Willie Nelson

by Graeme Thomson

  Arranging interviews can be a logistical nightmare. I extend thanks to the following for their general help and assistance smoothing my path: Martha Moore, Richard Wootton, Barbara Charone, Nicole Hegeman, Jennifer Tipoulow, KSP Wilson, Braden Kuhlman, Nikki Mitchell, Tamara Saviano, Kay Clary, Jeanne Meyer and Amanda Conroy, Tresa Mumba and Geoff Andrew. There have been many more helping hands along the way, and each one was appreciated.

  Closer to home, a big thank you to my agent Stan for all his encouragement throughout, and his tenacity (above and beyond the call of duty) in every aspect of my work over the past year. Thanks to Stuart Evers for his input and enthusiasm in the latter stages.

  Thanks also to the editors at all the publications I write for, especially those who published some of my work-in-progress on Willie Nelson in 2005: Gordon Thomson at Time Out, Mark Ellen at The Word and Keith Bruce at the Herald.

  As always, love and thanks are due to my mother, father and brother. Most of all, this biography comes with love and appreciation for my wife Jen. Not only for her constant support, but also for colluding in the notion that this is somehow a perfectly acceptable way to make a living.

  INDEX

  The page references in this index correspond to the printed edition from which this ebook was created. To find a specific word or phrase from the index, please use the search feature of your ebook reader.

  Abbott, Texas 4–17, 22, 109, 257

  Across The Borderline 224, 225–227, 229

  Adams, Gerry 199

  Adams, Ryan 245

  ‘After The Fire Has Gone’ 134–135

  Ahern, Brian 161

  Albright, Richie 95, 103, 104, 168

  alcohol 2, 48, 55, 70–71, 78–79

  Allison, Joe 56, 57, 58, 63

  Allison, Mose 226

  Allsup, Tommy 63

  Always On My Mind 180

  ‘Always On My Mind’ 180–181, 188

  ‘And So Will You My Love’ 50

  And Then I Wrote 56, 62

  Anderson, David 188, 195, 254

  Anderson, John 197

  Andrews, Chuck 62

  ‘Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground’ 177

  Angelo, Annie d’ see Nelson, Annie ‘Annie’ 236

  Another Pair Of Aces TV film 211

  ‘Are There Any More Real Cowboys Anywhere?’ 188

  Arens, John 212

  Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin 115, 117–119, 121, 125

  Atkins, Chet 66, 77, 81, 104, 105, 106

  Atlantic Records 106, 122–127, 129–134

  Austin, Texas 109–110, 111–116

  Austin City Limits TV show 130

  awards 198, 228, 238, 245

  Grammies 144, 163, 180, 245, 246

  Axthelm, Pete 153

  Axton, Mae 35

  Bandera, Texas 96–98

  Barbarosa (film) 176

  Baylor University, Waco 25–28

  ‘Be That As It May’ 249

  Beatles, The 73, 99

  Beck 238

  Beckett, Barry 132

  ‘Beer For My Horses’ 246

  Belland, Bruce 124

  Big Six-O, The (film) 227–228

  Billboard Country charts 43, 51, 59, 69, 127, 200

  Billboard Hot 100 141

  birthday concerts 245–246

  Blackburn, Rick 161

  Blackwell, Chris 232, 235

  Blaine, Buck 59–60

  Bledsoe, Ron 139

  ‘Bloody Mary Morning’ 89, 134

  ‘Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain’ 135, 138, 141, 144

  Both Sides Now 88, 89, 106

  Bradley, Jerry 104–105, 142, 146

  Branson, Missouri 219–221

  Bretzing, Richard T. 198

  ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ 99

  Brown, Charlie 41

  Browne, Jackson 198

  Bruce, Jimmy 257

  Bush, George W. 242–243

  Bush, Johnny 21, 28–29, 30, 32, 59–60, 61, 72–73, 77, 78, 101, 163, 210, 214, 217, 232, 242, 248

  Buskirk, Paul 42, 43, 44, 58, 229, 250

  Butler, Larry 42, 168

  Byrds, The 98

  Cannon, Dyan 174

  Can’t Get The Hell Out Of Texas 233

  ‘Can’t Let You Say Goodbye’ 237

  Capitol records 107

  Carter, Fred Jr 132, 133

  Carter, Jimmy 155–156, 184

  Cash, Johnny 98, 106, 142, 188, 190–191, 200, 228, 231, 244, 250

  Chapman, Beth Nielsen 196

  Charles, Ray 227, 246, 250

  Cherokee Cowboys 53–54, 57

  Christopher, Johnny 180

  Classic And Unreleased 228, 232

  Clements, Jack 22, 257

  Cline, Patsy 49, 51, 59

  Clinton, Bill 238

  Cobb, ‘Tex’ 239

  Cochran, Hank 49, 51, 56, 57, 59, 88, 174, 250

  Collie, Biff 57, 58

  Collie, Shirley see Nelson, Shirley

  Colter, Jessi 107, 143–144, 191, 231

  Columbia records (CBS) 106, 136, 138–140, 145, 161, 178, 228

  Coming Out Of The Ice (film) 176

  ‘Congratulations’ 50

  Cooper, Billy 120–121, 170

  Country Favourites: Willie Nelson Style 67, 69

  Country Music Hall of Fame 228

  Country Willie: His Own Songs 66–67

  Countryman 232

  Cowboy Television Network (CTN) 201–203

  Craig, Hank 40

  ‘Crazy’ 36, 41, 44, 48, 51, 56, 59, 67, 197, 246

  Crosby, David 226

  Crowe, Dave 211

  Crowell, Rodney 116, 150, 153, 156, 160

  ‘D’ records 40–41, 43, 44

  Daily, H.W. ‘Pappy’ 40, 44

  ‘Darkness On The Face Of The Earth’ 56

  Day, Jimmy 47, 54, 58, 59, 73, 77, 78, 83, 84, 88, 89, 90, 100, 123, 136, 228, 232–233, 250

  ‘December Day’ 81, 101–102

  ‘Devil In The Sleeping Bag’ 125

  Dick, Charlie 51

  ‘Don’t Give Up’ 224, 225

  Doors, The 99

  Dowd, Tom 133

  Drake, Pete 66, 90

  Dripping Springs, Texas 115, 120

  drugs 55, 70–71, 78–80, 114, 115, 116, 151–152, 159, 192, 194, 229–231, 253

  Dukes of Hazzard, The (film) 252

  Dylan, Bob 98, 186, 187, 224–225, 226, 227, 236, 238, 251–252, 255

  Earle, Steve 120, 235

  Electric Horseman, The (film) 173–174

  Emmons, Bobby 191

  ‘End Of Understanding’ 50

  English, Billy 88, 254

  English, Carlene 125–126, 145

  English, Oliver 74

  English, Paul 13–14, 73–75, 76, 80–81, 84, 90–91, 97, 102, 104, 113, 117, 123, 125–126, 138, 144, 145, 150–151, 162, 167, 169, 188, 190, 194, 209, 218, 220–221, 235, 253–254

  Ertegun, Ahmet 122

  Essential Willie Nelson, The 246

  Ethridge, Chris 162

  ‘Everywhere I Go’ 236

  ‘Face Of A Fighter’ 50

  Family Band 34, 75, 97, 98, 123, 136–137, 162, 164–165, 174, 201, 227

  ‘Family Bible’ 10, 40, 42–43, 102

  Farm Aid 186–190, 202, 212, 219, 251, 256

  film roles 172–176, 190–191, 231, 236, 238–239, 252

  Fischer, Jody 170

  Fitch, Charlie 31

  Fletcher, Bud 15–16, 23

  Fletcher, Freddy 212

  Flippo, Chet 141, 143

  Fonda, Jane 173

  ‘Forgiving You Was Easy’ 182, 196

  Fort Worth, Texas 5, 32–33

  Foster, Fred 63–65, 196

  Fourth of July picnics 116, 120, 149–150, 154, 207

  Franklin, Jim 115

  Frizell, Lefty 145

  ‘Funny How Time Slips Away’ 41, 44, 49, 51, 56, 59, 197

  Future Farmers for America 12

  Geldof, Bob 186, 256

  ‘Georg
ia On My Mind’ 161, 163

  Gimble, Johnny 123, 132, 174, 227, 233

  Glaser, Tompall 142, 143

  ‘Goin’ Home’ 101

  Goldberg, Jay 208

  golf 96

  Gone Fishin’ (film) 231

  ‘Good Hearted Woman’ 143, 144

  Good Times 81

  Gorham, Larry 195

  gospel music 124

  ‘Graceland’ 226

  Gracey, Joe 114, 117, 120, 233

  Grammy awards 144, 163, 180, 245, 246

  Grand Ole Opry 14, 45, 47, 67, 68, 98

  Gray, Claude 43

  Great Divide, The 245, 246–248

  ‘Great Divide, The’ 248

  Haggard, Merle 14, 31, 67, 107, 113, 178, 179, 188, 193–194, 215, 228, 244, 248, 251

  Hammond, Albert 181

  Harris, Emmylou 150, 159–160, 161, 174, 178, 228, 237, 245

  Harwell, Jack 230

  Hawkins, Tom 254

  ‘Healing Hands of Time, The’ 58

  Healing Hands Of Time, The 229

  ‘Heartland’ 226

  ‘Hello Walls’ 49–51, 53, 54, 66, 73

  Hendrix, Jimi 99

  Here’s Willie Nelson 61–62, 63

  Hicks, Bill 219

  Hicks, Joe 151

  Highwaymen, The 190–191, 199–200, 227, 231

  ‘Highwayman, The’ 191, 199

  Highwaymen, The 190–191

  Highwaymen 2 199–200

  Hillburn, Red 30

  Holland, Cosett 21–22, 28

  ‘Home Is Where You’re Happy’ 50

  ‘Home Motel’ 57, 63, 237

  Honeysuckle Rose (film) 174–176, 233

  Honeysuckle Rose (tour bus) 195, 238, 254

  Hood, David 131

  Hopper, Dennis 119

  Horse Called Music, A 193, 196

  ‘How Long Is Forever’ 56

  Howard, Harlan 49, 50, 55, 122

  Hubbard, Matt 249

  Hughes, George 68

  Hughey, John 132

  Hungry Years, The 214, 233

  Hunley, Jerry ‘Cootie’ 101

  Hunter, Nick 127, 130, 134, 138, 139, 142

  ‘I Gotta Get Drunk’ 89

  ‘I Guess I’ve Come To Live Here In Your Eyes’ 233

  ‘(I Just Dropped In) To See What Condition My Condition Was In’ 82, 248

  ‘I Love You All Over The World’ 236

  ‘I Never Cared For You’ 64, 83, 196, 197, 236, 237, 248

  ‘I Still Can’t Believe That You’re Gone’ 127, 131, 133

  ‘I Thought About You, Lord’ 234

  ‘If You Could Only See’ 214

  ‘If You’ve Got The Money I’ve Got The Time’ 145

  Iglesias, Julio 181, 196, 198

  ‘I’m Not Trying To Forget You’ 233

  ‘In God’s Eyes’ 101

  Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 205–216, 220

  Irving, Amy 174–175

  ‘Is The Better Part Over?’ 193, 196

  Isbell, David 21, 22

  Island In The Sea 195–196

  Island Records 232, 235, 244

  It Always Will Be 247, 248–249

  ‘It Always Will Be’ 248–249

  ‘It Should Be Easier Now’ 67

  ‘It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way’ 131, 217

  ‘I’ve Just Destroyed The World’ 237, 246

  Jamail, Randall 229

  Jarvis, Felton 73, 76, 89

  Jean, Wyclef 245–246

  Jennings, Waylon 9, 95–96, 103–104, 107–108, 115, 118, 119, 123, 128, 139, 142, 143–144, 146, 150, 154–155, 173, 187, 190–191, 200, 228, 231, 235, 250

  ‘Jimmy’s Road’ 99, 203

  Johnston, Bob 135

  Jones, Booker T. 160–162, 168, 180, 181, 196

  Jones, Hayes 72

  Jones, Norah 249

  Justice Records 229

  Keith, Toby 246

  Kennedy Center Honors award 238

  King, B.B. 227

  Koepke, Constance see Nelson, Connie

  Kristofferson, Kris 115, 126, 142, 146, 172, 190–191, 198, 200, 211, 218–219, 224, 228, 236, 238, 260

  Kucinich, Dennis 184

  Lanois, Daniel 224–225, 236–238

  Las Vegas 59–60

  ‘Last Stand In Open Country’ 247

  Laying My Burdens Down 91

  Liberty Records 56, 61

  Light, Don 55

  ‘Little Old-Fashioned Karma, A’ 178

  ‘Little Things’ 81–82

  Live Aid 186

  Live Country Music Concert 5, 73, 118

  ‘Living In The Promiseland’ 195, 252

  ‘Local Memory’ 125

  Locke, ‘Poodie’ 170, 171, 213, 254

  Loftis, Jack 26–27

  Lone Star Records 168

  Long, Mack 201

  Los Angeles Times 197

  Lost Highway Records 244

  ‘Love Gets Lost In The Big House’ 258

  Lovett, Lyle 226, 238

  Ludwig, Rex 162

  Lundvall, Bruce 136, 139–140, 162, 163, 168

  Lynne, Shelby 238

  ‘Man With The Blues’ 40

  Mardin, Arif 124

  marijuana 2, 34, 70–71, 78, 94, 95, 100, 104–105, 151, 159, 171, 194, 229–231, 253

  Martin, Grady 197, 250

  Maslin, Janet 175

  ‘Matador’ 234

  Matthews, Martha Jewel see Nelson, Martha

  ‘Me And Paul’ 91, 102, 221

  Me And The Drummer 233

  Meldhau, Brad 237

  Mellencamp, John Cougar 187, 188, 195

  ‘Mendocino County Line’ 246

  Milk Cow Blues 244

  Miller, Roger 55, 66, 88, 106, 194

  ‘Misery Mansion’ 41

  Mission City Playboys 21–22, 28, 30

  Mitchell, Joni 198

  Moeller, Lucky 93, 107

  Moeller Talent Agency 93–94, 107–108

  Moman, Chips 179, 180, 191, 196, 199

  ‘Moment Isn’t Very Long, A’ 50

  Monument Records 63–65

  Moonlight Becomes You 228, 229

  ‘Moonlight In Vermont’ 161, 162

  Moore, Gator 170, 254

  ‘Mountain Dew’ 104

  ‘Mr Record Man’ 41, 42, 56, 66, 196

  Mugar, Carolyn 189

  ‘My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys’ 176

  My Own Peculiar Way 88

  Nashville 44–48, 55, 103–108, 111

  Nashville Songwriters’ Association Hall of Fame 127

  Neil, Vince 189

  Nelson, Annie (wife) 18–19, 192–194, 199, 200, 209, 243, 251

  Nelson, Amy (daughter) 117, 249

  Nelson, Billy (son) 39, 62, 87, 117, 157, 199, 216–218

  Nelson, Bobbie Lee (sister) 6, 12–13, 15, 16, 76, 123, 170, 197, 216, 218, 233, 237, 249, 257–258

  Nelson, Connie (wife) 5, 9, 83–88, 89, 94, 97–98, 108, 111, 117, 126, 135, 152, 157–159, 174, 175, 181, 182, 192–194, 207–208, 210, 213, 215, 216, 217, 249, 260

  Nelson, Ira Doyle (father) 6, 7, 75, 111, 167, 171

  Nelson, Lana (daughter) 25, 28, 60, 82, 87, 169, 188, 208, 210, 216, 228, 249

  Nelson, Lukas (son) 192, 199, 200, 209, 249–250, 251

  Nelson, Martha (wife) 9, 23–25, 28–29, 32–33, 35, 39, 47, 48–49, 54, 57, 58, 59, 62–63, 75, 87, 216

  Nelson, Micah (son) 192, 209, 228, 250, 251

  Nelson, Myrle (mother) 6–7, 8, 25, 35, 61, 75, 111, 171

  Nelson, Nancy (grandmother) 7, 9

  Nelson, Paula Carlene 83, 86, 87, 94, 117, 126, 152, 192, 193, 249

  Nelson, Shirley (wife) 57–60, 62–63, 67, 72, 81–83, 84, 86–87, 97, 216

  Nelson, Susie (daughter) 35, 82, 86, 87, 95, 117, 131, 157, 217, 249

  Nelson, Tracey 134–135

  Nelson, William (grandfather) 6, 9

  Nelson, Willie Hugh

  Air Force service 23

  character 1–3, 22, 49, 60�
�61, 79, 85, 97–99, 153–157, 160, 167, 193, 217–218, 240–241, 242–243, 255–256, 259, 260

  childhood 5–15

  DJ work 27, 29–32, 35, 40, 42

  finances 166–167, 182–183, 205–216

  generosity 167–170, 193, 206, 209

  girlfriends 17

  marriages 18–19, 24, 57, 58, 60, 72, 97–98, 192–194

  musical influences 12–14, 160

  politics 155, 184–185, 186–190, 198–199, 221, 242–243

  Ridgetop ranch 62–63, 67–68, 75–76, 87–88, 92–95, 102, 111, 121

  schooling 11–12

  songwriting 10, 17, 30–31, 36–37, 38–39, 41–44, 49–51, 67, 77–78, 101–102, 135, 146, 176–178, 182, 227, 233–234

  spirituality 2, 10, 40, 100–101

  temper 10–11, 33, 79

  New York Times 134, 141, 175

  Newbury, Mickey 82, 87

  Newsday 197

  Newsweek magazine 163

  Night And Day 243–244

  ‘Night Life’ 36, 38, 41, 43, 44, 48, 49, 63, 66, 197

  Nite Owl Club, Abbott 5, 15–16, 39

  ‘No Place For Me’ 39

  ‘No Tomorrow In Sight’ 50

  ‘Nothing I Can Do About It Now’ 196

  ‘Nowhere Road’ 235

  Oakley, Jeanne 212

  O’Connor, Sinead 224, 226

  O’Connor, Tim 121, 168, 170, 211

  Offenders, The 59–60, 61, 232–233

  ‘On The Road Again’ 176–177, 188

  ‘Once More With Feeling’ 89

  ‘One Day At A Time’ 61, 67, 73

  One For The Road 172

  ‘One In A Row’ 76

  Orbison, Roy 63

  Outlaw For Peace radio channel 202, 258

  Outlaw Justice (film) 236

  ‘outlaw music’ 142–143, 149–150

  Outlaw Music Channel 201–203, 206

  Owens, Buck 107

  ‘Pages’ 81

  Pamper Music Company 49–50, 55, 62

  ‘Pancho And Lefty’ 178–179, 216

  Panther Hall Ballroom TV Show 81

  Parker, Dr Ben 29, 30, 31, 168

  ‘Part Where I Cry, The’ 56

  ‘Party’s Over, The’ 76

  Party’s Over, The 77

  Payne, Jody 136–137, 197, 233

  Peace In The Valley 216

  Pedernales Country Club 169–171, 205–206, 210, 212, 216

  Peebles, Harry 90, 91