Before booze, drugs, and tax evasion - guess who!

[Bluesy]

1965 - age 32. We forget that he was a song writer before he became a performer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=W1bXdXWEKaE

[A.J.Fedor]

He almost looses it on "Crazy"  Patsy Cline died almost two years before Nelson did this, and he's obviously still struggling to keep it together.
Wow!

@ge

[Greg McCrea]

Wonderful. A true sound innovator. A few years back he released a collection of his original demo recordings. Masterful stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Demo-Sessions-Willie-Nelson/dp/B000083MF7

[SlimHeilpern]

Regarding the subject line, I haven't read his autobiography, but I wouldn't assume this was before drugs (at least not the harmless kind that Willie likes). ;-)

Anyway, if you like that YouTube clip, there is a wonderful album, Live At Panther Hall (1966), which Penny and I came across back in the mid 70's. It's Willie with a small band (including Johnny Bush on drums), Willie singing and playing the heck out of an electric guitar, mostly his own tunes. His creativity was over the top -- and he's such a unique stylist.

You can hear samples here:

http://www.amazon.com/Live-Country-Music-Concert/dp/B002BI4Y10/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1340372836&sr=8-2&keywords=willie+nelson+live+at+panther+hall

- Slim.

[jimgrant]

I saw Willie Nelson live at Interlochen, MI on June 10/12. He still puts on a fantastic show; high-energy for an hour and a half, non-stop. Then he comes down to the stage apron and signs autographs for close to another hour. He's looking a little more worn than when I saw him at the same venue 2 years ago.

I have a photo given to me by a friend, Bob Taylor who was a drummer for 40 years, managed Boots Randolph for 6 or 7 years, and ran clubs in DC area. In 1965 he needed 2 musicians for a 2 night gig and the photo shows my friend Bob in the middle; a pretty famous fiddle player named Wade Ray on his right and Willie Nelson on his left. The squiggle on Willie's chest is Willie's autograph from the concert. I gave him 1 photo and it was gratefully accepted. He would probably remember the event because 1965 was before the weed and booze and IRS. Great musician and song writer.

[A.J.Fedor]

One of my favorite Willie Nelsonisms is: After someone asked him what he does to relax, straight from the shoulder, Willie smiled and answered: "I like settin' around listening to myself sing" Brutally honest. I absolutely love it!!

Willie has the kind of voice that doesn't really need much else. The guy sounds great singing "avocado!"