The Life of Willie

4/30/2008 Staff Country Hound says "Happy Birthday" to Willie Hugh Nelson, who is 75 years young this Wednesday, April 30, 2008. In honor of one of the biggest musical icons in the world, we bring you a bit of History of Willie. Most folks believe Willie was born today, April 30, 1933. Born in Fort Worth and raised in Abbot, Texas, the Country Music legend was the son of Myrtle and Ira D. Nelson. His first musical experience was via his grandparents, who bought him music lessons through a mail-order catalog. After starting out his career in Vancouver, Washington, Willie Nelson moved to Nashville, where he tried to get a recording contract. The Country singer couldn’t, but he did find a publishing contract possible. He joined Ray Price's band and began writing songs, the most famous from that time period being "Crazy," performed by Patsy Cline. In the 1960's Nelson moved to Austin and found himself amongst the popular "hippie" movement, a distinction that would carry throughout his life.  With the success of Red Headed Stranger in 1975, along with his partnership with fellow up-and-comer Waylon Jennings, a new label of "outlaw country" became attached to Nelson. He solidified his acceptance of the stigma with the 1976 album titled Wanted! The Outlaws. The year 1978 brought two more hit albums for Nelson, Waylon and Willie, which spawned the hit "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," and Stardust. It was around this time that Nelson began appearing in feature films. He found success in movies such as The Electric Horseman, Honeysuckle Rose and Barbarosa. His later film work found him in cameo parts, due to is iconic status as a musician, and cannabis activist. Nelson's career exploded in the 80s, with hits like "On the Road Again" and "To All the Girls I've Loved Before." It was at this time the highly successful band, The Highwaymen, was formed with longtime friend Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash. The pop-culture decade also saw the birth of Farm Aid, Nelson's charity concert held to help bring aid to farmers in the United States. Nelson's 16.7 million-dollar IRS bill in 1990 spawned a double album, The IRS Tapes: Who Will Buy My Memories? Profit from the album went straight to Uncle Sam. Since that time, Nelson has spent his years touring the country and released dozens of new albums.  (For a full discography, click here.) A braid-wearing activist, Nelson is known to support several causes. He and his wife and partners have built two bio-diesel production plants in the U.S. in 2004, and even formed Willie Nelson Bio-Diesel, a company that markets bio-diesel fuel to truck stops. Nelson also is famously co-chair for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. His charity work extends from U.S. farmers to helping those affected by the tsunami of 2004. Don't have enough Willie? The current issue of Texas Monthly features a special dedication to the famous artist (http://www.texasmonthly.com/magazine/willie) or be sure to pick up this April's release of One Hell Of A Ride, a monster, 4-disc career-spanning collection that isn't your average greatest hits album.