Rodney Crowell: Musician, songwriter and former member of Emmylou Harris’s Hot Band.
Bob Dylan: Friend, musician and icon. Collaborated with Nelson on Farm Aid, Across The Borderline and toured with him in 2004 and 2005.
Paul English: Drummer in the Family Band since 1966.
Fred Foster: Nashville producer and founder of Monument records. Worked with Nelson in the 1960s and 1980s.
Bob Geldof: Musician and activist. Founded Band Aid and Live Aid.
Tompall Glaser: Country musician. Appeared on Wanted! The Outlaws.
Joe Gracey: Influential Austin DJ appearing on KOKE-FM in early 1970s. Friend, producer and musician, married to Kimmie Rhodes.
Merle Haggard: Friend and country legend. Duetted with Nelson on ‘Pancho And Lefty’.
David Hood: Bass player with Muscle Shoals Band. Worked with Nelson on Phases And Stages.
Dennis Hopper: Actor and friend.
Nick Hunter: Record executive. Worked in Atlantic Records country division from 1972 to 1974. Later worked for Nelson’s manager Neil Reshen.
Waylon Jennings: Close friend, country musician, and prominent member of the outlaw movement. A co-member of the Highwaymen, Jennings died February 2002.
Booker T. Jones: Musician and producer. Has worked with Nelson sporadically from 1970s until present.
Buddy Killen: Musician, songwriter and legendary Music Row figure in Nashville. Later President and CEO of Tree Publishing.
Kris Kristofferson: Friend, country musician, and co-member of the Highwaymen. Still recording.
Daniel Lanois: Producer who has worked with Bob Dylan, U2, Peter Gabriel and Emmylou Harris. Worked with Nelson on Teatro.
Don Light: Member of the Grand Ole Opry house band in Nashville in the 1960s.
Jack Loftis: Nelson’s friend during his brief time at Baylor University in 1954. Loftis became editor and later editor emeritus of the Houston Chronicle.
Bruce Lundvall: Joined CBS Records in 1960 and became president in 1976. Left for Elektra in 1982 and is now CEO at Blue Note Records. Signed Nelson to CBS in 1975.
Bobbie Nelson: Elder sister and piano player in the Family Band.
Connie Nelson: Third wife. Married 1971, divorced 1988. Mother of Paula Carlene and Amy Nelson.
Lana Nelson: Daughter. Born 11 November 1953.
Martha Nelson: First wife. Married 1952, divorced 1962. Died 1989.
Myrle Nelson: Mother.
Shirley Nelson: Second wife. Married 1963, divorced 1971.
Susie Nelson: Daughter. Born 20 January 1957.
Tim O’Connor: Former member of Nelson’s road crew and later his business partner. Now he is CEO of Direct Events which operates, owns or manages some of the biggest clubs in Austin, such as The Backyard and Antones.
Sydney Pollack: Film director, producer and actor. Friend. Worked with Nelson on The Electric Horseman, Honeysuckle Rose and Songwriter.
Ray Price: Country music legend and close friend. Gave Nelson hirst break in Nashville by inviting him to join the Cherokee Cowboys in 1961. Still recording.
Charlotte Ramsay: Daughter of Dr Ben Parker, the founder of KBOP radio station where Nelson worked from 1954 to 1955.
Mickey Raphael: Harmonica player in Family Band since 1973.
Neil Reshen: Nelson’s manager from 1972 to 1978.
Keith Richards: Musician, songwriter and friend. Living embodiment of rock ’n’ roll.
Mark Rothbaum: Manager.
Darrell Royal: Close friend, patron and football coach at UT from 1956 to 1976.
Billy Joe Shaver: Friend and Austin-based musician. Writer of ‘Willie The Wandering Gypsy And Me’.
Billy Sherill: Songwriter, staff producer and director of A&R at CBS Nashville.
Paul Simon: Musician and friend. Worked with Nelson on Across The Borderline.
Bee Spears: Bass player in Family Band since 1970.
Larry Trader: Close friend and golf professional at Pedernales Country Club.
Zeke Varnon: Childhood friend. Now deceased.
Jerry Jeff Walker: Friend and Austin-based musician. Wrote the standard ‘Mr Bojangles’. Albums include Viva Terlingua.
Jerry Wexler: Legendary record executive and producer of Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and many more. Worked with Nelson on his Atlantic albums Shotgun Willie and Phases And Stages
James White: Owner of the Broken Spoke honky-tonk in Austin, Texas.
Eddie Wilson: Co-founder of the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, Texas.
Bob Wishoff: Friend and founder of Outlaw radio. Based at Pedernales and known as Computer Bob for his expertise in all technical matters.
Faron Young: Friend and country star who recorded ‘Hello Walls’ in 1961. Committed suicide in 1996.
David Zettner: Close friend, musician, artist and producer. Member of Nelson’s band from 1967 until 1970. Lives in the grounds of Nelson’s ranch near Austin, Texas.
NOTES ON SOURCES
All quotations throughout the book have been drawn from the author’s own interviews, except where indicated in the text or referenced below.
CHAPTER ONE: 1933–1950
1. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
2. ibid
3. Scobey, Lola – Willie Nelson: Country Outlaw, Zebra Books, 1982
4. St Louis Post Dispatch, 19 March, 1991
5. People, 3 May, 1976
6. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
7. Interview with Todd Copeland
8. Esquire, August 1981
9. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
10. Interview with the author, 2005
11. Pickin' Up The Tempo, May 1975
12. Interview with the author, 2005
13. Esquire, August 1981
14. Gallery, March 2001
15. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
CHAPTER TWO: 1950–1957
1. Pickin' Up The Tempo, May 1975
2. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
3. ibid
4. ibid
5. Nelson, Susie – Heartworn Memories, Eakin Press, 1987
6. The Baylor Line, Spring 2001
7. People, 3 May 1976
8. Houston Chronicle, August 1988
9. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
10. Nelson, Susie – Heartworn Memories, Eakin Press, 1987
11. New York Times, 5 December 1980
12. Digital Interviews, August 2000
CHAPTER THREE: 1958–1961
1. Hartford Courant, 30 January 1994
2. Scobey, Lola – Willie Nelson: Country Outlaw, Zebra Books, 1982
3. Houston Press, 29 June 1995
4. Scobey, Lola – Willie Nelson: Country Outlaw, Zebra Books, 1982
5. Kienzle, Rich – It's Been Rough And Rocky Travellin'
6. Record Collector, August 1986
7. Commercial Appeal, 4 May 1997
8. Country Music, February 1976
9. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
10. The Commercial Appeal, 4 May 1997
11. Austin-American Statesman, 17 August 1995
12. Associated Press, 7 April 2003
CHAPTER FOUR: 1961–1965
1. Chicago Tribune, 26 March 1985
2. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
3. Hartford Courant, 30 January 1994
4. Charleston Daily Mail, 5 September 1998
5. Nelson, Susie – Heartworn Memories, Eakin Press, 1987
6. New York Times, 10 October 1993
7. Columbus Dispatch, 20 February 1993
8. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autob
iography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
CHAPTER FIVE: 1966–1970
1. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
2. Pickin' Up The Tempo, May 1975
3. New York Daily News, 4 May 1997
4. People, 3 May 1976
5. Pickin' Up The Tempo, May 1975
6. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
7. ibid
8. Nelson, Susie – Heartworn Memories, Eakin Press, 1987
9. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
CHAPTER SIX: 1970–1972
1. Author interview with David Zettner
2. Esquire, August 1981
3. Interview with author
4. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
5. Country Music, February 1976
CHAPTER SEVEN: 1972–1973
1. Washington Post, 4 July 1987
2. Esquire, August 1981
3. Interview with author
4. St John, Lauren – Hardcore Troubadour: The Life And Near Death Of Steve Earle, Fourth Estate, 2002
5. Esquire, August 1981
6. Rolling Stone, 12 April 1973
7. Country Music, June 1977
CHAPTER EIGHT: 1974–1976
1. Pickin' Up The Tempo, May 1975
2. Opdyke, Steven – Willie Nelson Sings America, Eakin Press, 1998
3. Washington Post, 4 July 1987
4. Associated Press, 27 April 1993
5. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
6. ibid
7. Country Music, June 1977
CHAPTER NINE: 1976–1978
1. Washington Post, 25 April 1978
2. Crawdaddy, October 1978
3. ibid
4. Associated Press, 27 April 1993
5. Esquire, August 1981
6. Nelson, Susie – Heartworn Memories, Eakin Press, 1987
7. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
8. ibid
CHAPTER TEN: 1978–1984
1. UPI, 18 October 1983
2. Texas Monthly, May 1991
3. ibid
4. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
5. Chicago Tribune, 15 December 1985
6. Country Weekly, 1980
7. Texas Monthly, April 1998
8. New York Times, 18 July 1980
9. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
CHAPTER ELEVEN: 1985–1990
1. Associated Press, 7 August 1989
2. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
3. Associated Press, 22 September 1985
4. Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
5. Texas Monthly, April 1998
6. UPI, 31 March 1988
7. Opdyke, Steven – Willie Nelson Sings America, Eakin Press, 1998
8. Associated Press, 2 March 1990
9. Associated Press, 22 May 1990
CHAPTER TWELVE: 1990–1992
1. Chicago Tribune, 31 May 1991
2. Texas Monthly, May 1991
3. ibid
4. ibid
5. ibid
6. Texas Monthly, April 1998
7. New York Times, 23 February 1995
8. Penthouse, late 70s
9. New York Times, 23 February 1995
10. Chicago Tribune, 8 March 1992
11. ibid
12. Associated Press, 9 October 1991
13. St Louis Post Dispatch, 1 December 1992
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: 1993–1998
1. Plain Dealer, 24 April 1993
2. Opdyke, Steven – Willie Nelson Sings America, Eakin Press, 1998
3. Plain Dealer, 24 April 1993
4. Denver Westwood, 15 August 1996
5. Dallas Observer, 7 August 1997
6. Chicago Sun Times, 18 May 1993
7. Knoxville News-Sentinel, June 12 1994
8. Dallas Observer, August 1997
9. Opdyke, Steven – Willie Nelson Sings America, Eakin Press, 1998
10. Los Angeles Times, December 1995
11. ibid
12. Opdyke, Steven – Willie Nelson Sings America, Eakin Press, 1998
13. Knoxville News-Sentinel, 28 August 1998
14. Dallas Morning News, 24 September 1998
15. Cox News Service, 10 December 1998
16. Knoxville News-Sentinel, 28 August 1998
17. Digital Interviews, August 2000
18. Daily News of Los Angeles, 29 July 1997
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: 1999–2005
1. New York Times, 27 April 1993
2. The Tennessean, 15 March 2003
3. Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 21 July 1999
4. Austin-American Statesman, 9 May 2002
5. San Antonio Express News, 14 February 2001
6. Texas Monthly, April 1998
7. Denver Westwood, 15 August 1996
8. Texas Monthly, April 1998
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The newspaper and magazine articles referred to during the research and writing of this book are too numerous to mention individually. Any direct reference in the text to a particular publication is covered in the Notes on Sources section. In addition, two articles were especially helpful in documenting certain short periods of Willie Nelson’s life. Both appeared in Texas Monthly magazine: Robert Draper’s excellent ‘Poor Willie’ essay appeared in the May 1991 issue, while Gary Cartwright’s rumination on ‘Willie At 65’ appeared in the April 1998 issue. The draft copy of the 1987 Farm Aid report was also a useful reference document.
Books used for reference include:
Bane, Michael – Willie Nelson, Dell Publishing, 1984
Brown, Jim – Willie Nelson: Red Headed Stranger, Quarry Music Books, 2001
Edmonds, Ben – What’s Going On?, Mojo Books, 2001
Hicks, Bill – Love All The People, Constable, 2004
Jennings, Waylon – Waylon: An Autobiography, Warner Books, 1998
Kienzle, Rich – It’s Been Rough And Rocky Travellin’, Companion book to Bear Records box-set of the same name
Kienzle, Rich – Nashville Was The Roughest, Companion book to Bear Records box-set of the same name
Milner, Jay – Confessions Of A Mad Dog, University Of North Texas Press, 1998
Nelson, Susie – Heartworn Memories, Eakin Press, 1987
Nelson, Willie – The Facts Of Life And Other Dirty Jokes, Random House, 2003
Nelson, Willie and Shrake, Bud – Willie: An Autobiography, Cooper Square Press, 2000
Opdyke, Steven – Willie Nelson Sings America, Eakin Press, 1998
Reid, Jan – The Improbable Rise Of Redneck Rock (New Edition), University Of Texas Press, 2004
Richmond, Clint – Willie Nelson: Behind The Music, VH-1 Books/Pocket Books, 2000
Scobey, Lola – Willie Nelson: Country Outlaw, Zebra Books, 1982
Sounes, Howard – Down The Highway: The Life Of Bob Dylan, Doubleday, 2001
St John, Lauren – Hardcore Troubadour: The Life And Near Death Of Steve Earle, Fourth Estate, 2002
Taraborrelli, Randall J. – Sinatra: The Man Behind The Myth, Mainstream, 1997
Turner, Steve – The Man Called Cash, Bloomsbury, 2005
Films used for reference include:
American Masters: Willie Nelson: Still Is Still Moving, produced by Thirteen/ WNET New York for PBS, US (2002)
South Bank Show on Willie Nelson, first aired 19 September 2004 on ITV1, UK (2004)
Lost Highway – 4-part BBC series (2003)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This is not an authorised biography. Willie Nelson was not granted – nor did he e
ver ask for – any veto rights or copy approval in respect of the final product. He did, however, make himself available to be interviewed at length specifically for this book, and for such a generous donation of his time and energy I thank him warmly. I also extend my gratitude to his manager Mark Rothbaum for overcoming his initial scepticism, and for his subsequent patience in coordinating the interview.
The members of the fabled Family Band were also generous and forthcoming to a fault: to Paul English, Bee Spears and especially Mickey Raphael – thank you. Thanks also to Buddy Prewitt for access to his vast library of photographs.
Connie Nelson provided a remarkably honest insight into her life with Willie Nelson and was consistently charming and helpful thereafter. I thank her for it. This would have been a considerably lesser book without her input.
I spent a very enjoyable and illuminating few weeks in and around Nelson mission control in Texas, made all the more worthwhile by the company I kept. At Pedernales, Bob Wishoff proved an entertaining and insightful guide to life in and around the ranch; he also came to my aid when requested during the writing of the book. I owe him one in The Diggers. Likewise David Zettner, an amusing and thoughtful interviewee, not to mention a true gentleman. Thanks also to Larry Trader for sharing almost forty years’ worth of memories.
Todd Copeland at Baylor University was hugely helpful and hospitable and I pass on my gratitude for a fun foray around Waco, Abbott, West and Hillsboro, as well as access to his valuable interview notes on some of Abbott’s oldest and most colourful characters. Still in Texas, Katie Salzmann from the Southwestern Writers Collection at the University of Texas, San Marcos was diligent and patient. To all at the Austin Motel on South Congress and the secretarial staff at Abbott High School – thank you.
Aside from those listed already, I owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who kindly agreed to be interviewed for the book between 2002 and 2005. Their memories and insights were shared without condition, and they form the heart of the biography. Thanks to: Ryan Adams, Richie Albright, Barry Beckett, Jimmy Bruce, Johnny Bush, Jessi Colter, Jackie Clements, Rodney Crowell, Chris Ethridge, Fred Foster, Bob Geldof, Joe Gracey, Merle Haggard, David Hood, Dennis Hopper, Nick Hunter, Mary Suzanne Jackson, Booker T. Jones, Buddy Killen, Daniel Lanois, Don Light, Jack Loftis, Bruce Lundvall, Bill Mack, Chips Moman, Turk Pipkin, Sydney Pollack, Ray Price, Charlotte Ramsay, Neil Reshen, Kimmie Rhodes, Billy Joe Shaver, Roger Sovine, James Talley, Jack Tarver, Larry Trader, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jack Walrath, Jerry Wexler, James White, Lucinda Williams, and Eddie Wilson. Special thanks to Keith Richards.
Willie Nelson Page 37