Willie Nelson Biography (1933-)

Full name, Willie Hugh Nelson; born April 30 (some sources cite April 29), 1933, in Abbott, TX; son of Ira D. (a pool hall owner and mechanic) and Myrle Nelson; married Martha Matthews (a waitress), 1950 (divorced, 1960); married Shirley Collie (a singer), 1961 (divorced, c. 1971); married Connie Koepke (alaboratory technician), c. 1971 (divorced, 1988); married Ann-Marie D'Angelo (a makeup artist), 1991; children: (first marriage) Lana, Susie, Billy (deceased); (third marriage) Paula Carlene, Amy Lee; (fourth marriage) Lucas, Jacob. Addresses: Agent: William Morris Agency, Inc., 151 South El Camino Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212-2775.; Contact: c/o Island Records, Inc., 400Lafayette St., 5th Floor, New York, NY 10003-6900.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Songwriter, singer, guitarist, actor, producer
Birth Details
April 30, 1933
Abbott, Texas, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Appearances
  • (Film debut) Wendell Hixon, The Electric Horseman, Columbia, 1979
  • Buck Bonham, Honeysuckle Rose (also known as On the Road Again),Warner Bros., 1980
  • Okla, Thief (also known as Violent Streets), United Artists, 1981
  • Title role, Barbarosa, Universal, 1982
  • Hell's Angels Forever, 1983
  • Doc Jenkins, Songwriter, TriStar, 1984
  • Reverend Julian Shay, Red-Headed Stranger, Alive Film, 1987
  • Heartbeat, 1987
  • Walking after Midnight, 1988
  • Wrestlemania VII, 1991
  • Lawyer, Dust to Dust, 1994
  • Big Country, 1994
  • Grampa Liam, Starlight, Astral, 1996
  • Billy "Catch" Pooler, Gone Fishin', Buena Vista, 1997
  • Anthem (documentary), 1997
  • Johnny Dean (some sources cite Johnny Green), Wag the Dog, New Line Cinema, 1997
  • Historian Smoker, Half Baked, Universal, 1998
  • Dill Scallion, Asylum, 1999
  • Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, New Line Cinema, 1999
  • The Story of Darrell Royal (documentary), 1999
  • Merle Haggard: Live in Concert (documentary), 1999
  • Doc, Stardust, 2000
  • Film Work
  • Executive producer, Streetwise, 1985
  • Producer, Red-Headed Stranger, Alive Film, 1987
  • Television Appearances
  • Movies
  • Red Loon, Coming out of the Ice, 1982
  • General Jo Shelby, The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James, NBC, 1986
  • Doc Holliday, Stagecoach, 1986
  • Baja Oklahoma, HBO, 1988
  • John Henry Lee, Once upon a Texas Train (also known as Texas Guns), CBS, 1988
  • Cross, Where the Hell's That Gold?!!? (also knownas Dynamite and Gold), CBS, 1988
  • Billy Roy Barker, Pair of Aces, CBS, 1990
  • Billy Roy Barker, Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind, CBS, 1991
  • Wild Texas Wind, NBC, 1991
  • Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story, CBS, 1995
  • Lee, Outlaw Justice, CBS, 1998
  • Specials
  • Bob and Ray and Jane, Laraine and Gilda, 1981
  • Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope's Pink Panther Thanksgiving Gala, 1982
  • Country Comes Home, 1984
  • Glen Campbell and Friends: The Silver Anniversary, 1984
  • Johnny Cash: Christmas on the Road, 1984
  • The Door Is Always Open, 1985
  • Alabama ... My Home's in Alabama, 1986
  • Liberty Weekend, 1986
  • Texas 150: A Celebration Special, 1986
  • The 60th Anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry, 1986
  • The Best of Farm Aid: An American Event, 1986
  • Don Johnson's Heartbeat (also known as Don Johnson's Music Video Feature Heartbeat), HBO, 1987
  • Country Music Legends, PBS, 1987
  • A Session with Chet Atkins, Certified Guitar Player, Cinemax, 1987
  • Willie Nelson's Picnic, syndicated, 1987
  • An All Star Tribute to Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly, Showtime, 1988
  • A Country Music Celebration: The 30th Anniversary of the Country MusicAssociation, 1988
  • A Grand Night: The Performing Arts Salute Public Television, PBS,1988
  • Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration, CBS, 1988
  • Host, Willie Nelson, Texas Style, CBS, 1988
  • Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Grand Opening, ABC, 1989
  • Grammy Living Legends, CBS, 1989
  • Kenny, Dolly, and Willie: Something Inside So Strong, NBC, 1989
  • Viva Miami! The Night of Super Sounds, CBS, 1989
  • Host, Farm Aid IV, The Nashville Network, 1990
  • In the Hank Williams Tradition, The Nashville Network, 1990
  • Celebrities Offstage, The Nashville Network, 1991
  • Highwaymen Live!, The Disney Channel, 1991
  • Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music, Uh-Huh!, Fox, 1991
  • Williams and Ree Comedy Central, Comedy Central, 1991
  • Columbia Records Celebrates the Music of Bob Dylan, pay-per-view,1992
  • Dangerous Game of Fame, syndicated, 1992
  • Farm Aid V, The Nashville Network, 1992
  • The Highwaymen, The Nashville Network, 1992
  • MDA Jerry Lewis Telethon, syndicated, 1992
  • Ray Charles: The Genius of Soul, PBS, 1992
  • Willie Nelson at the Swap Shop: A Live Album, The Nashville Network, 1992
  • The Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Celebration, PBS, 1993
  • A Country Music Celebration, CBS, 1993
  • A Day in the Life of Country Music, CBS, 1993
  • Farm Aid VI, The Nashville Network, 1993
  • Legend to Legend Night, ABC, 1993
  • Willie Nelson Salutes Texas, The Nashville Network, 1993
  • Willie Nelson the Big Six-O: An All-Star Birthday Celebration, CBS, 1993
  • Backstage with Tanya Tucker, The Nashville Network, 1994
  • Coming and Going, PBS, 1994
  • Host, The Legends of Country Music, 2nd Series, The Nashville Network, 1994
  • Narrator, Merle Haggard: An American Story, The Nashville Network,1994
  • Remembering Patsy Cline, Arts and Entertainment, 1994
  • Sinatra Duets, CBS, 1994
  • Willie Nelson: My Life, Arts and Entertainment, 1994
  • Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II, PBS, 1995
  • We Are the World: A 10th Anniversary Tribute, The Disney Channel,1995
  • An Evening of Country Greats: A Hall of Fame Celebration, 1995
  • Farm Aid: 10th Anniversary Concert, The Nashville Network, 1995
  • Kris Kristofferson: Songwriter, The Disney Channel, 1995
  • Farm Aid '96, The Nashville Network, 1996
  • The Beach Boys: Nashville Sounds, The Disney Channel, 1996
  • America's Music: The Roots of Country, TBS, 1996
  • Grand Ole Opry 70th Anniversary, CBS, 1996
  • CMT Presents: The Kings Covers, Country Music Television, 1997
  • Farm Aid '97, The Nashville Network, 1997
  • Host, Farm Aid: Hope from the Heartland, The Nashville Network, 1997
  • The Life and Times of Willie Nelson, The Nashville Network, 1997
  • TNN Live with Willie Nelson, The Nashville Network, 1997
  • Willie Nelson: Down Home, PBS, 1997
  • Willie Nelson: Going Home, The Disney Channel, 1997
  • The Kennedy Center Honors, CBS, 1998
  • Willie Nelson at the Teatro (also known as Willie Nelson'sTeatro), Country Music Television, 1998
  • Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope, ABC, 1998
  • Farm Aid '98, The Nashville Network, 1998
  • Gary Busey: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 1998
  • Johnny Cash: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 1998
  • Roger Miller Remembered, The Nashville Network, 1998
  • TNN Live with Willie Nelson, The Nashville Network, 1998
  • An All-Star Tribute to Johnny Cash, TNT, 1999
  • Host, Farm Aid '99, The Nashville Network, 1999
  • Kris Kristofferson, Arts and Entertainment, 1999
  • The Making of Ride with Bob, The Nashville Network, 1999
  • Merle Haggard: For the Record, Arts and Entertainment, 1999
  • Ryman Country Homecoming, The Nashville Network, 1999
  • Ryman Country Homecoming III, The Nashville Network, 1999
  • Woodstock 99, MTV, 1999
  • A & E's Live by Request Starring Willie Nelson, Arts and Entertainment, 2000
  • Farm Aid 2000, The Nashville Network, 2000
  • Stand and Be Counted, The Learning Channel, 2000
  • Episodic
  • Austin City Limits, 1975
  • Old Texas Ranger, "El Viejo," Miami Vice, 1986
  • The Texas Connection, The Nashville Network, 1990
  • TNN's All-Star Salute to Country Music, The Nashville Network,1990
  • Delta, CBS, 1992
  • Marshal Elias Burch, "Legend," Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, CBS, 1996
  • Storytellers, VH1, 1996
  • Voice, "Hank's Got the Willies," King of the Hill (animated),Fox, 1997
  • Earl Dobbs, "Payback," Nash Bridges, CBS, 1997
  • Marshal Elias Burch, "Vengeance," Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, CBS,1998
  • Memories: Grand Ole Opry Stars of the Fifties, The Nashville Network, 1998
  • Voice, "Behind the Laughter," The Simpsons (animated), Fox, 2000
  • Also appeared in Hot Country Nights.
  • Awards Presentations
  • The 18th Annual Country Music Association Awards, 1984
  • The 19th Annual Country Music Association Awards, 1985
  • Host, The 20th Annual Country Music Association Awards, 1986
  • The 23rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, 1988
  • The 24th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, 1989
  • The American Music Awards, 1989
  • The 26th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, 1991
  • The 27th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, 1992
  • Presenter, The 34th Annual Grammy Awards, 1992
  • Presenter, The 18th Annual People's Choice Awards, 1992
  • The 27th Annual Country Music Association Awards, 1993
  • The 29th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, 1994
  • Music City News Country Songwriters Awards, The Nashville Network,1995
  • TNN Music City News Country Awards, The Nashville Network, 1995
  • The 30th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, 1995
  • The 29th Annual Country Music Association Awards, 1995
  • The 1999 Billboard Music Awards, 1999
  • Television Executive Producer
  • Movies
  • Stagecoach, 1986
  • Pair of Aces, CBS, 1990
  • Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind, CBS, 1991
  • Specials
  • The Best of Farm Aid: An American Event, 1986
  • Willie Nelson's Picnic, syndicated, 1987
  • Willie Nelson, Texas Style, CBS, 1988
  • Farm Aid IV, The Nashville Network, 1990
  • Farm Aid '96, The Nashville Network, 1996
  • RECORDINGS
  • Albums
  • ... and Then I Wrote, Liberty, 1962, then 1995
  • One for the Road, 1963
  • Here's Willie Nelson, Liberty, 1963
  • Country Willie: His Own Songs, RCA, 1965
  • Country Favorites--Willie Nelson Style, RCA, 1966
  • Hello Walls, Sunset, 1966
  • Country Music Concert--Willie Nelson, RCA, 1966
  • Make Way for Willie Nelson, RCA, 1967
  • The Party's Over, RCA, 1967
  • Texas in My Soul, RCA, 1968
  • Good Ol' Country Singin', CAL, 1968
  • Good Times, RCA, 1968
  • My Own Peculiar Way, RCA, 1969
  • Both Sides Now, RCA, 1970
  • Laying My Burdens Down, RCA, 1970
  • Columbia Stockade Blues, RCA/Camden, 1970
  • Yesterday's Wine, RCA, 1971
  • Willie Nelson and Family, RCA, 1971
  • The Words Don't Fit the Pictures, RCA, 1972
  • The Willie Way, RCA, 1972
  • Shotgun Willie, Atlantic, 1973
  • The Best of Willie Nelson, United Artists, 1973
  • Country Winners by Willie, Camden, 1973
  • Spotlight on Willie Nelson, Camden, 1974
  • Phases and Stages, Atlantic, 1974
  • Red Headed Stranger, Columbia, 1975
  • Willie Nelson and His Friends, Plantation, 1975
  • What Can You Do to Me, RCA, 1975
  • Country Willie, United Artists, 1975
  • Famous Country, RCA, 1975
  • The Troublemaker, Columbia, 1976
  • (With Waylon Jennings, Tompall Glaser, and Jessi Colter) Wanted: The Outlaws, RCA, 1976
  • The Sound in Your Mind, Columbia, 1976
  • (With others) Willie Nelson and His Friends, 1976
  • Columbus Stockade Blues and Other Favorites, Camden, 1976
  • Willie Nelson Live, RCA, 1976
  • (With others) Texas Country, United Artists, 1976
  • To Lefty, from Willie, Columbia, 1977
  • Willie before His Time, RCA, 1977
  • Willie Nelson-1961, Shotgun, 1977
  • Willie and Family Live, Columbia, 1978
  • (With Jennings) Waylon and Willie, RCA, 1978
  • The Best of Willie Nelson, 1978
  • Stardust, Columbia, 1978
  • Face of a Fighter, Lonestar, 1978
  • There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight, United Artists, 1978
  • (With Leon Russell) Pretty Paper, CBS, 1979
  • Help Me Make It through the Night, Columbia, 1979
  • (With Russell) One for the Road, Columbia, 1979
  • Sweet Memories, RCA, 1979
  • Willie Nelson Sings Kristofferson, Columbia, 1979
  • The Electric Horseman (film soundtrack), Columbia, 1979
  • (With Ray Price) San Antonio Rose, Columbia, 1980
  • (With the Nashville Brass) Danny Davis and Willie Nelson, RCA, 1980
  • Honeysuckle Rose (film soundtrack), Columbia, 1980
  • (With Davis, Price, and the Nashville Brass) Family Bible, Songbird, 1980
  • Willie Nelson: Country Superstar, Candelite Music, 1980
  • The Minstrel Man, RCA, 1981
  • Once More with Feeling, RCA, 1981
  • Somewhere over the Rainbow, Columbia, 1981
  • Willie Nelson's Greatest Hits, Columbia, 1981
  • Always on My Mind, Columbia, 1982
  • The Best of Willie, RCA, 1982
  • (With Jennings) W.W. II, RCA, 1982
  • (With Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, and Brenda Lee) Kris, Willie,Dolly, and Brenda: The Winning Hand, Monument, 1982
  • (With Webb Pierce) In the Jailhouse Now, Columbia, 1982
  • Willie Nelson--The Ghost, Solid Gold Productions, 1982
  • (With Merle Haggard) Poncho and Lefty, Columbia, 1983
  • (With Roger Miller) Old Friends, Columbia, 1982
  • Tougher Than Leather, Columbia, 1983
  • Without a Song, CBS, 1983
  • (With Jennings) Take It to the Limit, Columbia, 1983
  • On My Way, RCA, 1983
  • Bandanna Land, HSRD, 1983
  • Portrait in Music, Columbia, 1984
  • City of New Orleans, Columbia, 1984
  • Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me, RCA, 1984
  • (With Kristofferson) Music from Songwriter (film soundtrack), Columbia, 1984
  • Replay--Willie Nelson, Sierra Records, 1984
  • (With Jackie King) Angel Eyes, Columbia, 1985
  • Collector's Series, Columbia, 1985
  • (With Johnny Cash, Johnny Rodriguez, Kristofferson, and Jennings) Me and Paul, Columbia, 1985
  • (With Faron Young) Funny How Time Slips Away, Columbia, 1985
  • (With Hank Snow) Brand on My Heart, Columbia, 1985
  • The Highwayman, Columbia, 1985
  • Willie Nelson, RCA, 1985
  • Willie, RCA, 1985
  • Half Nelson, CBS, 1985
  • Mellow Moods of the Vintage Years, 82 Music Co., 1985
  • Partners, Columbia, 1986
  • The Promise Land, Columbia (some sources cite CBS), 1986
  • Island in the Sea, Columbia (some sources cite CBS), 1987
  • (With Haggard) Seashores of Old Mexico, Epic, 1987
  • (With Haggard and George Jones) Walking the Line, Epic, 1987
  • (With sister Bobbie Nelson) I'd Rather Have Jesus, Arrival, 1987
  • What a Wonderful World, Columbia, 1988
  • A Horse Called Music, Columbia, 1989
  • (With Cash, Jennings, and Kristofferson) Highwayman II, Columbia,1990
  • Born for Trouble, Columbia, 1990
  • Waylon and Willie: Clean Shirt, Epic, 1991
  • Who'll Buy My Memories: The IRS Tapes, Columbia, 1991
  • Across the Borderline, Columbia, 1993
  • Moonlight Becomes You, 1993
  • Healing Hands of Time, 1994
  • Super Hits, 1994
  • Just One Love, 1995
  • (With the Highwaymen) The Road Goes On Forever, 1995
  • (With Bonnie Nelson, Jody Payne, and Johnny Gamble) Spirit, 1996
  • Other albums include City of Dreams, Columbia. Singles include "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," Columbia, 1975; (with Jennings) "Mamas Don'tLet Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," RCA, 1978; "Always on My Mind," Columbia, 1982; (with Julio Iglesias) "For All the Girls," 1984; (with Jennings,Kristofferson, and Cash) "The Highwayman," Columbia, 1985; also "City of NewOrleans," "As Time Goes By," "She's Gone," and "Pretend I Never Happened."
  • WRITINGS
  • Film Music
  • Composer, Puzzle, 1974
  • Composer, Renaldo and Clara, 1978
  • Song, "I Can Get Off on You," Players, 1979
  • Song, "On the Road Again," Honeysuckle Rose (also known as On the Road Again), Warner Bros., 1980
  • Song, "Hello Walls," Melvin and Howard, 1980
  • Song, "On the Road Again," Best Defense, 1984
  • Songs, "Nobody Said It Was Gonna Be Easy" and "Songwriter," Songwriter, TriStar, 1984
  • Song, "Crazy," Desert Hearts, 1985
  • Composer, Red-Headed Stranger, Alive Film, 1987
  • Composer, Walking after Midnight, 1988
  • Song, "Bloody Mary Morning," Colors, 1988
  • Song, "Crazy," Doc Hollywood, 1991
  • Songs, My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys, 1991
  • Song, "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground," Falling from Grace,1992
  • Song, "Funny How Time Slips Away," My Cousin Vinny, 1992
  • Songs, "Night Life" and "Funny How Time Slips Away," A Perfect World, 1993
  • Song, "Crazy," The Thing Called Love, 1993
  • Song, "On the Road Again," Forrest Gump, 1994
  • Song, "Crazy," Some Mother's Son, 1996
  • Song, "Funny How Time Slips Away," The Long Kiss Goodnight, 1996
  • Song, "Hello Walls," The People vs. Larry Flynt, 1996
  • Song, "Crazy," Edie and Pen, HBO, 1996
  • Song, "Crazy," In and Out, 1997
  • Song, "Crazy," Bride of Chucky, 1998
  • Song, "On the Road Again," Primary Colors, 1998
  • Song, "Hello Walls," Committed, 2000
  • Television Music
  • Movies
  • Composer (with others) of musical score and songwriter, Stagecoach, 1986
  • Songwriter, Baja Oklahoma, HBO, 1988
  • Song, "Hard Edge," Outlaw Justice, CBS, 1998
  • Specials
  • Songwriter, Willie Nelson, Texas Style, CBS, 1988
  • Song, "Heartland," Willie Nelson Salutes Texas, The Nashville Network, 1993
  • Willie Nelson at the Teatro (also known as Willie Nelson'sTeatro), Country Music Television, 1998
  • Songwriter
  • Writer of dozens of songs, including "Crazy" (recorded by Patsy Cline), Decca, 1961; "Hello Fool" (recorded by Ralph Emory), Liberty, 1961; "Hello Walls" (recorded by Faron Young), Capitol, 1961; (with Young) "Three Days" (recorded by Young), Capitol, 1961; "Touch Me," Liberty, 1961; "Funny" (also knownas "Funny How Time Slips Away"; recorded by Joe Hinton), Back Peat, 1964; "Healing Hands of Time," RCA Victor, 1964; "I'm Still Not Over You" (recorded by Ray Price), Decca, 1967; (with Waylon Jennings) "Good Hearted Woman" (recorded by Jennings), RCA, 1972; "On the Road Again," Columbia, 1980; "AngelFlying Too Close to the Ground," Columbia, 1981; "Opportunity to Cry" (recorded with Jennings in Poncho and Lefty), Epic, 1983; "Forgiving You WasEasy," Columbia, 1985; and (with Merle Haggard and Freddy Powers) "A Place toFall Apart" (recorded by Haggard), Epic, 1985.
  • Other Writings
  • (With Bud Shrake) Willie: An Autobiography (also known as I Didn't Come Here and I Ain't Leading), Simon & Schuster (New York City), 1988

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books:
    • Contemporary Musicians, September 18, 1998, Volume 1, Gale (Detroit, MI), 1989.
    • Newsmakers 1993, Issue 4, Gale, 1993.
    Periodicals:
    • Entertainment Weekly, pp. 46-49.

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