Willie Nelson Biography

(One of the Most Recognized Artists in Country Music)

Birthday: April 30, 1933 (Taurus)

Born In: Abbott, Texas, United States

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Willie Nelson is an American musician, singer, songwriter, author, poet, social activist, and actor. Owing to the tremendous success of his albums ‘Shotgun Willie’ and ‘Red Headed Stranger,’ Willie became one of the most influential names in the history of American country music. Born and raised in Texas, Willie started playing music at the age of 7, and by 10, he was already part of a music band. He toured around the state of Texas with his band, ‘Bohemian Polka,’ as a teen, but making music for a living was still not his primary plan. Willie joined the ‘American Air Force’ as soon as he graduated from high school. In the mid-1950s, his song ‘Lumberjack’ started gaining significant attention. This led Willie to quit everything else and to focus only on music. After he joined ‘Atlantic Records’ in 1973, Willie gained immense fame. Two of his albums in particular, ‘Red Headed Stranger’ and ‘Honeysuckle Rose,’ turned him into a national icon. As an actor, Willie has appeared in over 30 films and has co-authored several books. He happens to be a liberal activist and has never shied away from expressing his thoughts about the legalization of marijuana.

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Willie Hugh Nelson

Age: 91 Years, 91 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Connie Koepke (m. 1971–1988), Martha Matthews (m. 1952–1962), Shirley Collie Nelson (m. 1963–1971)

father: Ira Doyle Nelson

mother: Myrle Marie Nelson

siblings: Bobbie Nelson

children: Amy Lee Nelson, Billy Nelson, Jacob Micah Nelson, Lana Nelson, Lukas Nelson, Paula Carlene Nelson, Susie Nelson

Born Country: United States

Country Singers American Men

Notable Alumni: Baylor University

U.S. State: Texas

Founder/Co-Founder: Willie Nelson Biodiesel

More Facts

education: Baylor University

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You wanted to know

• 1

  What is Willie Nelson known for?

  Willie Nelson is known for being a legendary country music singer-songwriter, known for hits like "On the Road Again," "Always on My Mind," and "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain."
• 2

  When did Willie Nelson start his music career?

  Willie Nelson started his music career in the 1960s, releasing his first album "And Then I Wrote" in 1962.
• 3

  What is Willie Nelson's signature guitar?

  Willie Nelson's signature guitar is a Martin N-20 nylon-string acoustic named "Trigger," which he has played for decades.
• 4

  Has Willie Nelson written songs for other artists?

  Yes, Willie Nelson has written songs for many other artists, including hits like "Crazy" (Patsy Cline) and "Funny How Time Slips Away" (Billy Walker).
• 5

  What environmental and social causes is Willie Nelson known for supporting?

  Willie Nelson is known for supporting environmental causes like biofuels and sustainable agriculture, as well as social causes like Farm Aid, which he co-founded in 1985 to support family farmers.

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American PeopleMale SingersTaurus SingersAmerican SingersMale Country Singers Childhood & Early LifeWillie Nelson was born on April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas, during the Great Depression. His father, Ira Doyle Nelson, worked as a mechanic, and his mother, Myrle Marie, was a homemaker.Willie did not have an average childhood. Soon after his birth, his mother left the family, and sometime later, his father, too, abandoned them after marrying another woman. Willie and his sister, Bobbie, were raised by their grandparents, who lived in Arkansas and taught music for a living. Under their guardianship, Willie and Bobbie started getting inclined toward music.Willie got his first guitar at the age of 6. It was a gift from his grandfather. His grandfather would take the siblings to a nearby church where Willie would play the guitar and his sister would sing the Gospel. By the age of 7, Nelson started writing his very own songs, and a few years later, he joined his first music band.By the time he reached middle school, he was playing music all over the state. His family picked cotton during summers, but Willie made money by playing music in parties, halls, and other small venues.He was part of a local, small-time country music band, ‘Bohemian Polka,’ and learned a lot from that experience. He attended ‘Abbott High School.’ In school, he developed a liking toward sports and was part of the school’s football and basketball teams. While in school, he also sang and played the guitar for a band named ‘The Texans.’ He completed high school in 1950.Willie joined the ‘American Air Force’ soon after graduating from high school but was being honorably discharged within a year due to a back pain. In the mid-1950s, he joined ‘Baylor University’ and studied farming, but midway through the program, he decided to quit academics and pursue music seriously.In the next few months, utterly confused and broke, Willie moved to different places in search of a job. He decided to go to Portland, where his mother lived. He finally reached Portland on a loan of US$ 10 from a driver.Continue Reading Below Recommended Lists:American Country SingersCareerBy 1956, Willie had started looking for full-time work. He headed to Vancouver, Washington. There, he met Leon Payne, who was an esteemed country singer and songwriter, and their collaboration created the song ‘Lumberjack.’ The song sold three thousand copies, which was a respectable figure for an indie artist. However, it did not bring Willie the fame and money that he thought he deserved. He worked as a disc jockey for the next few years, before moving to Nashville.Willie made several demo tapes and sent them to major record labels, but his jazzy and laid-back music did not attract them. However, his songwriting abilities did get noticed by Hank Cochran, who recommended Willie to ‘Pamper Music,’ a popular music label. The label was co-owned by Ray Price. Ray was impressed by Willie’s music and invited him to join the band ‘Cherokee Cowboys.’ Willie became part of the band as a bass player.By the early 1960s, touring with the ‘Cowboys’ proved greatly beneficial for Willie, as his talent was noticed by other band members. He also began producing music and writing songs for several other artists. During this early stage of his career, he collaborated with ace country musicians Faron Young, Billy Walker, and Patsy Cline. Several of his singles made their way to the ‘Country Top 40’ chart.He recorded a duet with his then-wife, Shirley Collie, titled ‘Willingly.’ The song became a big hit. Soon after, his songs stopped resonating with the listeners, and after a couple of years, he changed the music label. He joined ‘RCA Victor’ (now ‘RCA Records’) in 1965 but was disappointed yet again. This continued till the early 1970s, when he finally decided to quit music and returned back to Austin, Texas, where he focused on pig farming.He then closely observed the reasons behind his failure in music. He decided to give music a final shot and experimented with a rock-influenced country sound. The transformation worked, and he landed a record deal with ‘Atlantic Records.’ This was the true beginning of his music career.Willie released his debut album for ‘Atlantic,’ titled ‘Shotgun Willie,’ in 1973. The album presented fresh sounds but did not immediately receive encouraging reviews. Over time, the album picked up pace and attained cult success. ‘Bloody Mary Morning’ and the cover version of ‘After the Fire Is Gone’ were two of his big hits in the mid-1970s. However, Willie thought that he did not have complete creative control over his final output.In 1975, Willie released the album ‘Red Headed Stranger,’ which was a sleeper hit. In 1978, Willie released two albums: ‘Waylon and Willie’ and ‘Stardust.’ Both the albums were big successes and turned Willie into the biggest country music star at that time.In the 1980s, Willie reached the ultimate peak of his career, delivering a number of hits. His cover for Elvis Presley’s ‘Always on My Mind’ from the album of the same name topped many charts. The album, which released in 1982, garnered the “quadruple-platinum” status. He also collaborated with Latin pop star Julio Iglesias for the single ‘To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before,’ and it became another career milestone for Willie.‘The Highwaymen,’ formed by Willie, was a legendary supergroup of a number of major country music stars such as Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings. It became a rage with the release of their self-titled album. The late-1980s saw the arrival of many more young country musicians who followed Willie’s style.Continue Reading Below Willie’s success began to fade away gradually. The success of his 1993 solo album, ‘Across the Borderline,’ was followed by some mediocre work. The same year, he was inducted into the ‘Country Music Hall of Fame.’ In the next few years, Willie attained success with a string of albums such as ‘Spirit,’ ‘Teatro,’ ‘Night and Day,’ and ‘Milk Cow Blues.’Even after turning 80, Willie has not stopped making music. In 2014, around his 81st birthday, Nelson released yet another album, ‘Band of Brothers,’ and delivered a number one country hit.Willie has regularly appeared in films and TV series, too. Some of his most popular films are ‘The Electric Horseman,’ ‘Starlight,’ ‘The Dukes of Hazzard,’ ‘Blonde Ambition,’ and ‘Zoolander 2.’Willie has penned more than half a dozen books, and some of his most popular books are ‘The Facts of Life and Other Dirty Jokes,’ ‘Pretty Paper,’ and ‘It’s a Long Story: My Life.’Personal LifeWillie Nelson has married four times during his lifetime. He has fathered seven children. He has been married to Martha Matthews, Shirley Collie, Connie Koepke, and Annie D’Angelo. He presently lives with his current wife, Marie, and their two sons, in Hawaii.Willie has been a chain-smoker for a very long time and is an avid marijuana smoker, too. He has shown his support for the legalization of marijuana on several platforms.Facts About Willie NelsonWillie Nelson is not only a talented musician, but he is also an accomplished author, having written several books including an autobiography and a novel.He is a dedicated horse enthusiast and has been involved in various equine-related activities throughout his life.Despite his iconic status in country music, Willie Nelson has collaborated with artists from a wide range of genres, including rock, blues, and jazz, showcasing his versatile musical talents. Willie Nelson is also a successful entrepreneur, having launched his own brand of cannabis products called "Willie's Reserve," reflecting his advocacy for the legalization and responsible use of marijuana.

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