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
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 |