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.
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
External links
Filmography (Movies)
Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies
Character:Self
Release Date:27/04/2025
Willie and Me
Character:Willie Nelson / Bones
Release Date:09/02/2024
The Greatest Night in Pop
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:19/01/2024
Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Celebration
Character:Self
Release Date:17/12/2023
June
Character:Self
Release Date:12/11/2023
Joke Man
Character:Self
Release Date:17/07/2023
Willie Nelson 90: Long Story Short
Character:Self
Release Date:11/06/2023
Heartbreakers at the BBC
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:11/02/2023
Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas
Character:Self
Release Date:01/12/2022
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:19/11/2022
Willie Nelson: Live at Budokan
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:18/11/2022
Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute
Character:Self
Release Date:07/04/2021
Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President
Character:Self
Release Date:09/09/2020
My Darling Vivian
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:27/04/2020
Willie Nelson American Outlaw
Character:Self
Release Date:12/04/2020
Waiting for the Miracle to Come
Character:Jimmy Riggs
Release Date:29/04/2019
Charley Pride: I'm Just Me
Character:Self
Release Date:22/02/2019
Willie Nelson at Austin City Limits
Character:Self
Release Date:26/01/2019
Quincy
Character:Self
Release Date:09/09/2018
Also Starring Austin
Character:
Release Date:05/05/2018
Paradox
Character:Red
Release Date:15/03/2018
Revolution: The Legacy of the Sixties
Character:
Release Date:20/08/2017
Pure Country: Pure Heart
Character:Himself
Release Date:01/08/2017
Lost in London
Character:Willie Nelson
Release Date:19/01/2017
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
Character:Self
Release Date:23/09/2016
Road to Austin
Character:
Release Date:27/05/2016
The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End
Character:Self - Performer
Release Date:27/05/2016
The Highwaymen - Live American Outlaws
Character:Self
Release Date:20/05/2016
The American Epic Sessions
Character:Self
Release Date:16/03/2016
Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken Spoke
Character:Self
Release Date:13/03/2016
Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl
Character:Self
Release Date:04/03/2016
Zoolander 2
Character:Willie Nelson
Release Date:06/02/2016
Willie Nelson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song
Character:Self
Release Date:15/01/2016
Johnny Cash: American Rebel
Character:Self
Release Date:12/09/2015
I Am Johnny Cash
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/2015
Country Kings at the BBC
Character:
Release Date:21/11/2014
Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years
Character:Self - Performer
Release Date:03/10/2014
The Art of McCartney
Character:Self
Release Date:01/10/2014
All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State
Character:Self
Release Date:28/04/2014
Willie Nelson Live @ SXSW
Character:self
Release Date:15/03/2014
Angels Sing
Character:Nick
Release Date:19/10/2013
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
Character:Self
Release Date:07/09/2013
We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash
Character:Self
Release Date:20/08/2012
John Mellencamp: It's About You
Character:Self
Release Date:04/01/2012
9/11 Truth: Hollywood Speaks Up
Character:Self
Release Date:10/06/2011
Save the Farm
Character:
Release Date:07/06/2011
I Ride
Character:Willie Nelson
Release Date:12/05/2011
The King of Luck
Character:Self
Release Date:19/03/2011
OK Buckaroos
Character:
Release Date:16/11/2010
The Greatest Ears in Town: The Arif Mardin Story
Character:Self
Release Date:15/06/2010
Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis Play the Music of Ray Charles
Character:Self - Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
Release Date:20/10/2009
Happiness Is
Character:Self
Release Date:30/07/2009
The Obama Deception
Character:Self
Release Date:15/03/2009
Dolly Parton & Friends: Love Always Live
Character:Self - Performer (archive footage)
Release Date:13/03/2009
O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:01/01/2009
Merle Haggard: The Real Deal
Character:Self
Release Date:30/12/2008
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
Character:Self
Release Date:23/11/2008
Elvis | Viva Las Vegas
Character:Self
Release Date:16/09/2008
Surfer, Dude
Character:Farmer Bob
Release Date:05/09/2008
Beer for My Horses
Character:Charlie
Release Date:08/08/2008
Swing Vote
Character:Willie Nelson
Release Date:01/08/2008
Hempsters: Plant the Seed
Character:Himself
Release Date:25/05/2008
The King of Texas
Character:Self
Release Date:01/03/2008
Blonde Ambition
Character:Pap Paw
Release Date:21/12/2007
Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007
Character:Self
Release Date:07/12/2007
Opry Video Classics: Hall of Fame
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:21/11/2007
Opry Video Classics : Legends
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:21/11/2007
Last of the Breed: Live in Concert
Character:Himself
Release Date:25/09/2007
Jerry Lee Lewis: Last Man Standing, Live
Character:Self
Release Date:06/03/2007
The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning
Character:Jesse Duke
Release Date:04/03/2007
Glen Campbell | Good Times Again
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/2007
Fighting With Anger
Character:Will
Release Date:01/01/2007
American Revolutions: The Highwaymen
Character:Self
Release Date:26/09/2006
Outlaw Country: Live from Austin, TX
Character:Self
Release Date:19/09/2006
It's Happiness: A Polka Documentary
Character:Self
Release Date:10/09/2006
Broken Bridges
Character:self
Release Date:08/09/2006
Beerfest
Character:Self (uncredited)
Release Date:25/08/2006
Celebrating the Man in Black: The Making of Walk the Line
Character:Self
Release Date:22/05/2006
Willie Nelson: Live from Austin TX
Character:Self - Vocals (archive footage)
Release Date:01/05/2006
Farm Aid: 20th Anniversary Concert
Character:Self
Release Date:25/11/2005
The Dukes of Hazzard
Character:Uncle Jesse Duke
Release Date:05/08/2005
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge: Where the Music Began
Character:self
Release Date:26/07/2005
Willie Nelson & Leon Russel - Partners In Music
Character:
Release Date:01/01/2005
Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws & Angels
Character:Self
Release Date:21/09/2004
Be Here to Love Me
Character:Self - Musician
Release Date:13/09/2004
Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company
Character:Self
Release Date:31/08/2004
The Big Bounce
Character:Joe Lurie
Release Date:30/01/2004
Willie Nelson - Live at Billy Bob's Texas
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/2004
Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well
Character:Self
Release Date:19/12/2003
Ringo Rama
Character:Himself
Release Date:11/11/2003
The Highwaymen: On the Road Again
Character:Self
Release Date:15/07/2003
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
Character:Self
Release Date:26/05/2003
Farm Aid 2001 - A Concert For America
Character:Himself
Release Date:19/11/2002
The Country Bears
Character:Willie Nelson
Release Date:26/07/2002
The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles
Character:Self
Release Date:09/07/2002
The Country Bears Concert for America
Character:Self
Release Date:06/07/2002
This Land Is Your Land - Folk Years
Character:
Release Date:22/05/2002
Last Party 2000
Character:Self
Release Date:02/11/2001
America | A Tribute to Heroes
Character:Self - Performer
Release Date:21/09/2001
Willie Nelson: Live in Amsterdam
Character:Himself
Release Date:03/07/2001
The Journeyman
Character:Samuel Hancock
Release Date:10/03/2001
Kinky Friedman: Proud To Be An Asshole From El Paso
Character:Self
Release Date:02/01/2001
Chet Atkins: A Life in Music
Character:Self
Release Date:16/09/2000
Dill Scallion
Character:Self
Release Date:31/12/1999
Willie Nelson: Greatest Hits Live
Character:Himself
Release Date:02/11/1999
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Character:Willie Nelson
Release Date:08/06/1999
A Tribute to Johnny Cash
Character:Self - Performer
Release Date:04/06/1999
Outlaw Justice
Character:Lee Walker
Release Date:24/01/1999
The Story of Darrell Royal
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/1999
Half Baked
Character:Historian Smoker
Release Date:16/01/1998
Willie Nelson at the Teatro
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/1998
Wag the Dog
Character:Johnny Dean
Release Date:25/12/1997
Willie Nelson: Down Home
Character:Self
Release Date:14/08/1997
Anthem
Character:Self
Release Date:25/07/1997
Gone Fishin'
Character:Billy 'Catch' Pooler
Release Date:30/05/1997
The Beach Boys: Nashville Sounds
Character:Self
Release Date:23/11/1996
Starlight
Character:
Release Date:18/06/1996
Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II
Character:Self
Release Date:06/03/1995
Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story
Character:Willie Nelson
Release Date:22/01/1995
The World of Jim Henson
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:23/11/1994
Dust to Dust
Character:
Release Date:05/06/1994
Kris Kristofferson: His Life and Work
Character:Self
Release Date:31/12/1993
Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O
Character:Self
Release Date:22/05/1993
Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
Character:Self
Release Date:02/03/1993
Wild Texas Wind
Character:Willie Nelson
Release Date:23/09/1991
Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind
Character:Billy Roy Rodriguez
Release Date:19/04/1991
WWE WrestleMania VII
Character:Self - National Anthem
Release Date:24/03/1991
The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum
Character:Self
Release Date:28/03/1990
Pair of Aces
Character:Billy Roy Barker
Release Date:14/01/1990
Waylon: Renegade. Outlaw. Legend.
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/1990
Kenny, Dolly & Willie: Something Inside So Strong
Character:Self
Release Date:20/05/1989
In the Hank Williams Tradition
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/1989
Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?
Character:Cross
Release Date:13/11/1988
Once Upon a Texas Train
Character:John Henry Lee
Release Date:12/10/1988
Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz
Character:Willie Nelson
Release Date:16/08/1988
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
Character:Self
Release Date:27/05/1988
Baja Oklahoma
Character:Self
Release Date:20/02/1988
Walking After Midnight
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/1988
Chet Atkins and Friends
Character:
Release Date:06/09/1987
Heartbeat
Character:Himself
Release Date:10/05/1987
Red Headed Stranger
Character:Rev. Julian Shay
Release Date:31/10/1986
Stagecoach
Character:Doc Holliday
Release Date:18/05/1986
The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James
Character:Gen. Jo Shelby
Release Date:17/02/1986
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
Character:Self
Release Date:28/01/1985
Songwriter
Character:Doc Jenkins
Release Date:14/10/1984
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
Character:Self - Performer
Release Date:29/01/1984
Hells Angels Forever
Character:Himself
Release Date:09/10/1983
Willie Nelson Live at the US Festival
Character:Himself
Release Date:04/06/1983
Playboy Video Magazine: Volume 4
Character:Himself
Release Date:01/01/1983
Willie Nelson & Family: In Concert
Character:Himself
Release Date:01/01/1983
Coming Out of the Ice
Character:Red Loon
Release Date:31/12/1982
Barbarosa
Character:Barbarosa
Release Date:19/02/1982
Thief
Character:David 'Okla' Bertinneau
Release Date:27/03/1981
Honeysuckle Rose
Character:Buck
Release Date:18/07/1980
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1980
Character:
Release Date:10/02/1980
The Electric Horseman
Character:Wendell
Release Date:21/12/1979
Willie Nelson's 4th of July Celebration
Character:
Release Date:01/06/1979
Mickey's 50
Character:Self
Release Date:19/11/1978
A Poem Is a Naked Person
Character:Self
Release Date:09/05/1974
Television Appearances
Willie Nelson & Family
Character:Self
This Is Pop
Character:Self (archive footage)
OBJECTified
Character:Self
American Epic
Character:Self
The Muppets
Character:Self
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Character:Self
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Character:Self
VH1 Storytellers
Character:Self
CMA Music Festival
Character:Self
Real Time with Bill Maher
Character:Self
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Character:Self - Musical Guest
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Character:Self - Guest
Monk
Character:Willie Nelson
CMT Crossroads
Character:Self
The View
Character:Self
King of the Hill
Character:Willie Nelson (voice)
The Daily Show
Character:Self
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Character:Self
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Character:
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Character:Marshall Elias Burch
Delta
Character:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Character:
Adventures in Wonderland
Character:The Troubadour
Hot Country Nights
Character:
The Simpsons
Character:Willie Nelson (voice)
NWA World Championship Wrestling
Character:Self
Miami Vice
Character:Texas Ranger Jake Pierson
Champs-Elysées
Character:Self (archive footage)
Solid Gold
Character:Self
The Kennedy Center Honors
Character:Self
Saturday Night Live
Character:Self - Host & Musical Guest
Saturday Night Live
Character:Self - Musical Guest
Austin City Limits
Character:Self
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
Character:Self
CMA Awards
Character:Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Character:Self
Images
