Willie Nelson loves what he does and his fans love him for what he is, a weathered old cowboy with a nasal twang, who makes some really good music on a beat up old guitar with a hole in it, and only recently cut off his long gray braids. Alex Mitchell once described him as a frog prince who’d rather stay a frog.
But not so far underneath that redneck, outlaw image lies
a compassionate heart. In support of struggling family farms, Willie Nelson, along with several other musicians, organized Farm Aid concerts. He has established the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute with the mission of peace on earth through unconditional love, the golden rule, unyielding hope, positive thoughts, unlimited compassion and open hearts. Willie also supports Habitat for Horses of Hitchcock Texas in horse rescue and has adopted twelve horses that were destined for slaughter. Willie and his family members performed and produced the song, Wild Horses, donating proceeds from sales to the Animal Welfare Institute.
a compassionate heart. In support of struggling family farms, Willie Nelson, along with several other musicians, organized Farm Aid concerts. He has established the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute with the mission of peace on earth through unconditional love, the golden rule, unyielding hope, positive thoughts, unlimited compassion and open hearts. Willie also supports Habitat for Horses of Hitchcock Texas in horse rescue and has adopted twelve horses that were destined for slaughter. Willie and his family members performed and produced the song, Wild Horses, donating proceeds from sales to the Animal Welfare Institute.
The legendary country singer has had a few brushes with the law but his recent marijuana possession charge, has been reduced to possession of drug paraphernalia, resulting in a $500 fine. The charge will also drop from his record if he stays out of trouble for 30 days. It’s reported that the 68 year old country singer is quite happy with this as things could have gone much worse, including jail time.
Always tough and with no pretense, Willie is a survivor. Many years ago, when the IRS auctioned all his possessions to pay backtaxes, someone asked him how he felt about it. He laughed and replied that he felt relief and “wondered what took ‘em so long.”
Nelson has not always had valuable possessions. He was raised in Abbott, Texas, population about 700, and sometimes picked cotton or sold vacuum cleaners for money. Though his music career began at an early age, he did not see great success at first. It wasn’t until the ‘70s and ‘80s that his own honky tonk, outlaw sound came into its own and pushed him to fame.
Some of his most notable songs are Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys, On the Road Again, and Whiskey River. Willie’s unique voice also passionately croons such hits as Always on My Mind and, one of my favorites, Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.
Willie Nelson, a legendary country singer with a good heart...Texas sure knows how to grow ‘em.
Photo by Limelight Imaging Scott Moore
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