist and songwriter who is one of the most important figures in the outlaw movement and the genre in general. He had 22 number-one singles and 14 number-one albums on the Billboard country charts. His best-known songs include Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain , On the Road Again and Always on My Mind, as well as Crazy in the interpretation of Patsy Cline . He has also worked as an actor in almost 40 film and television productions . Nelson is best known for his distinctive voice and guitar solos. Thus, the listed Rolling Stone him at number 77 of all time 100 greatest guitarists .

biography

Childhood and youth

Coming from a poor background, Nelson grew up with his grandparents. When he was six years old he was given a guitar, and when he was ten he made his first public appearance. As a teenager, Nelson played in local honky tonks in the evenings . In 1950 he was drafted into the Air Force , but discharged soon after due to back problems. He married a Cherokee - Indian and was the father of three children. The family moved to Fort Worth , where Nelson worked as a disc jockey for a while.

Beginnings

In 1956 he recorded his first self-financed single in Vancouver , Washington , which sold well. In 1959 - his marriage was now divorced - he managed to sell the rights to his song Night Life . He used the proceeds to buy an old car and set off for Nashville . There he found a job as a bass player in Ray Price's band . In the following years he succeeded in selling songs several times - including Hello Walls in 1961 , with which Faron Young reached number 1 on the country charts. That same year, Patsy Cline recorded his Crazy . Willie Nelson was thus established as a songwriter.

Career

Willie Nelson

He remarried and played a few singles, two of which made it into the top 10. The big breakthrough was initially denied to him. In 1965 he moved to RCA and joined the Grand Ole Opry . In the following years he produced a long series of only moderately successful albums and singles. His relationship with RCA deteriorated noticeably. He accused his record company of falsifying his songs, making them too similar to the commercial Nashville sound . RCA actually had the contractual right to alter its recordings at its own discretion, an intolerable condition for an independent character like Nelson.

Christmas 1970 his house burned down and Nelson decided to turn his back on Nashville. He went to Austin , got married for the third time and signed a contract with Atlantic Records. Two albums were produced: 1973 Shotgun Willie and 1974 Phases and Stages , again only with average success.

The big breakthrough came a year later. He changed record labels again and recorded the groundbreaking album Red Headed Stranger for Columbia , the single Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain was his first number 1 hit and even placed in the pop charts. His old record company RCA tried to capitalize on his sudden fame and released the album: Wanted! From archive material . The Outlaws . In addition to Nelson, Waylon Jennings , Jessi Colter and Tompall Glaser could be heard, who were also at war with the Nashville establishment. Wanted! became the first country album to sell more than a million copies. In 1980, director Jerry Schatzberg shot the musical film On the Road Again , in which Nelson played the leading role. He was nominated for an Oscar for the song of the same name .

Outlaw movement

Bust in the Nelson Museum in Nashville

Nelson became the center of the outlaw movement , which gathered musicians who wanted to break free from the "commercial shackles" of Nashville and play their own music. After some initial irritation, Nashville was thrilled, because the outlaw music sold brilliantly and brought a breath of fresh air to the stagnant country scene.

Willie Nelson was particularly successful with duets over the next few years. First with his friend Waylon Jennings - Waylon & Willie - and then with other established greats in country music such as Merle Haggard with the hit Pancho and Lefty as well as Ray Price , Dolly Parton and Ray Charles . The most successful was a duet with Julio Iglesias : To All the Girls I've Loved Before , written by Albert Hammond . In 1978 Nelson's most commercially successful album, Stardust, was released . In 1979 a museum for Willie Nelson was opened in Nashville.

Highwaymen

Nelson's Post Box, Nelson Museum, Nashville

In the mid-1980s he teamed up with Kris Kristofferson , Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings under the name Highwaymen . In the following ten years the musicians recorded three albums together and went on several very successful world tours. In 1985 Nelson participated in the USA for Africa project . Also in 1985 Nelson and John Mellencamp launched the Farm Aid Festival to support family farms in the USA. This festival has been held annually since then and is now co-organized by Neil Young and Dave Matthews .

In 1990 tax debts had accumulated in excess of $ 16 million. Willie Nelson lost all of his property. The proceeds of his next albums went entirely to the tax office, he managed to settle his debts by 1993. In the same year he received the greatest honor that country music can bestow: He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame .

actor

Willie Nelson - Always on My Mind

In 1979 Nelson starred opposite Robert Redford and Jane Fonda in The Electric Horseman (The Electric Horseman). In 1997 Nelson took on a supporting role in the movie Wag the Dog , he played a songwriter. In 2002 he appeared in the US crime series Monk in the twelfth episode of the first season, which was broadcast in Germany under the name of Mr. Monk and Willie Nelson , as the main suspect in a murder case. In 2005 he played Uncle Jesse in the theatrical adaptation of the successful series A Duke Seldom Comes Alone and contributed his interpretation of the theme song Good Ol 'Boys to the soundtrack.

He also appeared in the music video of the cover version of These Boots Are Made for Walkin ' by Jessica Simpson and had guest appearances on the television series Nash Bridges , in the episode El Viejo of the third season of Miami Vice and in the movies Austin Powers , Half Baked high and crazy and beer festival . There is also an animated parody called Willie Nelson and the Strokes , which is part of the VH1 -Illustrated program .

In 2006 Nelson contributed the song He Was a Friend of Mine to the soundtrack of the film Brokeback Mountain and in the same year released the song Cowboys are Frequently Secretly (Fond of Each Other) , the lyrics of which were written by Ned Sublette in 1981.

Also in 2006, he starred in Broken Bridges, starring Toby Keith and Kelly Preston . In the trio with Toby Keith and BeBe Winans , the song Uncloudy Day was also released on the soundtrack. In 2008 followed again a role on the side of Toby Keith in the comedy Beer for My Horses .

present

Between 2002 and 2008, Nelson was under contract with the alternative country label Lost Highway , where he released several critically acclaimed albums. Last of the Breed with Ray Price, Merle Haggard and George Jones from 2007 is worth mentioning . After his last album for Lost Highway, Moment of Forever , Nelson switched to Blue Note / EMI , where in 2008 he worked with the Jazz Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis released an album. On the record, they both interpret the classic Georgia on My Mind . After the joint album Willie and the Wheel with the western swing band Asleep at the Wheel , Nelson's second album for Blue Note, American Classic, followed in 2009 .

In February 2012 Nelson signed a recording deal with Legacy Recordings . His first release for the label was the album Heroes , for which he was able to win Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Snoop Dogg , Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson , Billy Joe Shaver and Sheryl Crow as guest musicians. The album reached number four on the Billboard Country Albums chart.

The increased media presence on the occasion of his 80th birthday and the development of new audiences meant that Nelson's albums were again very successful in the regular US album charts. With 9th and 5th place respectively, his two last studio albums took the highest placements for over 30 years. At the age of 80, Nelson achieved the 5th Dan in Gongkwon Yusul .

Drugs

Nelson once smoked marijuana on the roof of the White House with Jimmy Carter's son . In November 2010, Nelson was arrested in Texas for possession of approximately 170 grams of marijuana and released on bail of $ 2,500. Back in 2006, he was fined and sentenced to six months probation for drug possession. He has been publicly advocating cannabis and its legalization for decades, and some of his songs also cover the subject. He sells legal marijuana and other cannabis products under the name Willie's Reserve .

Discography

Excerpt - see Willie Nelson / Discography for a full list

Albums

  • 1975: Red Headed Stranger
  • 1976: Wanted! The Outlaws (with Waylon Jennings , Jessi Colter and Tompall Glaser )
  • 1978: Waylon & Willie (with Waylon Jennings)
  • 1978: Stardust
  • 1978: Willie and Family Live
  • 1979: One for the Road (with Leon Russell )
  • 1980: Honeysuckle Rose (Willie Nelson & Family)
  • 1981: Somewhere over the Rainbow
  • 1982: Always on My Mind
  • 1983: Pancho & Lefty (with Merle Haggard )
  • 1983: Tougher Than Leather
  • 1993: Across The Borderline
  • 1993: Moonlight Becomes You
  • 1994: Healing Hands Of Time
  • 1996: Spirit
  • 1998: Teatro
  • 2004: It Always Will Be
  • 2005: Countryman
  • 2006: You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker
  • 2013: Let's Face the Music and Dance
  • 2013: To all the Girls
  • 2014: Willie Nelson and Sister Bobbie - December Day
  • 2017: God's Problem Child
  • 2018: Last Man Standing
  • 2018: My Way
  • 2019: Ride Me Back Home
  • 2020: First Rose of Spring

Singles

  • Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (1975)
  • Good Hearted Woman (1976, with Waylon Jennings )
  • On the Road Again (1980)
  • Always on My Mind (1982)
  • Let It Be Me (1982)
  • To All the Girls I've Loved Before (1984, with Julio Iglesias )
  • Beer for My Horses (2003, with Toby Keith )
  • Always on My Mind (2013, with Carrie Underwood )

Awards

  • 1976: CMA Award in the Vocal Duo of the Year category (with Waylon Jennings)
  • 1976: CMA Award in the Single Of The Year category for Good Hearted Woman (with Waylon Jennings)
  • 1976: CMA Award in the Album Of The Year category for Wanted: The Outlaws (with Waylon Jennings, Tompall Glaser and Jessi Colter )
  • 1976: Grammy for Best Male Vocal Performance - Country for Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
  • 1977: American Music Award in the Favorite Country Single category for Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
  • 1979: ACM Award in the Entertainer of the Year category
  • 1979: CMA Award in the Entertainer of the Year category
  • 1979: Grammy for Best Male Vocal Performance - Country for Georgia on My Mind
  • 1979: Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys (with Waylon Jennings)
  • 1981: Grammy for Best Country Song for On The Road Again
  • 1982: ACM Award in the Single of the Year category for Always on My Mind
  • 1982: ACM Award in the Album of the Year category for Always on My Mind
  • 1982: American Music Award in the Favorite Country Male Artist category
  • 1982: CMA Award in the Single Of The Year category for Always on My Mind
  • 1982: CMA Award in the Album Of The Year category for Always on My Mind
  • 1983: American Music Award in the Favorite Country Album category for Always on My Mind
  • 1983: CMA Award in the category Vocal Duo of the Year (with Merle Haggard)
  • 1983: Grammy for Best Male Vocal Performance - Country for Always on My Mind
  • 1983: Grammy in the Best Country Song category for Always on My Mind
  • 1984: ACM Award in the Single of the Year category for To All the Girls I've Loved Before (with Julio Iglesias)
  • 1984: American Music Award in the Favorite Country Male Artist category
  • 1984: CMA Award in the category Vocal Duo of the Year (with Julio Iglesias)
  • 1986: American Music Award in the Favorite Country Male Artist category
  • 1986: American Music Award in the Favorite Country Single category for Forgiving You Was Easy
  • 1987: American Music Award in the Favorite Country Male Artist category
  • 1990: Grammy Legend Award
  • 2000: Grammy for life's work
  • 2002: CMA Award in the Vocal Event of the Year category for Mendocino County Line (with Lee Ann Womack )
  • 2002: CMT Flameworthy Video Music Award in the Video Collaboration of the Year category for Mendocino County Line (with Lee Ann Womack)
  • 2003: Grammy for Best Collaboration with Vocal - Country for Mendocino County Line (with Lee Ann Womack)
  • 2004: CMT Flameworthy Video Music Award in the Collaborative Video of the Year category for Beer for My Horses (with Toby Keith )
  • 2008: Grammy in the category Best Collaboration with Vocals - Country for Lost Highway (with Ray Price)
  • 2017: Grammy for Best Singing Album - Traditional Pop for Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin
  • 2019: Grammy for Best Singing Album - Traditional Pop for My Way
  • 2019: Grammy in the Best Country Solo Performance category for Ride Me Back Home
  • The Rolling Stone listed Nelson 77th of the 100 best guitarists, 88th of the 100 best singers and 60th of the 100 best songwriters of all time .

Filmography (selection)

literature

Web links

Commons : Willie Nelson  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://theboot.com/willie-nelson-birthday/
  2. ↑ a b 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Rolling Stone , December 18, 2015, accessed August 7, 2017 .
  3. ^ About Farm Aid. Retrieved September 5, 2016 (American English).
  4. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/#/album/willie-nelson/heroes/1647607
  5. ↑ Martin Chilton: Willie Nelson gets 5th-degree black belt at 81. telegraph.co.uk, April 29, 2014, accessed October 20, 2017 .
  6. ↑ Kim Kelly: Willie Nelson Definitely Smoked Weed on the Roof of the White House with Jimmy Carter's Son. In: Noisey. September 1, 2015, Retrieved April 12, 2019 (American English).
  7. ↑ Willie Nelson Charged With Pot Possession in Texas in: abcnews of November 27, 2010
  8. ↑ Willie Nelson caught with marijuana in: Zeit Online, November 27, 2010
  9. ↑ Willie's Reserve. Retrieved April 12, 2019 (American English).
  10. ↑ 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Rolling Stone , December 2, 2010, accessed August 7, 2017 .
  11. ↑ The 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time. Rolling Stone , August 2015, accessed August 7, 2017 .
personal data
SURNAME Nelson, Willie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Nelson, Willie Hugh (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American country singer and songwriter
DATE OF BIRTH April 29, 1933
PLACE OF BIRTH Abbott , Texas , USA