Zac Brown Grabs Willie Nelson, Grace Potter for Nashville’s Southern Grounds Festival : April 23, 2013

The Nashville incarnation of Zac Brown’s Southern Grounds festival will be back for a second time later this year, and will feature Willie Nelson and Grace Potter, among others. ...

Lady Antebellum, Willie Nelson, Trace Adkins Featured at Taste of Country Festival : January 25, 2013

The first ever Taste of Country Festival will feature Lady Antebellum, Willie Nelson & Family, and Trace Adkins. The new festival will be held at the Hunter Mountain Resort ...

Concert Review: Willie Nelson at the Tabernacle in Atlanta : January 21, 2013

Willie Nelson is an American icon. As a life-long Georgian, I have probably heard Willie's version of "Georgia On My Mind" even more times than Ray Charles' original. When I was yo ...

Railroad Revival Tour Cancelled, New Dates for Band of Horses : October 08, 2012

The Railroad Revival Tour, designed to include Band of Horses and Willie Nelson traveling the country by rail, has been cancelled. Fortunately, Band of Horses already has announced ...

Breathing Problems Force Willie Nelson to Cancel Denver Performance : August 20, 2012

Willie Nelson was forced to cancel a Denver concert over the weekend after being hospitalized for a breathing problem. Fortunately, the 79-year-old country singer’s publicist say ...

Willie Nelson, Band of Horses Head Out on Railroad Revival Tour : July 24, 2012

Willie Nelson and Band of Horses will be among the acts playing the second annual Railroad Revival Tour, it was announced recently. This year’s tour will continue the traditio ...

Kenny Chesney, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow Pay Tribute at Johnny Cash Concert : March 09, 2012

Some of the biggest names in the music world have signed on to pay tribute to the legendary Johnny Cash and celebrate what would have been his 80th birthday this year. Kenny Chesne ...

willie nelson Biography

The country music songwriter-singer Willie Nelson was born in Abbott, Texas on April 30, 1933. He is also an activist, actor, poet and author. The critical success of his 1973 album "Shotgun Willie," 1975's "Red Headed Stranger" and 1978's "Stardust" helped to turn Nelson into one of country music's most recognized artists. Nelson was a main figure in the country music subgenre known as outlaw country, which developed in the late 1960s in reaction to Nashville's conservative restrictions. Nelson has also worked as an actor and appeared in more than 30 films and is the co-author of several books. He has worked as an activist for legalization of marijuana and use of biofuels.

In 1960 Nelson was signed by Pamper Music to a publishing contract. He wrote songs that eventually became country standards during this time such as "Crazy," "Pretty Paper," "Hello Walls" and "Funny How Time Slips Away." In 1962 Nelson recorded "And Then I Wrote," his debut album. The album was a success, and in 1964 Nelson signed with RCA Victor. In 1965 Nelson joined Grand Ole Opry. In the latter 1960s and early 1970s Nelson had several mid-chart hits but did not reach great success. In 1972 Nelson retired and relocated to Austin, Texas. After hippie music became popular in Austin, Nelson was motivated to come out of retirement and frequently performed at Armadillo World Headquarters.

Nelson signed with Atlantic Record in 1973. He moved into outlaw country with his albums "Shotgun Willie" as well as "Phases and Stages." He moved over to Columbia Records in 1975 where he recorded his critically acclaimed set "Red Headed Stranger." In 1975 Nelson also recorded "Wanted! The Outlaws" with Tompall Glaser, Jessi Colter and Waylon Jennings. Nelson had a string of hit albums and songs in the mid 1980s, including the set "Honeysuckle Rose" and songs "Pancho & Lefty," "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" and "On the Road Again." During this time he joined The Highwaymen, a country super group that also included the singers Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash.

Nelson continued to tour extensively throughout the 1990s as well as 2000s. He also continued to release albums, which received mixed to positive reviews. He explored new genres during this time, including folk, jazz, blues and reggae. Nelson's first film appearance came in the 1979 movie The Electric Horseman. Nelson has released more than sixty studio albums and sold over 40 million U.S. albums.