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
Known For
Johnny Dean
Wag the Dog
Wendell
The Electric Horseman
David 'Okla' Bertinneau
Thief
Uncle Jesse Duke
The Dukes of Hazzard
Buck
Honeysuckle Rose
Self (archive footage)
Heartbreakers at the BBC
Barbarosa
Barbarosa
Billy 'Catch' Pooler
Gone Fishin'
Doc Holliday
Stagecoach
Self (uncredited)
Beerfest
Farmer Bob
Surfer, Dude
Self
Farm Aid: 20th Anniversary Concert
Self - Musician
Be Here to Love Me
Self
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
Self
The Beach Boys: Nashville Sounds
Himself
Hempsters: Plant the Seed
Self
Willie Nelson 90: Long Story Short
Doc Jenkins
Songwriter
Himself
Hells Angels Forever
Lee Walker
Outlaw Justice
Himself
The Highwaymen: On the Road Again
Self
It's About You
John Henry Lee
Once Upon a Texas Train
Nick
Angels Sing
Self
Joke Man
Self - Performer
A Tribute To Johnny Cash
Self
The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum
Cross
Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?
Self
Kris Kristofferson: His Life and Work
Himself - Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis Play the Music of Ray Charles
Self
Happiness Is
Self
The Story of Darrell Royal
Himself
Willie Nelson: Live in Amsterdam
Red Loon
Coming Out of the Ice
Self
Kinky Friedman: Proud To Be An Asshole From El Paso
Self
9/11 Truth: Hollywood Speaks Up
Billy Roy Rodriguez
Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind
Self
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
Willie Nelson
Wild Texas Wind
Rev. Julian Shay
Red Headed Stranger
Road to Austin
Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
Self
The Greatest Ears in Town: The Arif Mardin Story
Self
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
Himself
The King of Luck
Starlight
Self
Glen Campbell | Good Times Again
Self
All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State
Self
Celebrating the Man in Black: The Making of Walk the Line
Self
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
Self
June
Willie Nelson
Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz
Himself
Waylon: Renegade. Outlaw. Legend.
Self - Performer (archive footage)
Dolly Parton & Friends: Love Always Live
Charlie
Beer for My Horses
Self (archive footage)
The Greatest Night in Pop
Self
Walking After Midnight
Billy Roy Barker
Pair of Aces
Pap Paw
Blonde Ambition
Himself
Heartbeat
self
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge: Where the Music Began
Willie Nelson
Swing Vote
Self
Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas
Self (archive footage)
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Willie Nelson
Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story
Self
Johnny Cash: American Rebel
Willie Nelson
I Ride
Will
Fighting With Anger
Himself
Willie Nelson Live at the US Festival
Self
Willie Nelson - Live at Billy Bob's Texas
Self
Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken Spoke
Self
Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl
Willie Nelson's 4th of July Celebration
Compositeur, Guitare, Artiste principal, Voix
Willie Nelson: Live from Austin TX
Joe Lurie
The Big Bounce
Jesse Duke
The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning
Self
The King of Texas
Willie Nelson
Zoolander 2
Himself
Playboy Video Magazine: Volume 4
Gen. Jo Shelby
The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James
Self
A Poem Is a Naked Person
Willie Nelson / Bones
Willie and Me
Willie Nelson
Lost in London
Samuel Hancock
The Journeyman
Self
The American Epic Sessions
Self (archive footage)
Opry Video Classics: Hall of Fame
Compositeur, Guitare, Artiste principal, Voix
Outlaw Country: Live from Austin, TX
Self
Jerry Lee Lewis: Last Man Standing, Live
Self
Willie Nelson at the Teatro
Self
The Highwaymen - Live American Outlaws
Willie Nelson
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Red
Paradox
Himself
American Revolutions: The Highwaymen
Willie Nelson
The Country Bears
Self
Merle Haggard: The Real Deal
Self - Performer
The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End
This Land Is Your Land - Folk Years
Historian Smoker
Half Baked
OK Buckaroos
Also Starring Austin
Self
Willie Nelson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song
Self
Charley Pride: I'm Just Me
Self
We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash
Self
Elvis | Viva Las Vegas
self
Willie Nelson Live @ SXSW
Self (archive footage)
Opry Video Classics : Legends
Himself
Farm Aid 2001 - A Concert For America
Self
The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles
Self
Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws & Angels
Self
Quincy
Jimmy Riggs
Waiting for the Miracle to Come
Himself
Last of the Breed: Live in Concert
Self
The Art of McCartney
Self
Mickey's 50
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1980
Self
Willie Nelson at Austin City Limits
Himself
Willie Nelson & Family: In Concert
Himself
Willie Nelson: Greatest Hits Live
Self
Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President
Self (archive footage)
Paul Williams Still Alive
Self
Anthem
Self - Performer
Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years
Self (archive footage)
The World of Jim Henson
Self - Performer
America | A Tribute to Heroes
Self (archive footage)
My Darling Vivian
Self
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
Self
Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O
Self
I Am Johnny Cash
self
Broken Bridges
Self
Kenny, Dolly & Willie: Something Inside So Strong
Self - National Anthem
WWE WrestleMania VII
Self
Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company
Self
Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute
Self
Willie Nelson American Outlaw
Self
Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well
Dust to Dust
Himself
Pure Country: Pure Heart
Country Kings at the BBC
Self
Baja Oklahoma
Self
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
Self
The Obama Deception
Self
Last Party 2000
Chet Atkins and Friends
Self (archive footage)
O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar
Self
Dill Scallion
Self
Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies
Self (archive footage)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: 10th Anniversary Special
Self
In the Hank Williams Tradition
himself
Willie Nelson: Live at Budokan
Self
Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
Self
Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II
Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Celebration
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
153
Gender
Male
Birthday
1933-04-30
Place of Birth
Abbott, Texas, USA
Also Known As
The Highwaymen