The Electric Horseman is a 1979 American western comedy-drama film starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda and directed by Sydney Pollack . The film is about a former rodeo champion who is hired by a cereal company to become its spokesperson and then runs away on a $ 12 million electric-lit horse and costume he is given to promote it in Las Vegas after he finds that the horse has been abused.
134-506: William Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound . The critical success of his album Shotgun Willie (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978), made Nelson one of
268-678: A $ 50 loan to rent an apartment and a six-night job singing in the club. Nelson rented the apartment near Houston in Pasadena, Texas , where he also worked at the radio station as the sign-on disc jockey. During this time, he recorded two singles for Pappy Daily on D Records " Man With the Blues "/"The Storm Has Just Begun" and " What a Way to Live "/"Misery Mansion". Nelson then was hired by guitar instructor Paul Buskirk to work as an instructor in his school. He sold " Family Bible " to Buskirk for $ 50 and " Night Life " for $ 150. "Family Bible" turned into
402-464: A beard to hide the scars, which he has maintained ever since. He also began collaborating with the other outlaws, beginning with his album Hank Williams Jr. and Friends released shortly before he was injured. At the same time as Nelson was reinventing himself, other influential musicians were writing songs and playing in Austin and Lubbock. Butch Hancock , Joe Ely , and Jimmie Dale Gilmore formed
536-468: A board member. In 2007, Nelson forfeited six million shares of the company as he left the board. By 2008, he reopened Willie's Place , a truck stop in Carl's Corner, Texas . The U.S. Bankruptcy Court allowed Nelson to invest in it. The establishment had about 80 employees, and was used as a concert hall with a bar and a 1,000 square feet (93 m) dance floor. Willie's Place also featured BioWillie pumps. At
670-537: A chain of steakhouses. Nelson heavily promoted the chain and appeared on a special on Food Network . The chain installed Willie's Corner , a section dedicated to him and decked out with Willie memorabilia, at several locations. In 2004, Nelson and his wife Annie became partners with Bob and Kelly King in the building of two Pacific Bio-diesel plants, one in Salem, Oregon , and the other at Carl's Corner, Texas (the Texas plant
804-420: A duet album with Merle Haggard produced by Chips Moman , was released. During the recording sessions of Pancho and Lefty , Johnny Christopher, a session guitarist and the co-writer of " Always on My Mind ", tried to pitch the song to an uninterested Haggard. Nelson, who was unaware of Elvis Presley 's version of the song, asked him to record it. Produced by Moman, the single of the song was released, as well as
938-458: A generic instrumental sound-alike recording in the opening title sequence. A 2019 North American Universal Blu-ray edition returns the music removed on many past video releases. While the film was a commercial success, it received mixed reviews upon release. Film review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes reports that 64% of critics gave the film a positive review based on 22 reviews with a "Fresh" rating, with an average score of 5.83/10. The film
1072-553: A guest vocal on "Write One for Me". Nelson was featured on the album True Love by Toots and the Maytals , which won the Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Reggae Album, and showcased many notable musicians including Eric Clapton , Jeff Beck , Trey Anastasio , Gwen Stefani , and Keith Richards . In the following year of 2005, Nelson released a reggae album entitled Countryman which featured Toots Hibbert of Toots and
1206-518: A guitar and piano for accompaniment, Nelson and Waylon Jennings insisted. The album included a cover of Fred Rose 's 1945 song " Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain ", that had been released as a single previous to the album, and became Nelson's first number one hit as a singer. Throughout his 1975 tour, Nelson raised funds for PBS-affiliated stations across the south promoting Austin City Limits . The pilot
1340-714: A guitar when he was six, and taught him a few chords , and Nelson sang gospel songs in the local church alongside Bobbie. He wrote his first song at age seven, and when he was nine, he played guitar for local band Bohemian Polka. During the summer, the family picked cotton alongside other Abbott residents. Nelson disliked picking cotton, so he earned money by singing in dance halls, taverns, and honky tonks from age 13, which he continued through high school. His musical influences were Jimmie Rodgers , Hank Williams , Bob Wills , Lefty Frizzell , Ray Price , Ernest Tubb , Hank Snow , Django Reinhardt , Frank Sinatra , and Louis Armstrong . Nelson attended Abbott High School , where he
1474-439: A hero. Since authorities have been alerted to the camper, Sonny, Hallie and Rising Star leave it behind and begin walking. Along the way, they encounter a local farmer who admired Sonny's statement on television and offers to drive them to the next county in a tractor-trailer, foregoing the $ 50,000 reward for Sonny's capture. During the isolated journey, the animosity between Sonny and Hallie dissipates, and they become lovers. Hallie
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#17327918558161608-516: A hit for Claude Gray in 1960. Nelson moved to Nashville, Tennessee , in 1960, but was unable to find a label to sign him. During this period he often spent time at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge , a bar near the Grand Ole Opry frequented by the show's stars and other singers and songwriters. There Nelson met Hank Cochran , a songwriter who worked for the publishing company Pamper Music, owned by Ray Price and Hal Smith. Cochran heard Nelson during
1742-479: A hundred of Nelson's friends and associates, ranging from fellow musicians to lawyers and football coaches. The first signature on the guitar was Leon Russell 's, who asked Nelson initially to sign his guitar. When Nelson was about to sign it with a marker, Russell requested him to scratch it instead, explaining that the guitar would be more valuable in the future. Interested in the concept, Nelson requested Russell to also sign his guitar. In 1991, during his process with
1876-442: A jam session with Buddy Emmons and Jimmy Day. Cochran had just earned a raise of $ 50 a week, but convinced Smith to pay Nelson the money instead to sign him to Pamper Music. On hearing Nelson sing "Hello Walls" at Tootsie's, Faron Young decided to record it. After Ray Price recorded Nelson's "Night Life", and his previous bassist Johnny Paycheck quit, Nelson joined Price's touring band as a bass player. While playing with Price and
2010-418: A new style, later stating that Shotgun Willie had "cleared his throat". His next release, Phases and Stages , released in 1974, was a concept album about a couple's divorce, inspired by his own experience. Side one of the record is from the viewpoint of the woman, and side two is from the viewpoint of the man. The album included the hit single " Bloody Mary Morning ". The same year, he produced and starred in
2144-638: A package containing cocaine was sent from Reshen's office in New York to Jennings in Nashville. The package was followed by the DEA , and Jennings was arrested. The charges were later dropped, since Reshen's assistant, Mark Rothbaum, stepped in and took the charges. Rothbaum was sentenced to serve time in jail. Impressed by his attitude, Nelson fired Reshen and hired Rothbaum as his manager. In 1978, Nelson released two more platinum albums. One, Waylon & Willie ,
2278-441: A performance. The series concept received attention from cable channels that requested to see the pilot episode. Following the legalization of marijuana in different states, Nelson announced in 2015 through spokesman Michael Bowman the establishment of his own marijuana brand, Willie's Reserve . Plans to open chain stores in the states where marijuana was legalized were announced, to be expanded state-to-state if marijuana legalization
2412-652: A publishing contract with Pamper Music which allowed him to join Ray Price's band as a bassist. In 1962, he recorded his first album, ...And Then I Wrote . Due to this success, Nelson signed in 1964 with RCA Victor and joined the Grand Ole Opry the following year. After mid-chart hits in the late 1960s and the early 1970s, Nelson grew weary of the corporate Nashville music scene, and in 1972 he moved to Austin, Texas . The ongoing music scene of Austin motivated Nelson to return to performing, appearing frequently at
2546-562: A radio advertisement asking for support to put musician/author Kinky Friedman on the ballot as an independent candidate for the 2006 Texas gubernatorial election . Friedman promised Nelson a job in Austin as the head of a new Texas Energy Commission due to his support of bio-fuels. In January 2008, Nelson filed a suit against the Texas Democratic Party , alleging that the party violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments of
2680-504: A secret destination. Based on information obtained earlier from Sonny's estranged wife, Hallie assumes that Sonny is taking Rising Star to Rim Rock Canyon, Utah. Hallie telephones her producer and requests a camera crew at Rim Rock. When she notices an army of police cars on the streets, she arranges for a truck driver to deliver the videotape to a television affiliate in St. George and returns to warn Sonny. She insists she must accompany Sonny, or
2814-464: A series of benefit concerts . The first two raised $ 700,000 for people who had suffered financial loss due to effects on the U.S. economy. The third, which was held on April 20, 2020, was a variety show titled Come and Toke It . Some of the content was cannabis -themed, and some of the proceeds will be used to support The Last Prisoner Project, a restorative justice program relating to persons convicted of cannabis related crimes. The same year, Nelson
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#17327918558162948-500: A short stint as a relief phone operator in Abbott, followed by a job as a tree trimmer for the local electric company, as well as a pawn shop employee. After leaving school in 1950, he joined the U.S. Air Force ; he served for eight months before being medically discharged because of issues with his back. Upon his return, he married Martha Matthews in 1952, and from 1954 to 1956 studied agriculture at Baylor University , where he joined
3082-512: A somewhat ragged (especially in later years), all-black outfit that inspired Cash's nickname, the "Man in Black". Kristofferson, in turn, brought in connections to the Chicago folk scene such as John Prine and Steve Goodman . Prine, in particular, became a close associate of Kristofferson's over the years. The outlaw movement's heyday was in the mid- to late 1970s; although the core artists of
3216-480: A song by Lee Clayton and sung by Waylon Jennings on the 1972 album of the same name . Another plausible explanation is the use of the term a year later by publicist Hazel Smith of Glaser Sound Studios to describe the music of Jennings and Tompall Glaser . Art critic Dave Hickey, who wrote a 1974 profile in Country Music magazine, also used the term to describe artists who opposed the commercial control of
3350-444: A songwriter in Nashville peaked in the late 1960s. As a songwriter, he had written a number of major pop-crossover hits, including " Crazy " for Patsy Cline and " Hello Walls " for Faron Young , but as a singer, he was getting nowhere. He left Nashville in 1971 to return to Texas. The musicians he met in Austin had been developing the folk and rock influenced country music that grew into the outlaw genre. Performing and associating with
3484-468: A total of $ 12.5 million. The musical score to The Electric Horseman was composed by Dave Grusin . In addition to co-starring, Willie Nelson contributed significantly to the film's soundtrack, singing five songs including " My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys ", " Midnight Rider ," " Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys ," "So You Think You're a Cowboy" and "Hands on the Wheel." Coinciding with
3618-643: A tribute concert to Ray Charles, which resulted in the Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles album, released in 2011. In 2010, Nelson released Country Music , a compilation of standards produced by T-Bone Burnett . The album peaked number four in Billboard ' s Top Country Albums, and twenty on the Billboard 200. It was nominated for Best Americana Album at the 2011 Grammy Awards . In 2011 Nelson participated in
3752-459: A variety of music styles to create his own distinctive blend of country music, a hybrid of jazz, pop, blues, rock and folk. His "unique sound", which uses a "relaxed, behind-the-beat singing style and gut-string guitar" and his "nasal voice and jazzy, off-center phrasing", has been responsible for his wide appeal, and has made him a "vital icon in country music", influencing the " new country , new traditionalist , and alternative country movements of
3886-600: Is a major liberal activist and the co-chair of the advisory board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), which is in favor of marijuana legalization. On the environmental front, Nelson owns the biodiesel brand Willie Nelson Biodiesel , whose product is made from vegetable oil. Nelson is also the honorary chairman of the advisory board of the Texas Music Project,
4020-444: Is characterized by a blend of rock and folk rhythms, country instrumentation, and introspective lyrics. The movement began as a reaction to the slick production and limiting structures of the Nashville sound developed by Chet Atkins and other record producers. Some country fans consider outlaw country a slightly harder-edged variant of progressive country . The outlaw sound has its roots in blues music , honky tonk music of
4154-530: Is curious why the company discourages interviews with Sonny. During rehearsals for a variety show at Caesars Palace, Sonny notices that Rising Star, the champion racehorse he will be riding on stage and the company’s new corporate symbol, has been drugged with tranquilizers. He barges into the sales reception and complains to AMPCO's chairman, Hunt Sears, that the stallion is being exploited, but Sears reminds Sonny about his contract and walks away. When Sonny arrives for his act, he mounts Rising Star and goes on stage in
Willie Nelson - Misplaced Pages Continue
4288-622: Is further expanded. Bowman called the brand "a culmination of (Nelson's) vision, and his whole life". In 2017, Nelson appeared as himself in Woody Harrelson 's live film, Lost in London . In June 2017, he appeared alongside Merle Haggard in the documentary The American Epic Sessions directed by Bernard MacMahon . They performed a song Haggard had composed for the film, "The Only Man Wilder Than Me", and Bob Wills 's classic "Old Fashioned Love", which they recorded live direct to disc on
4422-580: Is impressed by Sonny's knowledge of the outdoors and his integrity, and likewise, Sonny admires her street smarts and talents as a reporter. Meanwhile, the AMPCO executives notice that Sonny's newfound popularity has boosted cereal sales, and they begin to reverse their position. Getting closer to their destination, Sonny and Hallie spend the night at an old hunting cabin, but Hallie appears anxious. She confesses to Sonny that she ordered television cameras to meet them at Rim Rock, but now regrets her actions. Despite
4556-650: The American Revolutionary War , in which his ancestor John Nelson served as a major. His parents moved to Texas from Arkansas in 1929 to look for work. His grandfather, William, worked as a blacksmith, while his father worked as a mechanic. His mother left soon after he was born, and his father remarried and also moved away, leaving Nelson and his sister Bobbie to be raised by their grandparents, who taught singing back in Arkansas and started their grandchildren in music. Nelson's grandfather bought him
4690-538: The Armadillo World Headquarters . In 1973, after signing with Atlantic Records , Nelson turned to outlaw country, including albums such as Shotgun Willie and Phases and Stages . In 1975, he switched to Columbia Records, where he recorded the critically acclaimed album Red Headed Stranger . The same year, he recorded another outlaw country album, Wanted! The Outlaws , along with Waylon Jennings , Jessi Colter , and Tompall Glaser . During
4824-463: The Beatnik movement, from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s, was a precursor to outlaw country, as participants in both movements emphasized that they felt "out of place" in mainstream society. At the same time, country music was declining into a formulaic genre that appeared to offer the establishment what it wanted with artists such as Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton making the kind of music that
4958-483: The Billboard 200. In 2017, Nelson released God's Problem Child . The release, consisting mostly of Nelson originals co-written with Cannon, entered the Top country albums at number one, while it reached number ten on the Billboard 200. In 2018, Nelson sang a song written by Daniel Lanois called "Cruel World" for the soundtrack of Rockstar Games 's action-adventure video game Red Dead Redemption 2 . Lanois wrote
5092-476: The Cherokee Cowboys , his songs became hits for other artists, including " Funny How Time Slips Away " ( Billy Walker ), " Pretty Paper " ( Roy Orbison ), and, most famously, " Crazy " by Patsy Cline . Nelson and Cochran also met Cline's husband, Charlie Dick at Tootsie's. Dick liked a song of Nelson's he heard on the bar's jukebox. Nelson played him a demo tape of "Crazy". Later that night Dick played
5226-587: The Lincoln Center , was released as the live album Two Men with the Blues in 2008; reaching number one in Billboard ' s Top Jazz Albums and number twenty on the Billboard 200. The same year, Nelson recorded his first album with Buddy Cannon as the producer, Moment of Forever . Cannon acquainted Nelson earlier, during the production of his collaboration with Kenny Chesney on the duet " That Lucky Old Sun ", for Chesney's album Lucky Old Sun . In 2009 Nelson and Marsalis joined with Norah Jones in
5360-404: The Nashville establishment that dictated the sound of most country music of the era. Willie Nelson , Waylon Jennings , Merle Haggard , Johnny Cash , Kris Kristofferson , Johnny Paycheck , and David Allan Coe were among the movement's most commercially successful members. The music has its roots in earlier subgenres like Western , honky tonk , rockabilly , and progressive country , and
5494-500: The Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, until dropping out to pursue a career in music. He worked as a nightclub bouncer, autohouse partsman, saddle maker, and tree trimmer again. He later joined Johnny Bush 's band. Nelson moved with his family to Pleasanton, Texas , where he auditioned for a job as a DJ at KBOP . The owner of the station, Dr. Ben Parker, gave Nelson the job despite his lack of experience working on radio. With
Willie Nelson - Misplaced Pages Continue
5628-678: The U.S. Air Force but was later discharged due to back problems. After his return, Nelson attended Baylor University for two years but dropped out because he was succeeding in music. He worked as a disc jockey at radio stations in his native Texas, and at several radio stations in the Pacific Northwest , all the while working as a singer and songwriter throughout the late 1950s. During that time, he wrote songs that would become country standards, including " Funny How Time Slips Away ", " Hello Walls ", " Pretty Paper ", and " Crazy ". In 1960 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee , and later signed
5762-524: The United States Constitution by refusing to allow co-plaintiff Kucinich to appear on the primary ballot because he had scratched out part of the loyalty oath on his application. Outlaw country Outlaw country is a subgenre of American country music created by a small group of artists active in the 1970s and early 1980s, known collectively as the outlaw movement , who fought for and won their creative freedom outside of
5896-490: The Willie's Roadhouse show which aired on channel 56 of SiriusXM radio. The channel was a result of the merger of his two other channels The Roadhouse and Willie's Place . In November 2014, it was announced that Nelson would be the host of the television series Inside Arlyn , shot at Arlyn Studio in Austin, Texas. The thirteen-episode first season would feature artists being interviewed by Nelson and Dan Rather , followed by
6030-479: The 1940s and 1950s, rockabilly of the 1950s, and the evolving genre of rock and roll . Early outlaws were particularly influenced by predecessors like Bob Wills , Hank Williams , Elvis Presley , and Buddy Holly . A greater transition occurred after Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson were able to secure their own recording rights, and began the trend of bucking the " Nashville sound ". According to Michael Streissguth, author of Outlaw: Waylon, Willie, Kris, and
6164-476: The 1970s in favor of their home lives and other pursuits. Jennings had a hit song with " Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand " in 1978, which likewise attributed the decline to pressures from drug use. Some of the outlaws would have a slight career renaissance in the mid-1980s with the neotraditional country revival, which revived the older styles of both mainstream and "outlaw" country music of years past. The Tulsa sound out of Tulsa, Oklahoma
6298-603: The 1980s and 1990s". In 1969, the Baldwin company gave Nelson an amplifier and guitar with their "Prismatone" pickup . During a show in Helotes, Texas , Nelson left the guitar on the floor of the stage, and it was later stepped on by a drunk man. He sent it to be repaired in Nashville by Shot Jackson , who told Nelson that the damage was too great. Jackson offered him a Martin N-20 classical guitar , and, at Nelson's request, moved
6432-687: The B-side. The recording failed. Nelson continued working as a radio announcer and singing in Vancouver clubs. He made several appearances in a Colorado nightclub, later moving to Springfield, Missouri . After failing to land a spot on the Ozark Jubilee , he started to work as a dishwasher. Unhappy with his job, he moved back to Texas. After a short time in Waco , he settled in Fort Worth, and quit
6566-643: The Condor (1975). This director-actor relationship would continue with two more films: Out of Africa (1985) and Havana (1990). Pollack had also previously directed Fonda in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), whereas Redford and Fonda previously teamed on The Chase (1966) and Barefoot in the Park (1967). The Electric Horseman is noted as being the debut acting performance of long-time country and western singer Willie Nelson , who plays
6700-477: The Flatlanders , a group that never sold huge numbers of albums, but continues to perform. The three founders have each made a significant contribution to the development of the outlaw genre. The Lost Gonzo Band and their work in conjunction with Jerry Jeff Walker and Michael Murphey were integral in the birth of Outlaw Country. Other Texans, like Townes Van Zandt , Steve Earle , and Guy Clark , developed
6834-518: The Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008. Meanwhile, two collaborations with Waylon Jennings were released: WWII in 1982, and Take it to the Limit in 1983. In the mid-1980s, Nelson, Jennings, Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash formed The Highwaymen , a supergroup who achieved platinum record sales and toured the world. Meanwhile, Nelson became more involved with charity work, such as singing on We are
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#17327918558166968-451: The Hill ; The Colbert Report ; Swing Vote ; and Space Ghost Coast to Coast . In 1988 his first book, Willie: An Autobiography , was published. The Facts of Life: And Other Dirty Jokes , a personal recollection of tour and musical stories from his career, combined with song lyrics, followed in 2002. In 2005 he co-authored Farm Aid: A Song for America , a commemorative book about
7102-598: The IRS, Nelson was worried that Trigger could be auctioned off, stating: "When Trigger goes, I'll quit". He asked his daughter, Lana, to take the guitar from the studio before any IRS agent arrived there, and then deliver it to him in Maui . Nelson then concealed the guitar in his manager's house until his debt was paid off in 1993. Nelson is vocal supporter of a number of causes. Along with Neil Young and John Mellencamp , he set up Farm Aid in 1985 to assist and increase awareness of
7236-713: The January 2008 issue of High Times magazine. After his arrest for possession of marijuana in 2010, Nelson created the TeaPot party under the motto "Tax it, regulate it and legalize it!" In 2001, following the September 11 attacks , Nelson participated in the benefit telethon America: A Tribute to Heroes , leading the rest of the celebrities singing the song " America the Beautiful ". In 2010, during an interview with Larry King , Nelson expressed his doubts with regards to
7370-811: The Legacy Recordings was Heroes , that included guest appearances by his sons Lukas and Micah of the band Insects vs Robots , Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Snoop Dogg , Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson , Billy Joe Shaver and Sheryl Crow . The album reached number four on Billboard ' s Top Country Albums . His 2013 release To All the Girls... , a collection of duets with all female partners, featured among others Dolly Parton , Loretta Lynn , Rosanne Cash , Sheryl Crow, Mavis Staples , Norah Jones, Emmylou Harris , Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert . The album entered Billboard ' s Top Country Albums at number two, marking his highest position on
7504-494: The Maytals on the song "I'm a Worried Man". Nelson headlined the 2005 Tsunami Relief Austin to Asia concert to benefit the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake , which raised an estimated $ 75,000 for UNICEF. Also in 2005, a live performance of the Johnny Cash song " Busted " with Ray Charles was released on Charles' duets album Genius & Friends . Nelson's 2007 performance with jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis at
7638-565: The Nashville recording industry. In 1976, the outlaw movement solidified the term with the release of Wanted! The Outlaws , a compilation album featuring songs sung by Waylon Jennings , Willie Nelson , Jessi Colter , and Tompall Glaser . Wanted! The Outlaws became the first country album to be platinum-certified, reaching sales of one million. As Southern rock flourished, veteran country artists incorporated rock into their music in this genre. Songwriters/guitarists such as Willie Nelson , Waylon Jennings , and Hank Williams, Jr. shed
7772-481: The Nevada desert, Sonny borrows a camper van from his friend Gus Atwater and drives to Utah with Rising Star. Along the way, he begins to detoxify the stallion and treat the animal's swollen tendon. Back at the casino, Hallie investigates Sonny's whereabouts. She tracks down Gus and cajoles him into revealing Sonny's location. Sonny is angry when Hallie finds his campsite, so he refuses to answer questions about why he took
7906-539: The Presidents of the United States of America , and Jello Biafra , among others. Proceeds from the sale of the record went to Nelson's Farm Aid. During the 1990s and 2000s, Nelson toured continuously, recording several albums including 1998's critically acclaimed Teatro , and performed and recorded with other acts including Phish , Johnny Cash, and Toby Keith . His duet with Keith, " Beer for My Horses ",
8040-612: The Renegades of Nashville , Jennings and Nelson became outlaws when they "won the right" to record with the producers and studio musicians they preferred. The 1960s was a decade of enormous change, a change reflected in the music of the time. The Beatles , Brian Wilson , Bob Dylan , The Rolling Stones , and many who followed in their wake cast off the traditional role of the recording artist. They wrote their own material, had creative input in their albums, and refused to conform to what society required of its youth. One author states that
8174-582: The Time ", and " Uncloudy Day ". During the 1980s, Nelson recorded a series of hit singles including " Midnight Rider ", a 1980 cover of the Allman Brothers song which Nelson recorded for The Electric Horseman , the soundtrack " On the Road Again " from the movie Honeysuckle Rose , and a duet with Julio Iglesias titled " To All the Girls I've Loved Before ". In 1982, Pancho & Lefty ,
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#17327918558168308-593: The Top 25 in a consistent manner. "One in a Row" (#19, 1966), "The Party's Over" (#24 during a 16-week chart run in 1967), and his cover of Morecambe & Wise 's "Bring Me Sunshine" (#13, March 1969) were Nelson's best-selling records during his time with RCA. By 1970, most of Nelson's songwriting royalties were invested in tours that did not produce significant profits. In addition to the problems in his career, Nelson divorced Shirley Collie in 1970. In December, his ranch in Ridgetop, Tennessee, burned down. He interpreted
8442-678: The White House, where, according to the biography by Joe Nick Patoski, Willie Nelson: An Epic Life , he smoked marijuana on the White House roof. In 1996, Nelson re-recorded the tracks " Hello Walls " with the band the Reverend Horton Heat , and " Bloody Mary Morning " with the Supersuckers , for Twisted Willie , a tribute album featuring rock versions of Nelson's songs performed by artists such as Johnny Cash , Kris Kristofferson , Jerry Cantrell , Mark Lanegan , L7 ,
8576-595: The World in 1984. In 1985, Nelson had another success with Half Nelson , a compilation album of duets with a range of artists such as Ray Charles and Neil Young . In 1980, Nelson performed on the south lawn of the White House . The concert of September 13 featured First Lady Rosalynn Carter and Nelson in a duet of Ray Wylie Hubbard 's "Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother". Nelson frequently visited
8710-521: The album Always on My Mind . The single topped Billboard ' s Hot Country Singles, while it reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The release won three awards during the 25th Annual Grammy Awards : Song of the Year , Best Country Song and Best Male Country Vocal Performance . The single was certified platinum, while the album was certified quadruple-platinum and later inducted into
8844-549: The animal which would become the movement's unofficial mascot, before it was termed "outlaw country". The origin of the outlaw label is debated. According to Jason Mellard, author of Progressive Country: How the 1970s Transformed the Texan in Popular Culture , the term "seems to have sedimented over time rather than exploding in the national consciousness all at once". The term is often attributed to "Ladies Love Outlaws",
8978-412: The annual concerts, Nelson is the president of the board of Farm Aid. Nelson is a co-chair of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) advisory board. He has worked with NORML for years, promoting marijuana legalization. In 2005 Nelson and his family hosted the first annual "Willie Nelson & NORML Benefit Golf Tournament", leading to a cover appearance and inside interview in
9112-469: The attacks and the official story. Nelson explained that he could not believe that the buildings could collapse due to the planes, attributing instead the result to an implosion. Nelson supported Dennis Kucinich 's campaign in the 2004 Democratic presidential primaries . He raised money, appeared at events, and composed the song "Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth?", criticizing the war in Iraq . He recorded
9246-420: The authorities will force her to reveal all she knows. After arriving in town, Sonny orders Hallie to drive the camper to a lake near Cisco Falls, while he distracts the police and gallops away on Rising Star. Using his rodeo skills and the horse's speed, Sonny evades the police and by nightfall, meets Hallie at the lake. Meanwhile, the videotape of Sonny is broadcast on television, and the public perceives him as
9380-690: The behest of Chet Atkins , signing a contract for $ 10,000 per year. Country Willie – His Own Songs became Nelson's first RCA Victor album, recorded in April 1965. That same year he joined the Grand Ole Opry , and he met and became friends with Waylon Jennings after watching one of his shows in Phoenix, Arizona . In 1967, he formed his backing band "The Record Men", featuring Johnny Bush, Jimmy Day , Paul English and David Zettner. During his first few years on RCA Victor, Nelson had no significant hits, but from November 1966 through March 1969, his singles reached
9514-593: The big "machine" of the Nashville establishment, which "codified" norms of sounds, styles, and even appearance and behavior through influential "tastemaker" shows such as Grand Ole Opry . The Grand Ole Opry, which was "staunchly conservative", used its influence over Nashville's Music Row to control who could play and what types of songs they could perform. Jennings described his experience in that city's recording industry as like working on an assembly line , in which records were produced like "clockwork". In 1973 Jennings produced Lonesome, On'ry and Mean . The theme song
9648-479: The book was designed by Nelson's son, Micah, and the foreword written by Kinky Friedman. In 2015, the publication of a second Nelson autobiography entitled It's a Long Story: My Life co-authored with David Ritz , the book was published on May 5, 2015. Pretty Paper , another collaboration with Ritz was published the following year. In 2002, Nelson became the official spokesman of the Texas Roadhouse ,
9782-550: The chart since the release of his 1989 A Horse Called Music , and extending his record to a total of forty-six top ten albums on the country charts. Nelson scored as well his second top ten album on the Billboard 200 , with the release entering at number nine. Nelson’s following release was Band of Brothers , in 2014, the first Nelson album to feature the most newly self-penned songs since 1996's Spirit . Upon its release, it topped Billboard ' s Top Country albums chart,
9916-480: The concert Kokua For Japan , a fund raising event for the victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan which raised $ 1.6 million. In February 2012, Legacy Recordings signed a deal with Nelson that included the release of new material, as well as past releases that would be selected and complemented with outtakes and other material selected by him. With the new deal, Buddy Cannon returned to produce
10050-479: The concerts have been held annually ever since and Nelson has been a fixture, appearing at every one. In 1990, Nelson's assets were seized by the Internal Revenue Service , which claimed that he owed $ 32 million. The difficulty of paying his outstanding debt was aggravated by weak investments he had made during the 1980s. In 1992, Nelson released The IRS Tapes: Who'll Buy My Memories? ;
10184-479: The cowboy have been dropped while the whereabouts of Rising Star are still unknown. Casting for The Electric Horseman either continued or led to many reoccurring collaborations between cast and crew members. On November 28, 1978, Robert Redford was announced to star in the film, becoming the fifth film in which Sydney Pollack directed Redford following This Property Is Condemned (1966), Jeremiah Johnson (1972), The Way We Were (1973) and Three Days of
10318-596: The equipment of the station, Nelson made his first two recordings in 1955: " The Storm Has Just Begun " and "When I've Sung My Last Hillbilly Song". He recorded the tracks on used tapes, and sent the demos to the local label SARG Records, which rejected them. He then had stints working for KDNT in Denton , KCUL , and KCNC in Fort Worth , where he hosted The Western Express , taught Sunday school, and played in nightclubs. He then decided to move to San Diego but, when he
10452-452: The failure of his albums, and particularly frustrated by the reception of Yesterday's Wine , although his contract was not over, Nelson decided to retire from music. Nelson moved to Austin, Texas , where the burgeoning hippie music scene (see Armadillo World Headquarters ) rejuvenated the singer. His popularity in Austin soared as he played his own brand of country music marked by country, folk and jazz influences. In March, he performed on
10586-421: The film three stars, highlighted what he detected to be genuine chemistry between Redford and Fonda. He also lauded the movie's "outstanding secondary cast," including Saxon, Coster and Nelson. Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars and called it "the kind of movie they used to make. It's an oddball love story about a guy and a girl and a prize racehorse, and it has a chase scene and some smooching and
10720-490: The film was co-produced by Columbia Pictures and Universal Pictures , and distributed by Columbia domestically and Universal internationally, the US film rights would later revert to Universal. It has since been released on CED ( Capacitance Electronic Disc ) Videodiscs, VHS , Betamax, LaserDisc , DVD and Blu-ray by Universal Studios , although current home video releases have replaced "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" with
10854-400: The film's release, a soundtrack album was released featuring both Nelson's songs and Grusin's score. The Electric Horseman was released theatrically in the United States on December 21, 1979. Even with the budget escalating to $ 12.5 million, the film was a box office success, becoming the eleventh highest grossing film of 1979 after grossing a domestic total of nearly $ 62 million. While
10988-568: The final day of the Dripping Springs Reunion , a three-day country music festival aimed by its producers to be an annual event. Despite the failure to reach the expected attendance, the concept of the festival inspired Nelson to create the Fourth of July Picnic , his own annual event, starting the following year. Nelson decided to return to the recording business; he signed Neil Reshen as his manager to negotiate with RCA, who got
11122-412: The first electrical sound recording system from the 1920s. It was the last filmed performance of the pair. Rolling Stone commented that "in the final performance of Sessions, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard perform the duet 'The Only Man Wilder Than Me.' Haggard has a look of complete joy on his face throughout the session in the old-timey recording setup once used by his musical heroes." Nelson uses
11256-473: The first time since 1986's The Promiseland , the last Nelson album to top it. The release reached number five on the Billboard 200, Nelson's highest position on the chart since 1982's Always on My Mind . In December 2014, a duet with Rhonda Vincent , "Only Me", topped Bluegrass Unlimited 's National Airplay chart. In June 2015, his collaboration with Haggard Django and Jimmie topped Billboard ' s Top Country albums chart and reached number seven on
11390-399: The formation of The Highwaymen ; the four would record and perform as a supergroup in addition to their solo careers through the late 1990s. Cash had also been on good terms with several folk counterculture figures, a fact that irked Nashville and television executives (Cash hosted a variety show from 1969 to 1971). Like the other outlaw singers, he eschewed the polished Nashville look with
11524-683: The formulaic Nashville sound, grew long hair, and replaced rhinestone-studded suits with leather jackets. Outlaw country artists spoke openly about smoking marijuana. Fiercely independent, the "outlaws" abandoned lush orchestrations, stripped the music to its country core, and added a rock sensibility to the sound. At the same time, outlaw country performers brought back older styles that had fallen into disuse, such as honky tonk songs and "cowboy ballads". As well, Nelson and Jennings incorporated more R&B and soul music into their country music by working with Memphis and Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section musicians. The outlaw country artists aimed to resist
11658-413: The horse's best interests at heart. He telephones Hallie and says that if she can leave Las Vegas without being followed, he will give her a story. Arriving in a remote canyon with video equipment, Hallie records Sonny on camera as he reveals that the champion racehorse was pumped with drugs but has earned a better life. Following the interview, Sonny discloses to Hallie that he will turn Rising Star loose at
11792-457: The horse. Before continuing on his way, he punctures the tires of her car. Unable to trail Sonny, Hallie returns to Las Vegas and reports on television that she found the rebel cowboy and the kidnapped horse, but keeps the location confidential, which frustrates AMPCO executives. Driving into St. George, Utah, Sonny hears on the radio that a massive search is underway for Rising Star and that AMPCO accuses him of being an alcoholic who might not have
11926-469: The importance of family farms, after Bob Dylan 's comments during the Live Aid concert that he hoped some of the money would help American farmers in danger of losing their farms through mortgage debt. The first concert included Dylan, Billy Joel , B.B. King , Roy Orbison , and Neil Young among many others, and raised over $ 9 million for America's family farmers. Besides organizing and performing in
12060-508: The incident as a signal for a change. He moved to a ranch near Bandera, Texas , and married Connie Koepke. In early 1971 his single "I'm a Memory" reached the top 30. After he recorded his final RCA single, "Mountain Dew" (backed with "Phases, Stages, Circles, Cycles and Scenes"), in late April 1972, RCA requested that Nelson renew his contract ahead of schedule, with the implication that RCA would not release his latest recordings if he did not. Due to
12194-572: The label to agree to end his contract upon repayment of $ 14,000. Reshen eventually signed Nelson to Atlantic Records for $ 25,000 per year, where he became the label's first country artist. He formed his backing band, The Family , and, by February 1973, he was recording his acclaimed Shotgun Willie at Atlantic Studios in New York City. Shotgun Willie , released in May 1973, earned excellent reviews but did not sell well. The album led Nelson to
12328-690: The lead role in the 1986 film version of his album Red Headed Stranger . Other movies that Nelson acted in include Wag the Dog , Gone Fishin' (as Billy 'Catch' Pooler), the 1986 television movie Stagecoach (with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson), Half Baked , Beerfest , The Dukes of Hazzard , Surfer, Dude and Swing Vote . He has also made guest appearances on Miami Vice (1986's "El Viejo" episode); Delta ; Nash Bridges ; The Simpsons ; Monk ; Adventures in Wonderland ; Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman ; King of
12462-477: The likes of Jerry Jeff Walker , Michael Martin Murphey , and Billy Joe Shaver helped shape his future career. Williams Jr. had long spent much of his early career in the shadow of his father Hank Williams Sr. , who died when Williams Jr. was three years old. In 1975, Williams was severely injured in an avalanche while mountain climbing, disfiguring him to the point where he no longer resembled his father; he grew
12596-606: The longest location cause I have time to write the scene by the time we get there.' And that's literally true. There were yellow pads all over the place; we're writing out to work in the morning." — Sydney Pollack , describing script troubles. Principal photography for The Electric Horseman took place during late 1978 and early 1979 throughout Nevada and Utah . While the film was prominently shot on location in Las Vegas and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area , additional filming took place in various locations across
12730-409: The mid-1980s, while creating hit albums like Honeysuckle Rose and recording hit songs like " On the Road Again ", " To All the Girls I've Loved Before ", and " Pancho and Lefty ", he joined the country supergroup The Highwaymen , along with fellow singers Johnny Cash , Waylon Jennings , and Kris Kristofferson . In 1985, he helped organize the first Farm Aid concert to benefit American farmers;
12864-405: The middle of a disco musical number, then rides the horse out of the casino and out of town. AMPCO executives are desperate to locate Sonny before the press does, worried that the cowboy might raise concerns about the company's treatment of the horse, which could jeopardize an upcoming $ 300 million merger. At a press conference, they announce that Sonny is facing grand larceny charges. Meanwhile, in
12998-500: The most recognized artists in country music. Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana . Nelson wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band at ten. During high school, he toured locally with the Bohemian Polka as their lead singer and guitar player. After graduating from high school in 1950, he joined
13132-420: The movement continued to record for many years afterward (Nelson, in particular, was recording hits well into the following decade while Hank Williams, Jr. achieved his greatest success during the 1980s), the outlaw movement as a fad was already declining by 1978. By 1980 mainstream country music was practically dominated by country pop artists and crossover acts. The movement was furthermore falling victim to
13266-573: The music business for a year. He sold Bibles and vacuum cleaners door-to-door, and eventually became a sales manager for the Encyclopedia Americana . After his son Billy was born in 1958, the family moved to Houston , Texas. On the way, Nelson stopped by the Esquire Ballroom to sell his original songs to house band singer Larry Butler . Butler refused to purchase the song " Mr. Record Man " for $ 10, instead giving Nelson
13400-401: The national spokesman for Ranch breakfast cereal and he tours the country in a jeweled cowboy costume, braided with flashing lights. His manager, Wendell, and assistant, Leroy, struggle to keep Sonny sober, and AMPCO Industries, who hired Sonny, is increasingly disappointed in his performance. In Las Vegas Hallie Martin, a television newscaster from New York, arrives for an AMPCO media event and
13534-509: The official music charity of the state of Texas. Nelson was born in Abbott, Texas , on April 29, 1933, the son of Ira Doyle Nelson and Myrle Marie ( née Greenhaw). His birthday was incorrectly recorded by Dr. F. D. Sims as April 30. He was named Willie by his cousin Mildred, who also chose Hugh as his middle name, in honor of her recently deceased younger brother. Nelson traces his genealogy to
13668-496: The outlaw ethos through their songwriting and ways of living. Although Johnny Cash spent most of his time in Arkansas and Tennessee, he experienced a revival of his career with the outlaw movement, especially after his live albums At Folsom Prison and At San Quentin , both of which were recorded in prisons. Cash had working relationships with Nelson, Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson (who considered Cash one of his most influential mentors) in his later career, culminating in
13802-488: The pair's outlaw image and became country music's first platinum album . Later that year Nelson released The Sound in Your Mind (certified gold in 1978 and platinum in 2001) and his first gospel album Troublemaker (certified gold in 1986). In the summer of 1977, Nelson discovered that Reshen had been filing tax extensions and not paying the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) since he took over as his manager. In June,
13936-571: The pickup to the Martin. Nelson purchased the guitar unseen for $ 750 and named it after Roy Rogers ' horse "Trigger" . The next year Nelson rescued the guitar from his burning ranch. Constant strumming with a guitar pick over the decades has worn a large sweeping hole into the guitar's body near the sound hole—the N-20 has no pickguard since classical guitars are meant to be played fingerstyle instead of with picks. Its soundboard has been signed by over
14070-412: The pilot episode of PBS ' Austin City Limits . Nelson then moved to Columbia Records , where he signed a contract that gave him complete creative control, made possible by the critical and commercial success of his previous albums. The result was the critically acclaimed and massively popular 1975 concept album Red Headed Stranger . Although Columbia was reluctant to release an album with primarily
14204-401: The possibility that police might be there, Sonny will not change his plans. The following day, Sonny stops in a valley and announces that they have arrived, but Hallie is confused because she does not see the camera crew. Sonny explains that this location, where he always intended to set Rising Star free, is Silver Reef, not Rim Rock. Relieved, Hallie kisses Rising Star goodbye, and Sonny releases
14338-499: The profits of the double album—destined to the IRS—and the auction of Nelson's assets cleared his debt. During the 1990s and 2000s, Nelson continued touring extensively and released albums every year. Reviews ranged from positive to mixed. He explored genres such as reggae, blues, jazz, and folk. Nelson made his first movie appearance in the 1979 film The Electric Horseman , followed by other appearances in movies and on television. Nelson
14472-428: The recordings of Nelson. After selecting the material and the sound of the tunes with the singer, Cannon's work method consisted in the recording of the tracks with studio musicians, with the takes later completed on a separate session by Nelson with his guitar. Cannon's association to Nelson also extended to songwriting, with singer and producer composing the lyrics by exchanging text messages. Nelson's first release for
14606-524: The release of a five-part documentary entitled Willie Nelson and Family released at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival . In 2023, Nelson performed at two concerts at the Hollywood Bowl celebrating his 90th birthday and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . In 2024, Nelson was featured in the "Smoke Hour ★ Willie Nelson" and "Smoke Hour II" interludes of Beyoncé 's Cowboy Carter album,
14740-558: The role of Wendell Hickson. According to Pollack, Nelson improvised most of his dialogue in the film. Pollack would later be executive producer for Nelson's 1980 starring vehicle Honeysuckle Rose . The film was also only the second film performance of character actor Wilford Brimley , who would later team with Redford in The Natural (1984). "For Electric Horseman , I literally ended up writing half of every night before we would shoot. We make jokes now about my saying, 'Let's pick
14874-422: The same pigeonholing and commercialization as mainstream country music; Mickey Newbury , a prominent influence on many outlaw artists, rejected the "outlaw" label, stating "I quit playing cowboys when I grew up." Williams also noted in his song " All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down) " that many of the core "outlaws" were growing up and abandoning the drugs and hard partying that had driven much of their lives in
15008-723: The second album in her trilogy project . With the death of Kris Kristofferson in September 2024, Nelson became the last surviving member of The Highwaymen . Nelson's acting debut was in the 1979 film The Electric Horseman , followed by appearances in Honeysuckle Rose , Thief , and Barbarosa . He played the role of Red Loon in Coming Out of the Ice in 1982 and starred in Songwriter two years later. He portrayed
15142-472: The song especially for Nelson. When a hurricane prevented Nelson from recording the song, the production team sent the track to Josh Homme in the hopes that he could record it in time for the game's release. Nelson was ultimately able to record the song in time in Los Angeles; the team considered combining the two versions into a duet, but ultimately included both versions in the game. Also in 2018, Nelson
15276-422: The stallion to join a herd of wild horses. Meanwhile, AMPCO executives wait at Rim Rock with television reporters and a welcoming banner before realizing that they have been tricked. At a café in St. George, Hallie and Sonny enjoy a meal together, kiss goodbye and go their separate ways. Later, from the television studio in New York City, Hallie reports on her journey with Sonny and mentions that all charges against
15410-520: The state of Utah , including Grafton , St. George , and Zion National Park . While filming generally went smoothly, Pollack struggled with revising the script while filming was underway. In addition, there was one particular day in which production was continuously delayed due to traveling thunderstorms that interrupted the 20-second kissing scene between Redford and Fonda. Ultimately, the scene ended up requiring 48 takes that pushed costs to $ 280,000. The film went over budget by $ 1.3 million, spending
15544-813: The tape for Cline, who decided to record it. "Crazy" became the biggest jukebox hit of all time. Nelson signed with Liberty Records and was recording by August 1961 at the Bradley Studios in Nashville. His first two successful singles as an artist were released by the next year, including " Willingly " (a duet with his soon-to-be second wife, Shirley Collie , which became his first charting single and first Top Ten at No. 10) and " Touch Me " (his second Top Ten, stalling at No. 7). Nelson's tenure at Liberty yielded his first album entitled ...And Then I Wrote , released in September 1962. In 1963 Collie and Nelson were married in Las Vegas . He then worked on
15678-542: The time, the government of the United States offered a one dollar tax credit to producers of biodiesel. As the competition grew, the tax credit was discontinued while the prices of fossil fuels continued to drop. Nelson and his partners defaulted the $ 4,75 million loan they took for the construction of Willie's Place. Nelson then paid $ 35,000 back, while a judge later rejected the request of his creditors to receive more money from him. TravelCenters of America bought Willie's Place during its foreclosure in 2011. The BioWillie plant
15812-640: The twentieth anniversary of the foundation of Farm Aid. His third book, co-authored with long-time friend Turk Pipkin , The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart , was published in 2006. In 2007 a book advocating the use of bio-diesel and the reduction of gas emissions, On The Clean Road Again: Biodiesel and The Future of the Family Farm , was published. His next book, A Tale Out of Luck , published in 2008 and co-authored by Mike Blakely,
15946-513: The west coast offices of Pamper Records, in Pico Rivera, California . Since the job did not allow him the time to play music of his own, he left it and bought a ranch in Ridgetop, Tennessee , outside of Nashville. Fred Foster of Monument Records signed Nelson in early 1964, but only one single was released: "I Never Cared For You". By the fall of 1964, Nelson had moved to RCA Victor at
16080-468: Was Nelson's first fictional book. In 2012, it was announced the release of a new autobiography by Nelson, Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die: Musings from the Road . Released on November 13, it was named after the song from his album Heroes . The book contained further biographical details, as well as family pictures and stories about Nelson's political views, as well as his marijuana advocacy. The artwork of
16214-462: Was a collaboration with Jennings that included " Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys ", a hit single written and performed by Ed Bruce . Though observers predicted that Stardust would ruin his career, it went platinum the same year. Nelson continued to top the charts with hit songs during the late 1970s, including " Good Hearted Woman ", "Remember Me", " If You've Got the Money I've Got
16348-580: Was a halfback on the football team, guard on the basketball team, and shortstop in baseball . He also raised pigs with the Future Farmers of America . While still at school, he sang and played guitar in The Texans, a band formed by his sister's husband, Bud Fletcher. The band played in honky-tonks , and also had a Sunday morning spot at KHBR in Hillsboro, Texas . Meanwhile, Nelson had
16482-456: Was aired first on those stations, later being released nationwide. The positive reception of the show prompted PBS to order ten episodes for 1976, formally launching the show. As Jennings was also achieving success in country music in the early 1970s, the pair were combined into a genre called outlaw country , since it did not conform to Nashville standards. The album Wanted! The Outlaws in 1976 with Jessi Colter and Tompall Glaser cemented
16616-463: Was also nominated for an Academy Award in 1980 for Best Sound ( Arthur Piantadosi , Les Fresholtz , Michael Minkler and Al Overton Jr. ). Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune called the film "a nicely polished piece of entertainment from director Sydney Pollack, who regularly works with the biggest of stars and rarely lets his camera get in the way of those stars." Siskel, who gave
16750-602: Was anathema to the growing counterculture. While Nashville continued to be the focus of mainstream country music, cities like Lubbock and Austin became the creative centers of outlaw country. Southern rock also had a strong influence on the outlaw country movement, and that sound and style of recording was centered in Muscle Shoals, Alabama . In the Western United States, the Bakersfield sound
16884-419: Was approached by Karen O of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs to collaborate. They chose to perform David Bowie and Queen 's Under Pressure . For his releases of The Willie Nelson Family (2021) and A Beautiful Time (2022), Nelson received four nominations for the 65th Annual Grammy Awards winning in two categories: Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Album. In December 2022, Mark Rothbaum announced
17018-485: Was closely related to outlaw country; " Tulsa Time " became a hit for Don Williams in 1978, and for Eric Clapton (who, though English, was closely associated with the Tulsa sound in the late 1970s and early 1980s ) in 1980. The Tulsa sound, in turn, influenced Red Dirt , a genre that arose out of Stillwater, Oklahoma . The Electric Horseman Rodeo champion Sonny Steele has traded competition for advertising as
17152-439: Was founded by Carl Cornelius, a longtime Nelson friend and the eponym for Carl's Corner). In 2005, Nelson and several other business partners formed Willie Nelson Biodiesel ("Bio-Willie"), a company that was marketing bio-diesel bio-fuel to truck stops. The fuel was made from vegetable oil (mainly soybean oil), and can be burned without modification in diesel engines . Nelson registered his company with Earth Biofuels and he became
17286-606: Was one of several artists on Restoration , a cover album containing various country renditions of songs originally by Elton John , on which he performed " Border Song ". His 2019 release Ride Me Back Home charted at number two on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. For the title-track, Nelson received the Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance . Following the U.S. coronavirus pandemic lockdowns that began in March 2020, Nelson livestreamed
17420-624: Was providing a counterpoint to the traditional Nashville sound, and the counterculture was also giving rise to the fusion genre of country rock , with groups such as the Flying Burrito Brothers and The First National Band (whose lead singer Michael Nesmith had similar creative rebellion against the West Coast music establishment dating to his time with The Monkees ). The movement was named, at various points, "redneck rock", progressive country, or "armadillo country", after
17554-519: Was released as a single and topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts for six consecutive weeks in 2003, while the accompanying video won an award for "Best Video" at the 2004 Academy of Country Music Awards. A USA Network television special celebrated Nelson's 70th birthday, and Nelson released The Essential Willie Nelson as part of the celebration. Nelson also appeared on Ringo Starr 's 2003 album, Ringo Rama , as
17688-531: Was then put on the market for sale. Nelson kept the trademark for BioWillie, which is sold in the islands of Maui and Hawaii. Meanwhile, Nelson owns shares of Big Island Biodiesel in Hawaii and SeQuential-Pacific Biodiesel in Oregon. In 2010, Nelson founded with the collaboration of producers and filmmakers Luck Films , a company dedicated to produce feature films, documentaries and concerts. The next year, he created
17822-558: Was unable to find a job there, he hitchhiked to Portland, Oregon , where his mother lived. When nobody picked him up, he ended up sleeping in a ditch before hopping a freight train bound for Eugene . A truck driver drove him to a bus station and loaned him $ 10 for a ticket to reach Portland . Nelson was hired by KVAN in Vancouver, Washington , and appeared frequently on a television show. He made his first record in 1956, " No Place for Me ", that included Leon Payne 's "Lumberjack" on
17956-433: Was written by Steve Young , a songwriter and performer who never made it in the mainstream, but whose songs helped to create the outlaw style. The follow-up album for Jennings was Honky Tonk Heroes and the songwriter hero was Texan Billy Joe Shaver . Like Steve Young, Shaver never made it big, but his 1973 album Old Five and Dimers Like Me is considered a country classic in the outlaw genre. Willie Nelson's career as
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