Willie Nelson

Willie Hugh Nelson, born on April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas, is an American country singer, songwriter and actor. With his complex and iconic voice, he is known as one of the most influential  and most popular  country music singers of the late 20th century.

Willie Nelson – childhood & early life

Willie Nelson was born on April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas, to parents Myrle and Ira D. Nelson. When he was only six months old, his parents divorced, and instead, he and his older sister, Bobbie, were raised by their paternal grandparents in the middle of the Great Depression. His grandparents, called Mama and Daddy Nelson, introduced Willie to music, and as faith was a big part of their upbringing, gospel became important.

Both Willie and Bobbie began singing in a gospel choir, and as he received his first guitar at the age of six, he began writing his own songs and compositions. One of his earliest songs Family Bible, was a nod to religious music, and Willie sold it to a guitar teacher and friend named Paul Buskirk for $50 In 1959.

Was Willie Nelson in the military?

Yes. After graduating from high school in 1950, he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in Lackland, San Antonio. However, his military career was short-lived due to back problems. Although the Korean War was raging, Nelson wasn’t sent there because of his back problems and was discharged nine months into his service.

First job in music

Willie Nelson enrolled in a farming program at Baylor University and made a living selling encyclopedias door to door. Music was still his passion, and he began working as a disc jockey for several radio stations. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, the country music capital of the world,

In 1960 he began working as a songwriter for Pamper Music. He had some success and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1964.

Becoming a country legend

Nelson moved back to Texas after a decade in Tennessee, and success came fast. He decided to change his appearance, growing out his hair and beginning to wear denim and bandannas, which attracted a younger audience. In the 1970s, Willie Nelsson released three albums, which cemented his place in music history.

Shotgun Willie (1973), Red Headed Stranger (1975), and Stardust (1978) were all critically acclaimed, and the outlaw country artist became a country hero. In 1982, he became even a bigger star with the album Always on My Mind. In 1980, Willie Nelson got his perhaps biggest hit of his career with the song On the Road Again, which was written for the film Honeysuckle Rose's soundtrack.

How many total albums does Willie Nelson have?

Willie Nelson – wife, marriages, divorces

How many children does Willie Nelson have?