Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 30, 1933) is an American country singer-songwriter, author, poet, actor, and activist. Nelson was one of the main figures of the Outlaw Movement, a subgenre of Country music that developed between the end of 1960s and early 1980s. The critical success of the albums Shotgun Willie, Phases and Stages, and the commercial success of Red Headed Stranger made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music. Nelson is also recognized for his contributions to charity, he is the president and one of the founding members of Farm Aid charity concert, and his activism for the legalization of marijuana and for the use of bio-fuels.
Nelson started studying music from mail order material that his grandparents gave him. He wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band at nine. During high school, he toured locally with the Bohemian Fiddlers as their lead singer and guitar player. After graduating from high school in 1950, he joined the Air Force. However, he was 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 1965 with RCA Victor and joined the Grand Ole Opry.
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. He is the co-founder and president of Farm Aid, and has been contributing to the benefit concert series since the first event in 1985, organizing concerts and performing with other prominent artists. Nelson is also the Honorary Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Texas Music Project, the official music charity of the state of Texas.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Willie Nelson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Nelson started studying music from mail order material that his grandparents gave him. He wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band at nine. During high school, he toured locally with the Bohemian Fiddlers as their lead singer and guitar player. After graduating from high school in 1950, he joined the Air Force. However, he was 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 1965 with RCA Victor and joined the Grand Ole Opry.
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. He is the co-founder and president of Farm Aid, and has been contributing to the benefit concert series since the first event in 1985, organizing concerts and performing with other prominent artists. Nelson is also the Honorary Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Texas Music Project, the official music charity of the state of Texas.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Willie Nelson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Known for
Ma Boy Love Me
Willie and Me
The Greatest Night in Pop
Willie Nelson & Family
June
Joke Man
Willie Nelson 90: Long Story Short
Heartbreakers at the BBC
Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute
This Is Pop
Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President
My Darling Vivian
Willie Nelson American Outlaw
Country Music by Ken Burns
Waiting for the Miracle to Come
Charley Pride: I'm Just Me
Willie Nelson at Austin City Limits
Quincy
Also Starring Austin
Paradox
OBJECTified
Pure Country: Pure Heart
Lost in London
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End
The Highwaymen - Live American Outlaws
The American Epic Sessions
Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken Spoke
Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl
Zoolander 2
Willie Nelson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song
The Muppets
Johnny Cash: American Rebel
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
I Am Johnny Cash
Country Kings at the BBC
Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years
The Art of McCartney
All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State
Willie Nelson Live @ SXSW
Angels Sing
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash
John Mellencamp: It's About You
Paul Williams Still Alive
The King of Luck
OK Buckaroos
The Greatest Ears in Town: The Arif Mardin Story
Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis Play the Music of Ray Charles
The Obama Deception
Dolly Parton & Friends: Love Always Live
Merle Haggard: The Real Deal
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
Elvis: Viva Las Vegas
Surfer, Dude
Beer for My Horses
Swing Vote
Hempsters: Plant the Seed
The King of Texas
Blonde Ambition
Opry Video Classics : Legends
Last of the Breed: Live in Concert
Jerry Lee Lewis: Last Man Standing, Live
The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning
Glen Campbell: Good Times Again
American Revolutions: The Highwaymen
Outlaw Country: Live from Austin, TX
Broken Bridges
Beerfest
Willie Nelson: Live from Austin TX
The Colbert Report
The Dukes of Hazzard
VH1 Storytellers
Squidbillies
Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws & Angels
Be Here to Love Me
The Big Bounce
Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well
The Highwaymen: On the Road Again
Real Time with Bill Maher
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The Country Bears
Monk
The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles
CMT Crossroads
America: A Tribute to Heroes
Willie Nelson: Live in Amsterdam
The Journeyman
Kinky Friedman: Proud To Be An Asshole From El Paso
Willie Nelson: Greatest Hits Live
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
A Tribute To Johnny Cash
Outlaw Justice
Half Baked
Willie Nelson at the Teatro
Wag the Dog
The View
Anthem
Gone Fishin'
King of the Hill
The Beach Boys: Nashville Sounds
The Daily Show
Starlight
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story
The World of Jim Henson
Dust to Dust
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Kris Kristofferson: His Life and Work
Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O
Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Delta
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Wild Texas Wind
WWE WrestleMania VII
Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind
The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum
Pair of Aces
Waylon: Renegade. Outlaw. Legend.
The Simpsons
Kenny, Dolly & Willie: Something Inside So Strong
Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?
Once Upon a Texas Train
Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz
Baja Oklahoma
Walking After Midnight
Heartbeat
Red Headed Stranger
Stagecoach
The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
Songwriter
Miami Vice
Hells Angels Forever
Willie Nelson Live at the US Festival
Coming Out of the Ice
Barbarosa
Champs-Elysées
Thief
Solid Gold
Honeysuckle Rose
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1980
The Electric Horseman
The Kennedy Center Honors
Saturday Night Live
Arena
Austin City Limits
A Poem Is a Naked Person
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
Acting
2009
Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis Play the Music of Ray Charles
—
Himself - Vocals and Acoustic Guitar