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
Movies (150)
The Man with the Big Hat
2026
Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies
2025
Willie and Me
2024
The Greatest Night in Pop
2024
Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Celebration
2023
June
2023
Joke Man
2023
Willie Nelson 90: Long Story Short
2023
Heartbreakers at the BBC
2023
Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas
2022
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2022
Willie Nelson: Live at Budokan
2022
Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute
2021
Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President
2020
My Darling Vivian
2020
Willie Nelson American Outlaw
2020
Waiting for the Miracle to Come
2019
Charley Pride: I'm Just Me
2019
Willie Nelson at Austin City Limits
2019
Quincy
2018
Also Starring Austin
2018
Paradox
2018
Revolution: The Legacy of the Sixties
2017
Pure Country: Pure Heart
2017
Lost in London
2017
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
2016
Road to Austin
2016
The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End
2016
The Highwaymen - Live American Outlaws
2016
The American Epic Sessions
2016
Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken Spoke
2016
Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl
2016
Zoolander 2
2016
Willie Nelson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song
2016
Johnny Cash: American Rebel
2015
I Am Johnny Cash
2015
Country Kings at the BBC
2014
Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years
2014
The Art of McCartney
2014
All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State
2014
Willie Nelson Live @ SXSW
2014
Angels Sing
2013
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
2013
We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash
2012
John Mellencamp: It's About You
2012
Country at the BBC
2011
The King of Luck
2011
OK Buckaroos
2010
The Greatest Ears in Town: The Arif Mardin Story
2010
Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis Play the Music of Ray Charles
2009
The Obama Deception
2009
Dolly Parton & Friends: Love Always Live
2009
O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar
2009
Merle Haggard: The Real Deal
2008
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
2008
Willie Nelson / Wynton Marsalis - Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYC
2008
Elvis | Viva Las Vegas
2008
Surfer, Dude
2008
Beer for My Horses
2008
Swing Vote
2008
Hempsters: Plant the Seed
2008
The King of Texas
2008
Blonde Ambition
2007
Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007
2007
Opry Video Classics: Hall of Fame
2007
Opry Video Classics : Legends
2007
Last of the Breed: Live in Concert
2007
Jerry Lee Lewis: Last Man Standing, Live
2007
The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning
2007
Glen Campbell | Good Times Again
2007
American Revolutions: The Highwaymen
2006
Outlaw Country: Live from Austin, TX
2006
It's Happiness: A Polka Documentary
2006
Broken Bridges
2006
Beerfest
2006
Celebrating the Man in Black: The Making of Walk the Line
2006
Willie Nelson: Live from Austin TX
2006
Farm Aid: 20th Anniversary Concert
2005
The Dukes of Hazzard
2005
Willie Nelson & Leon Russel - Partners In Music
2005
Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws & Angels
2004
Be Here to Love Me
2004
The Big Bounce
2004
Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well
2003
Ringo Rama
2003
The Highwaymen: On the Road Again
2003
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
2003
The Country Bears
2002
The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles
2002
The Country Bears Concert for America
2002
Last Party 2000
2001
America | A Tribute to Heroes
2001
Willie Nelson: Live in Amsterdam
2001
The Journeyman
2001
Kinky Friedman: Proud To Be An Asshole From El Paso
2001
Chet Atkins: A Life in Music
2000
Dill Scallion
1999
Willie Nelson: Greatest Hits Live
1999
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
1999
A Tribute to Johnny Cash
1999
Outlaw Justice
1999
Half Baked
1998
Willie Nelson at the Teatro
1998
Wag the Dog
1997
Anthem
1997
Gone Fishin'
1997
The Beach Boys: Nashville Sounds
1996
Starlight
1996
Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II
1995
Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story
1995
The World of Jim Henson
1994
Dust to Dust
1994
Kris Kristofferson: His Life and Work
1993
Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O
1993
Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
1993
Wild Texas Wind
1991
Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind
1991
WWE WrestleMania VII
1991
The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum
1990
Pair of Aces
1990
Waylon: Renegade. Outlaw. Legend.
1990
Kenny, Dolly & Willie: Something Inside So Strong
1989
Some Enchanted Evening With Willie Nelson
1989
In the Hank Williams Tradition
1989
Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?
1988
Once Upon a Texas Train
1988
Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz
1988
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
1988
Baja Oklahoma
1988
Walking After Midnight
1988
Chet Atkins and Friends
1987
Heartbeat
1987
Red Headed Stranger
1986
Stagecoach
1986
The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James
1986
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
1985
Songwriter
1984
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
1984
Hells Angels Forever
1983
Willie Nelson Live at the US Festival
1983
Playboy Video Magazine: Volume 4
1983
Coming Out of the Ice
1982
Barbarosa
1982
Thief
1981
Honeysuckle Rose
1980
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1980
1980
The Electric Horseman
1979
Mickey's 50
1978
A Poem Is a Naked Person
1974
Willie Nelson & Friends: Stars & Guitars
TV Shows (37)
Willie Nelson & Family
2023
This Is Pop
2021
OBJECTified
2017
American Epic
2017
The Muppets
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014
The Colbert Report
2005
VH1 Storytellers
2005
Real Time with Bill Maher
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
Monk
2002
CMT Crossroads
2002
Austin City Limits: Country
2001
The View
1997
King of the Hill
1997
The Daily Show
1996
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
1994
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
1993
Delta
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Adventures in Wonderland
1992
The Simpsons
1989
NWA World Championship Wrestling
1985
Miami Vice
1984
Champs-Elysées
1982
Solid Gold
1980
The Kennedy Center Honors
1978
Saturday Night Live
1975
Saturday Night Live
1975
Austin City Limits
1975
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
1969
CMA Awards
1967
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962