Willie Nelson
Biography
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
Acting (142 movies)
Wag the Dog
1997
The Electric Horseman
1979
Thief
1981
The Dukes of Hazzard
2005
Honeysuckle Rose
1980
Heartbreakers at the BBC
2023
Barbarosa
1982
Gone Fishin'
1997
Stagecoach
1986
Beerfest
2006
Surfer, Dude
2008
Be Here to Love Me
2004
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
2008
The Beach Boys: Nashville Sounds
1996
Hempsters: Plant the Seed
2008
Willie Nelson 90: Long Story Short
2023
Songwriter
1984
Hells Angels Forever
1983
Outlaw Justice
1999
The Highwaymen: On the Road Again
2003
John Mellencamp: It's About You
2012
Once Upon a Texas Train
1988
Angels Sing
2013
Joke Man
2023
A Tribute to Johnny Cash
1999
The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum
1990
Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?
1988
Kris Kristofferson: His Life and Work
1993
Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis Play the Music of Ray Charles
2009
Coming Out of the Ice
1982
Willie Nelson: Live in Amsterdam
2001
Kinky Friedman: Proud To Be An Asshole From El Paso
2001
Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind
1991
Wild Texas Wind
1991
Red Headed Stranger
1986
Road to Austin
2016
Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
1993
The Greatest Ears in Town: The Arif Mardin Story
2010
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
2013
Starlight
1996
The King of Luck
2011
Glen Campbell | Good Times Again
2007
All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State
2014
Celebrating the Man in Black: The Making of Walk the Line
2006
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
1988
June
2023
Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz
1988
Waylon: Renegade. Outlaw. Legend.
1990
Dolly Parton & Friends: Love Always Live
2009
Beer for My Horses
2008
The Greatest Night in Pop
2024
Walking After Midnight
1988
Pair of Aces
1990
Blonde Ambition
2007
Heartbeat
1987
Swing Vote
2008
Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas
2022
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2022
Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story
1995
Johnny Cash: American Rebel
2015
Willie Nelson Live at the US Festival
1983
Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken Spoke
2016
Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl
2016
Willie Nelson: Live from Austin TX
2006
The Big Bounce
2004
The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning
2007
The King of Texas
2008
Zoolander 2
2016
Playboy Video Magazine: Volume 4
1983
The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James
1986
A Poem Is a Naked Person
1974
Willie and Me
2024
Lost in London
2017
The Journeyman
2001
The American Epic Sessions
2016
Opry Video Classics: Hall of Fame
2007
Outlaw Country: Live from Austin, TX
2006
Jerry Lee Lewis: Last Man Standing, Live
2007
Willie Nelson at the Teatro
1998
The Highwaymen - Live American Outlaws
2016
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
1999
Paradox
2018
American Revolutions: The Highwaymen
2006
The Country Bears
2002
Merle Haggard: The Real Deal
2008
The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End
2016
Half Baked
1998
OK Buckaroos
2010
Also Starring Austin
2018
Willie Nelson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song
2016
Charley Pride: I'm Just Me
2019
We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash
2012
Elvis | Viva Las Vegas
2008
Willie Nelson Live @ SXSW
2014
Opry Video Classics : Legends
2007
The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles
2002
Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws & Angels
2004
Quincy
2018
Waiting for the Miracle to Come
2019
Last of the Breed: Live in Concert
2007
| Title | Year | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Honeysuckle Rose | 1980 | Original Music Composer |
| Stagecoach | 1986 | Original Music Composer |
| Stagecoach | 1986 | Executive Producer |
| Red Headed Stranger | 1986 | Producer |
| Red Headed Stranger | 1986 | Original Music Composer |
| Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies | 2025 | Executive Producer |