Willie Nelson: American country musician (born 1933)

Willie Nelson
Nelson performing in 2006
Background information
Birth name	Willie Hugh Nelson
Also known as	Red Headed Stranger
Born	(1933-04-29) April 29, 1933 (age 90) Abbott, Texas, United States
Genres	Country, progressive country, country rock, outlaw country, alternative country, vocal pop
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, producer, actor, activist
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1956–present
Labels	Liberty, RCA, Atlantic, Columbia, Island, Justice Records, Lost Highway Legacy Recordings
Website	www.willienelson.com
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1950–1952

In 1961, a song that he wrote was recorded by Faron Young, and became a number one song on Billboard's Hot Country Songs music chart. In 1975, he had his first number one song, as a singer, on Billboard's Hot Country Songs music chart.

Willie Nelson was born in Abbott, Texas on April 29, 1933, during the Great Depression to Myrle Marie (née Greenhaw) and Ira Doyle Nelson. He was born on April 29, 1933, but his birth was recorded by doctor F. D. Sims on 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's ancestry includes English, Irish, and Cherokee. His parents moved from Arkansas in 1929, to look for work. Nelson's 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 Willie and his sister Bobbie to be raised by their grandparents. The Nelsons, who taught singing back in Arkansas, started their grandchildren in music. Nelson's grandfather bought him a guitar when he was six, and taught him a few chords, and with his sister Bobbie, he sang gospel songs in the local church. He wrote his first song at age seven, and when he was nine, played guitar for the local band Bohemian Polka. During the summer, the family picked cotton along with other citizens of Abbott. Nelson didn't like picking cotton, so he earned money by singing in dance halls, taverns, and honky tonks from age thirteen, and continuing through high school. Nelson's musical influences were Hank Williams, Bob Wills, Lefty Frizzell, Ray Price, Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, Django Reinhardt, Frank Sinatra, and Louis Armstrong.

Nelson is the co-chair of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) advisory board.

Singles

• Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (1975)
• "Always on My Mind" (1982)

• Crazy (song) (1961)
• Christmas Blues