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Willie Nelson

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 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. 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 confirmed his move to outlaw country with the 1976 album Wanted! The Outlaws, which he recorded with Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser. During 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 & Lefty", he joined the country supergroup The Highwaymen, along with fellow singers, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. During the 1990s and 2000s, Nelson continued touring extensively, and released albums every year. Reviews ranged from positive to mixed. Nelson 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 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


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Born:
Apr 30, 1933 In Abbott, Texas, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
120
First Appeared:
In the movie A Poem Is a Naked Person 1974-05-09
Latest Project:
Movie Willie and Me 2024-02-09
Known For
Filmography
Movie Willie and Me Willie Nelson / Bones 2024-02-09
Movie The Greatest Night in Pop Self (archive footage) 2024-01-19
Movie Heartbreakers at the BBC Self (archive footage) 2023-02-11
Movie Joke Man Self 2023-07-17
Movie Willie Nelson 90: Long Story Short Self 2023-06-11
Movie 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Self (archive footage) 2022-11-19
Movie Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas Self 2022-12-01
Movie Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute Self 2021-04-07
Movie My Darling Vivian Self (archive footage) 2020-04-27
Movie Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President Self 2020-09-09
Movie Charley Pride: I'm Just Me Self 2019-02-22
Movie Waiting for the Miracle to Come Jimmy Riggs 2019-04-29
Movie Paradox Red 2018-03-15
Movie Quincy Self 2018-09-21
Movie Also Starring Austin 2018-05-05
Movie Lost in London Willie Nelson 2017-01-19
Movie Pure Country: Pure Heart Himself 2017-08-01
Movie Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl Self 2016-03-04
Movie Zoolander 2 Willie Nelson 2016-02-06
Movie Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken Spoke Self 2016-03-13
Movie The Highwaymen - Live American Outlaws Self 2016-05-20
Movie The American Epic Sessions Self 2016-03-16
Movie The Best Democracy Money Can Buy Self 2016-09-23
Movie Road to Austin 2016-05-27
Movie Johnny Cash: American Rebel Self 2015-09-12
Movie The Art of McCartney Self 2014-10-01
Movie All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State Self 2014-04-28
Movie Country Kings at the BBC 2014-11-21
Movie Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years Self - Performer 2014-10-03
Movie Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon Self 2013-09-07
Movie Angels Sing Nick 2013-10-19
Movie John Mellencamp: It's About You Self 2012-01-04
Movie We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash Self 2012-08-20
Movie I Ride Willie Nelson 2011-05-12
Movie The King of Luck Himself 2011-03-19
Movie 9/11 Truth: Hollywood Speaks Up Self 2011-06-10
Movie Paul Williams Still Alive Self (archive footage) 2011-09-11
Movie The Greatest Ears in Town: The Arif Mardin Story Self 2010-06-15
Movie OK Buckaroos 2010-11-16
Movie The Obama Deception Self 2009-03-15
Movie Happiness Is Self 2009-07-30
Movie Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis Play the Music of Ray Charles Himself - Vocals and Acoustic Guitar 2009-10-20
Movie Swing Vote Willie Nelson 2008-08-01
Movie Hempsters: Plant the Seed Himself 2008-05-25
Movie The King of Texas Self 2008-03-01
Movie Beer for My Horses Charlie 2008-08-08
Movie Merle Haggard: The Real Deal Self 2008-12-30
Movie Surfer, Dude Farmer Bob 2008-09-05
Movie A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! Self 2008-11-23
Movie Elvis | Viva Las Vegas Self 2008-09-16
Movie Jerry Lee Lewis: Last Man Standing, Live Self 2007-03-06
Movie The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning Jesse Duke 2007-03-04
Movie Last of the Breed: Live in Concert Himself 2007-09-25
Movie Opry Video Classics: Hall of Fame Self (archive footage) 2007-11-21
Movie Opry Video Classics : Legends Self (archive footage) 2007-11-21
Movie Blonde Ambition Pap Paw 2007-12-21
Movie Celebrating the Man in Black: The Making of Walk the Line Self 2006-05-22
Movie Willie Nelson: Live from Austin TX Compositeur, Guitare, Artiste principal, Voix 2006-05-01
Movie Beerfest Self (uncredited) 2006-08-25
Movie Broken Bridges self 2006-09-08
Movie American Revolutions: The Highwaymen Himself 2006-09-26
Movie Outlaw Country: Live from Austin, TX Compositeur, Guitare, Artiste principal, Voix 2006-09-19
Movie Tootsie's Orchid Lounge: Where the Music Began self 2005-07-26
Movie The Dukes of Hazzard Uncle Jesse Duke 2005-08-05
Movie Be Here to Love Me Self - Musician 2004-09-13
Movie The Big Bounce Joe Lurie 2004-01-30
Movie Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws & Angels Self 2004-09-21
Movie The Highwaymen: On the Road Again Himself 2003-07-15
Movie Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin' Self 2003-05-26
Movie Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well Self 2003-12-19
Movie This Land Is Your Land - Folk Years 2002-05-22
Movie The Country Bears Willie Nelson 2002-07-26
Movie Farm Aid 2001 - A Concert For America Himself 2002-11-19
Movie Kinky Friedman: Proud To Be An Asshole From El Paso Self 2001-01-02
Movie The Journeyman Samuel Hancock 2001-03-10
Movie America | A Tribute to Heroes Self - Performer 2001-09-21
Movie The Story of Darrell Royal Self 1999-01-01
Movie Outlaw Justice Lee Walker 1999-01-24
Movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Willie Nelson 1999-06-08
Movie A Tribute To Johnny Cash Self - Performer 1999-06-04
Movie Willie Nelson at the Teatro Self 1998-01-01
Movie Half Baked Historian Smoker 1998-01-16
Movie Gone Fishin' Billy 'Catch' Pooler 1997-05-30
Movie Wag the Dog Johnny Dean 1997-12-25
Movie Anthem Self 1997-07-25
Movie Starlight 1996-06-18
Movie The Beach Boys: Nashville Sounds Self 1996-11-23
Movie Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story Willie Nelson 1995-01-22
Movie The World of Jim Henson Self (archive footage) 1994-11-23
Movie Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration 1993-03-02
Movie Kris Kristofferson: His Life and Work Self 1993-12-31
Movie Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O Self 1993-05-22
Movie Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind Billy Roy Rodriguez 1991-01-01
Movie WWE WrestleMania VII Self - National Anthem 1991-03-24
Movie Wild Texas Wind Willie Nelson 1991-09-23
Movie Waylon: Renegade. Outlaw. Legend. Himself 1990-01-01
Movie Pair of Aces Billy Roy Barker 1990-01-14
Movie Baja Oklahoma Self 1988-02-20
Movie Walking After Midnight Self 1988-01-01
Movie Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration Self 1988-05-27
Movie Where the Hell's That Gold?!!? Cross 1988-11-13
Movie Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz Willie Nelson 1988-08-16
Movie Once Upon a Texas Train John Henry Lee 1988-10-12
Movie Heartbeat Himself 1987-05-10
Movie The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James Gen. Jo Shelby 1986-02-17
Movie Stagecoach Doc Holliday 1986-05-18
Movie Red Headed Stranger Rev. Julian Shay 1986-10-31
Movie We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song Self 1985-01-28
Movie Songwriter Doc Jenkins 1984-10-14
Movie Playboy Video Magazine: Volume 4 Himself 1983-01-01
Movie Hells Angels Forever Himself 1983-10-09
Movie Barbarosa Barbarosa 1982-02-19
Movie Coming Out of the Ice Red Loon 1982-12-31
Movie Thief David 'Okla' Bertinneau 1981-03-27
Movie The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1980 1980-02-10
Movie Honeysuckle Rose Buck 1980-07-18
Movie Willie Nelson's 4th of July Celebration 1979-06-01
Movie The Electric Horseman Wendell 1979-12-21
Movie Mickey's 50 Self 1978-11-19
Movie A Poem Is a Naked Person Self 1974-05-09