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Willie Nelson brought on the "outlaw country" movement to America in the 1970s, and it has made him an American icon.
Nelson grew up in Texas, where he developed a penchant for songwriting early in his life. He became a DJ at a country music radio station and performed in Honkey tonk bars before moving to Vancouver, Wash., to pursue his music career. He continued to do radio work in Washington, and eventually moved to Tennessee and began writing songs.
Nelson wrote some huge songs for country artists, including Patsy Clines "Crazy," Billy Walkers "Funny How Time Slips Away" and Roy Orbisons "Pretty Paper." He eventually began to record his own music, but wasnt exactly successful and became involved with less-than-legal activities. He was frustrated by his music career in 1965 after a few hits with RCA Victor Records, and retired in Austin, Texas. The hippy movement in the city, however, brought him back to music, and he got back in the swing of things.
His album "Shotgun Willie" in 1973 was critically acclaimed, but didnt sell well. None of his albums were particularly popular, in fact, until he teamed up with Waylon Jennings to form the genre "outlaw country." Their first album together was "Wanted: The Outlaws!," which went platinum. Nelson continued to release hits through the rest of the decade, including 'Remember me," "Good Hearted Woman" and "Uncloudy Day." The singer had two more platinum albums, "Waylon and Willie" and "Stardust."
In the '80s, Nelson continued to put out hits, including "Always on My Mind," "On the Road Again" and 'To All the Girls Ive Loved Before." Halfway through thte decade, he formed The Highwaymen with Waylon Jennings, Johnny cash and Kris Kristofferson, and they were extremely successful.
In 1993, the American icon released "Across the Borderline," and he toured almost continuously after that, as he still does today. Nelsons most recent release was "Last of the Breed" with Merle Haggard and Ray Price.
Nelson has also had a successful acting career, starting with 'The Electric Horseman" in 1979. He also was featured in "Honeysuckle Rose," "Thief," "Out of the Ice" and "Wag the Dog." He has made a number of television appearances, including "Nash Bridges," "Monk," "The Simpsons" and 'The Colbert Report."
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